Flower Kings Appreciation Thread

Since my last post, Stardust We Are has been pretty much permanently on the MP3 player. I've just got Adam & Eve, later than I planned.

Full report to follow!

Roj M30 wrote: The Quiet One wrote: Hey guys, sorry if I'm changing the topic, but what do you think of The Rainmaker? (might have discussed it before...)   Hi Pablo, how's things?   If The Rainmaker was by anybody else it would probably be a contender for their best album.  As for TFK, I'd have to rate it as one of the weaker albums if only because there's a few duffers.  Through These Walls and Elaine are really average.    However, there's some great stuff on Rainmaker too.  I absolutely love Sword Of God, the chorus is one of the best I've ever heard.  Last Minute.. is fantastic, Serious Dreamers is excellent too with some amazing Bodin soloing and I also really rate Road To Sanctuary.  And what about Red Alert?  Surely the best 1:13 of music you could ever hope to hear.  Whilst I know it's a bit of a Road To Sanctuary reprise it surely should have been at least 5 minutes longer   I'd rate Rainmaker about 4.25 stars, which isn't bad for a "weaker" album.  What do you think Pablo and everybody else for that matter?

Hey Roger, I'm fine thanks for asking, though a bit worried since the *Argentine* gorvenment has declared "sanitarium emergency"(not sure if that's the translation), just like in Mexico due to the 'Influenza A' ("pig flu/fever) How are things doing in England?

On topic with The Rainmaker, for me I can sum it up in a sentence: If Space Revolver had been released as a double album, The Rainmaker would be the second disc. Of course, that is if you consider generally that the second discs of each TFK's albums are the weakest or less consistent, of course exception would be Paradox Hotel which we all seem to agree.
But to talk about it a bit more, it's indeed weak for TFK standards but there's really no bad stuff, just not really worthy material. Some stuff don't flow that good either, The Last Minute on Earth has lots of great ideas but they don't flow that well. By the way, I find the intro riff to that very Space Revolver-ish.
Sword of God is a very good rocker, and I agree about the chorus, very, very catchy.. Thru the Walls is very Genesis-ish, not very interesting. Ah...I'll make a review sooner or later.  I'm betweeen a 3 or a 4, though actually it would be a solid 3.5

progrules wrote: Roland113 wrote: ^ We're kind of digressing here, but I agree on the John Mitchel front, he's a great guitar player with a knack for pumping out great solos.  Henk, I assume that you're familiar with John's work in Arena?  If not, I highly recommend 'Contagion'.  John really shines and Clive Nolan does a great job as well.  Contagion has become one of my all time favorite albums.   My first "acquaintance" with John was actually Arena, that's where he became famous. I don't think he ever did anything as great as on Black Light Machine with Arena though. The performance that comes closest is The Visitor, the title track at the end where he closes the song with another terrific solo. On Contagian he was very good but not outstanding. Do you have a track as an example from that album ?

After thinking about it, I somewhat agree, the Black Light solo is amazing and he really stands out on Milliontown as a whole.

There are bits of brilliance on Contagion, "This Way Madness Lies", "On the Box" and "Cutting the Cards" come to mind...oops, got to go, bed time for daughter...;kdashbfv

lazland wrote: Since my last post, Stardust We Are has been pretty much permanently on the MP3 player. I've just got Adam & Eve, later than I planned. Full report to follow!

Stardust is a great one as well, look forward to hearing your opinion of Adam and Eve as well.

Hey guys, something completely different now ! I just heard Sound Chaser by Yes just a minute ago on Morow And it struck me that the first minute of this song is very much like a TFK song. Is it Devil's Danceschool ? Any thoughts here ? I never noticed this before and in fact the rest of the song has nothing to do whatsoever with TFK I have to say.

A second spin for Garden Of Dreams today all.  I was amazed how much seemed familiar on only my second hearing.  That's a good thing about me, I tend to easily memory bank the stuff I love.

Edited by Roj M30 - July 02 2009 at 07:58

^on Page 13 the discussion starts....

Roj M30 wrote: A second spin for Garden Of Dreams today all.  I was amazed how much seemed familiar on only my second hearing.  That's a good thing about me, I tend to easily memory bank the stuff I love.   I think I'm going to end up with this being one of my very faves by TFK.  Too many good parts to mention really, but I have to single out Business Vamp, which brought out the Roj goosebumps very quickly - awesome track.

I'm with you Roj, I enjoy the whole thing, though I particularly enjoy the Steely Dan vibe in "Mr. Hope goes to Wall Street".

The Quiet One wrote: ^on Page 13 the discussion starts....

Sorry, I haven't been following this whole thread...

Roland113 wrote: progrocker2244 wrote: This could have been done before, but what is everyone's thoughts on Unfold The Future? Also, what is your favorite song off of the album? I forget what I said initially, current opinion on Unfold the Future, four star album, favorite song is 'The Devil;s Playground".

I think Unfold the Future has some of the greatest TFK songs ever, but didn't need to be a double disc. I think I'm gonna give it a 4.