Flower Kings Appreciation Thread |
Post Reply | Page <1 1415161718 487> |
Author | ||||
Roland113
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: March 30 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Status: Offline Points: 3843 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|||
^ Roj,
Glad you're enjoying Flower Power, The Garden did take a few listens before I really appreciated it, after about ten or fifteen I really started to enjoy it. Regarding Adam and Eve, even though it's one of the lower rated CD's by them, it's still a Flower King's CD and better than most of the other music that's out there. Glad you're enjoying it. |
||||
-------someone please tell him to delete this line, he looks like a noob-------
I don't have an unnatural obsession with Disney Princesses, I have a fourteen year old daughter and coping mechanisms. |
||||
progrules
Prog Reviewer Joined: September 14 2007 Location: Netherlands Status: Offline Points: 958 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|||
I agree with Roland. I think it's already very surprising you have a sort of judgement about the GoD track(s)
but it's almost impossible to judge it after one listening session. Good luck with it.
And indeed the Driver's Seat epic is tremendous. I can't get enough of it, same as Love Supreme. That's indeed why I still love that album.
Yesterday I heard Road to Sanctuary on morow.com by the way and it also sounded absolutely awesome again. It's amazing how TFK gets to you time and time again. Brilliant stuff !!
|
||||
A day without prog is a wasted day
|
||||
Roj
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: July 02 2008 Location: Manchester, UK Status: Offline Points: 3126 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|||
I agree it will take several listens, no doubt about that. The overall first impression was very favourable though. I'll try and listen to it again in the next few days. Several parts made me sit up and think "Wow! That's good!" No surprise there though, it's TFK and that's what we expect!
As to the rest of the album, Deaf Numb And Blind sounded absolutely awesome on first hearing. I just love these guys.
|
||||
progrules
Prog Reviewer Joined: September 14 2007 Location: Netherlands Status: Offline Points: 958 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|||
^ He Roger. I just dropped your name in the thread about IQ and TFK. It's in Prog music Lounge and is started by Progrocker2244 (Jeff). Maybe you should have a look there ?
|
||||
A day without prog is a wasted day
|
||||
progrules
Prog Reviewer Joined: September 14 2007 Location: Netherlands Status: Offline Points: 958 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|||
Did I get it right that the only great "TFK" album you're still missing is the Flower King by Roine solo ?
Because if it is: get it as soon as you can !! It's even better than all TFK releases (as far as I'm concerned).
I will give you an impression: Humanizzimo is one of the best things they EVER did, same quality as the Stardust we are track. So 5+*. Second best is Dissonata, a semi instrumental resembling Retropolis and I think it's even a bit better. 5*. Third is Magic Circus of Zeb, another one with great guitar by Roine. 4,5*.
Pilgrims Inn is the next jewel scoring 4,5*. The title track is loved by many but personally I believe it's too cheesy. Only 3,25* for me. The remaining tracks (Sounds of Violence, Scanning the Green House and Close your Eyes) are more or less fillers that almost spoiled the masterpiece status for me but fortunately it just didn't. I gave it 5 stars and rank it amongst the 10-15 best albums ever made.
Need more encouragement ?
|
||||
A day without prog is a wasted day
|
||||
Roj
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: July 02 2008 Location: Manchester, UK Status: Offline Points: 3126 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|||
Henk, you know my collection almost as well as me!!! I actually ordered The Flower King a month ago, but I'm still waiting on it. It does appear a little tough to get hold of at the moment.
So as it is still not here it will be my final TFK acquisition, but at least it looks like I may have saved one of the very best until last! The only track I know is the free stream track here on PA. That is superb and reminds me of World Of Adventures. That's good news for me as it's one of my TFK faves. I just love that classic early TFK sound. In order I rate the albums thus:
1. Stardust We Are
2. Space Revolver
3. World Of Adventures
4. Paradox Hotel (without Monsters & Men it would be lower )
5. Adam And Eve
6. Retropolis
7. Unfold The Future
8. Sum Of No Evil
9. Rainmaker
At present I can't put in Flower Power anywhere as I don't know it well enough. As a guess I reckon it might fit in at number 4. Edited by Roj M30 - June 12 2009 at 07:46 |
||||
progrules
Prog Reviewer Joined: September 14 2007 Location: Netherlands Status: Offline Points: 958 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|||
Ok, didn't even realize Dissonata was a stream track. But maybe you're right. After listening to all 3 songs Dissonata is right in between World of Adventures and Retropolis (the songs, that is).
Fingers crossed you'll get it soon ! I guarentee a lot of fun.
|
||||
A day without prog is a wasted day
|
||||
The Quiet One
Prog Reviewer Joined: January 16 2008 Location: Argentina Status: Offline Points: 15745 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|||
Hey Roger! You will definitely love The Flower King since you like so much TFK's early era. It's my favorite from the 90's, and it's up there with Space Revolver and Adam & Eve!
BTW, glad you're enjoying A&E, it's such a great record! |
||||
Roj
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: July 02 2008 Location: Manchester, UK Status: Offline Points: 3126 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|||
An update on The Flower King. Amazon tell me it will arrive in the next 1-3 weeks. It looks like I have saved one of the very best til last.
Pablo, with Adam & Eve you were definitely right, those who hate it are WRONG. It's a great album, I love pretty much all of it. I bet you love the title track, one of those classic rockers TFK do so well, I certainly do.
With Flower Power, I've just not had the chance to listen to it much yet unfortunately. Over the weekend I saw DT and Frost live plus spent the whole day on Sunday at the Download Festival here in the UK. DT were on again (they were great both times). The only other PA-listed band I saw were Journey who I've always liked. Whitesnake were on too, and they have a little Deep Purple connection so you'd be happy with that Pablo .
|
||||
The Quiet One
Prog Reviewer Joined: January 16 2008 Location: Argentina Status: Offline Points: 15745 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|||
Yeah, the title track of Adam & Eve is superb, with the heavy riff of I Am The Sun, it's great! About the concerts, that's so cool! You sure had a splendid time watching DT!! BTW, I'm a BIG FAN of Whitesnake if you didn't know, but it's their early stuff that I really like if you haven't check it out yet, their album Ready an' Willing is really, really good Hard Rock/Blues Rock. |
||||
infandous
Forum Senior Member Joined: March 23 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 2447 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|||
Falling behind a bit here 70's Kaipa is good stuff, don't let anyone tell you any different I've had the second and third albums of them for a few years now. A Scandinavian Camel is probably as good a description as any. They are not as good as any other Roine stuff I've heard (never heard anything he did in the 80's), but they are definetly worth a listen IMO. Keyholder is an excellent album, probably my favorite of the second era Kaipa, though I like their first one (the previous album, Notes From The Past) quite a bit as well. I think Keyholder gets pretty weak on the last 3 tracks, but the first 5 are the best the second era ever did (haven't heard the most recent however). Mindrevolutions just doesn't do anything for me and I completely agree that the vocals are annoying. It's strange, as it's the same vocalists as on Keyholder, but they only annoy me on Mindrevolutions (they don't bother me at all on Notes either). |
||||
infandous
Forum Senior Member Joined: March 23 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 2447 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|||
Well, GoD is definitely an Epic with a capitol E. Supper's Ready is essentially "a collection of songs, some joined some not" as you say. But GoD has more connecting material than that song. Melodies, words, both are refrained throughout the entire thing. I think it hangs together surprisingly well as a single entity. But I understand why others don't necessarily see it that way. Thick As A Brick was built piece by piece, just as GoD was. Anyway, give it time and you will see the cohesivness of it. But even if you don't, you'll still like it Actually, one of the things I love about the Flower Kings is that they referecence many of their previous songs on each consecutive album. Sometimes it's quite hard to discern, other times fairly easy. GoD is a microcosm of their whole body of work if you ask me (at least, up to that point). Although, I guess at nearly 60 minutes long, it's more of a macrocosm |
||||
Roj
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: July 02 2008 Location: Manchester, UK Status: Offline Points: 3126 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|||
Don't worry Infandous, I'm sure I will love Garden Of Dreams. There's hardly any tracks by TFK that I DON'T like!!
Unfortunately a total lack of listening time lately means I've only heard it once so far, and even that was enough to give a favourable impression.
I also think it's great the way themes crop up on other TFK albums. I just love these guys.
|
||||
infandous
Forum Senior Member Joined: March 23 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 2447 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|||
I wasn't worried It took me a few listens to absorb the whole thing too. I knew it was good on the first one, just knew it was going to take some time. I must say though, that the second CD is my least favorite Flower Kings CD (possibly a bit more enjoyable to me than Adam & Eve, by not by much). Having said that, there are some tracks that are pretty good, like Deaf, Numb and Blind, and Hudson River Sirens Call 1998 (better live, but still one of those cool atmospheric tracks that people always seem to call "filler"). Actually, I think Magic Pie is the only song on there I really dislike, the others just being weak to my ears by normal FK standards (I do like the way that Afterlife is a reprise of the main themes from GoD though). You may feel different though. |
||||
Roj
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: July 02 2008 Location: Manchester, UK Status: Offline Points: 3126 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|||
^ I have to say that on first hearing Magic Pie did absolutely nothing for me, I didn't like it at all. As such it was one that stood out, but for the wrong reason!!
|
||||
progrules
Prog Reviewer Joined: September 14 2007 Location: Netherlands Status: Offline Points: 958 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|||
Ok. This conversation inspires me to the following list:
1. Garden of Dreams 5(+)*
2. Captain Capstan 2*
3. Ikea by Night 2*
4. Astral Dog 4,75*
1. Deaf, Numb & Blind 4,75*
2. Stupid Girl 4,25*
3. Corruption 3,5*
4. Power of Kindness 3,75*
5. Psychedelic Postcard 4*
6. Hudson River Sirens Call 1998 2,25*
7. Magic Pie 4*
8. Painter 4,25*
9. Calling Home 4*
10. Afterlife 3,5*
And the reason I make this list is to show that not Magic Pie but Hudson River Sirens Call 1998 (besides the "jokes" Captain Capstan and Ikea by Night) is the song of this doubler that leaves me cold.
To me this long titled track is a waste of space and way below TFK standard (no offense Mike, just a matter of taste apparently).
The rest of the songs is varieng from pretty good to extremely good in standard. I gave the album 5 stars. Edited by progrules - June 19 2009 at 11:18 |
||||
A day without prog is a wasted day
|
||||
Roland113
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: March 30 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Status: Offline Points: 3843 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|||
See, personally, I give IKEA by Night five stars for the humor factor alone. I always include IKEA on any of the "Flower Kings'" compilations that I list on here just for the amusement.
I do enjoy both discs of Garden of Dreams Stupid Girl being one of my second tier favorites of theirs. Personally, I would say that I'm ambivalent at best on Magic Pie. First couple of times I heard it I flat out didn't like it. It's grown to apathy from there. I figure if I listen to it enough times it may become tolerable. Oh, I just listened to IKEA by night for the seventeenth time during the typing of this e-mail. eighteen...ninteen |
||||
-------someone please tell him to delete this line, he looks like a noob-------
I don't have an unnatural obsession with Disney Princesses, I have a fourteen year old daughter and coping mechanisms. |
||||
Roland113
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: March 30 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Status: Offline Points: 3843 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|||
Twenty Three
|
||||
-------someone please tell him to delete this line, he looks like a noob-------
I don't have an unnatural obsession with Disney Princesses, I have a fourteen year old daughter and coping mechanisms. |
||||
progrules
Prog Reviewer Joined: September 14 2007 Location: Netherlands Status: Offline Points: 958 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|||
It's funny because I used the track as a sort of joke in another topic which was about your favorite song on your death-bed. One of the members (I think it was Drew) stated that he wouldn't like Light of Day, Day of Darkness (Green Carnation, 1 hour song) as a choice because it could mean he was dying a slow death.
In answer to that I said he had better choose Ikea by Night..
By the way, could it be TFK put these two tracks (GoD and IbN) on one disk as a contrast: something like both the longest and the shortest song ever ? I wouldn't be surprised if they did this intentionally.
|
||||
A day without prog is a wasted day
|
||||
Roland113
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: March 30 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Status: Offline Points: 3843 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|||
You know, I never caught the irony of the longest and shortest tracks on the same disc. Kudos to the joke as well. The more and more I think of it, it'd be the perfect deathbed track, someone is almost sure to laugh, and frankly, if I have to go, I at least want it to be funny. |
||||
-------someone please tell him to delete this line, he looks like a noob-------
I don't have an unnatural obsession with Disney Princesses, I have a fourteen year old daughter and coping mechanisms. |
||||
Post Reply | Page <1 1415161718 487> |
Forum Jump | Forum Permissions You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum |