Flower Kings Appreciation Thread

progrules wrote: Roj M30 wrote:     Incidentally, after three listens to Garden Of Dreams I have to conclude this is simply a work of genius.  So many good sections, but the incredible conclusion with such emotional vocals from Roine is really out of this world.  I love it.   Well, if you're impressed with Roine's emotion on this one, I can't wait till you have The Flower King. The epic Humanizzimo he displays huge emotion in the last section of this superb song. Are you getting curious ??   By the way, has Roine's debut arrived at your home by now ?

Well, I do often do the copy, the hit post, which allows me to paste it back in if it doesn't send.  But for some reason that time, I didn't do it.  Oh well, I'll get over it  

Agent's Of Mercy is a bit disappointing I agree.  It's not bad, but it's kind of almost prog muzak I hate to say.  Still, some songs really work for me, like the title track, Afternoon Skies, Heroes & Beacons, and A Soldiers Tale.  The final track is good too, and the most "prog" thing on the album.  I like the heavy Genesis vibe on a lot of the songs, and I like Nad's singing.  But on the whole, it's not that strong of an album.  It's one case where I think Roine could have dropped a few songs and released it as a 50 or so minute album and I think it would be much more appealing.  Some songs just don't seem to work emotionally or musically for me.

The Sum Of No Reason is a great album.  I was thrilled when it first came out, as I sensed a strong 90's vibe (FK 90's matieral, that is) mixed with a lot of the Unfold feel.  My enthusiasm for it has gone down a bit the more I've listened to it, but I'd still rank it pretty high (probably somewhere in the middle of my FK album rankings).

Unfold was actually a disspointment to me when it came out, oddly enough.  I fell in love with the 90's albums, loved Space Revolver as well, and thought Rainmaker was not so great.  But there were big expectations for Unfold and people who had heard it prior to release told me it was their best work and a huge leap forward.  Initially, I missed the 90's sound and vibe.  It took me almost a whole year to realize what a brilliant album it was.  I think the Meet The Flower Kings DVD helped me to truly appreciate that incarnation of the band (and the style change that went with it).  Anyway, it's probably my number 2 or 3 favorite FK album now.

infandous wrote: Hey, by the way.............I'm planning to go to either the Pittsburgh, PA Agents/Karmakanic or the NJ Proghouse one.  Pittsburgh is much closer for me (I'm in central PA), but I've known the Proghouse guys for a long time and would see more people I know at that show.  However, if anyone on this thread is going, I'd love to meet you! So, anyone doing either of these shows?

I'm about 50% for the Pittsburgh show.  It's entirely up to money.  This year's concert budget was spent on 3RP.  If sales pick up between now and then, I may be able to swing it, but no guarantees.

I'll keep you posted.

Roj M30 wrote: progrules wrote: Roj M30 wrote:     Incidentally, after three listens to Garden Of Dreams I have to conclude this is simply a work of genius.  So many good sections, but the incredible conclusion with such emotional vocals from Roine is really out of this world.  I love it.   Well, if you're impressed with Roine's emotion on this one, I can't wait till you have The Flower King. The epic Humanizzimo he displays huge emotion in the last section of this superb song. Are you getting curious ??   By the way, has Roine's debut arrived at your home by now ?   No, The Flower King has still not arrived .  Amazon tell me there is a delay with the supplier.  Ah well, I've waited six weeks so another couple of weeks wait won't do any harm .   For the time being I'll catch up on Flower Power.  4 listens now (a further one last night) and I feel that I know it really well now.  I'm lucky in that if I really like something it sinks in to my memory bank very quickly with me.  A really significant contribution by Tomas on this mega-epic and his playing has never been better.  There's just so many great parts, I love the choral part, so haunting and atmospheric.  And both the music and lyrics to Indian Summer are really touching too.    Also, a little note to Tom, I love Mr Hope Goes To Wall Street, great synth runs from Mr Bodin there!!   I also absolutely love Astral Dog and Deaf Numb And Blind.

He guys, anyone knows where our OP has gone ? He's not been on this thread like the last month or so.

^  Grin, what, no Depeche Mode?

I think that one of the reasons that I enjoy this thread so much is our appreciation of different bands.  If a poll were to be made up of "bands in Tom's top fifty" it'd just be another race between Genesis, Yes, King Crimson and ELP.  I love it that none of them made it into your top ten.

Regarding your recommendations, Thank you, I appreciate them.  I'm always looking for new music or even an old one that didn't click with me at first.  I'll take them on a one by one basis:

Liquid Tension Experiment - I've only heard a song or two of theirs but wasn't as impressed as I thought I should be.  I love Tony Levin and Dream Theater.  Where should I start?

Clepsydra - I have Fears, I just haven't listened to it as much as I should have.

Magic Pie - Only heard one or two tunes on a podcast and wasn't impressed.  Same question, where should I start?

Cairo - Haven't heard them yet.  I'm intrigued

Collage - I have two of their CD's and they're decent.  Obviously they're very similar to Satellite.  It's been a while since I've listened to them, but if memory serves me, they sounded like an older, less polished version of Satellite.

Symphony X - I have one of their CD's (Odyssey I think) but haven't been in a huge prog metal mood lately.  I'll explore the CD that I have once I get back into a metal mood.

To throw a recommendation back at you, if you're not familiar with Moongarden, their album "Songs from the Lighthouse" is a wonderful Neo-prog / symphonic cross over in the vein of Satellite but with a really soulful singer.  You may enjoy them.

Thanks for the recommendations, I'll espicially keep an eye out for Cairo.

Roland113 wrote: ^  Grin, what, no Depeche Mode? I think that one of the reasons that I enjoy this thread so much is our appreciation of different bands.  If a poll were to be made up of "bands in Tom's top fifty" it'd just be another race between Genesis, Yes, King Crimson and ELP.  I love it that none of them made it into your top ten. Regarding your recommendations, Thank you, I appreciate them.  I'm always looking for new music or even an old one that didn't click with me at first.  I'll take them on a one by one basis: Liquid Tension Experiment - I've only heard a song or two of theirs but wasn't as impressed as I thought I should be.  I love Tony Levin and Dream Theater.  Where should I start? Clepsydra - I have Fears, I just haven't listened to it as much as I should have. Magic Pie - Only heard one or two tunes on a podcast and wasn't impressed.  Same question, where should I start? Cairo - Haven't heard them yet.  I'm intrigued Collage - I have two of their CD's and they're decent.  Obviously they're very similar to Satellite.  It's been a while since I've listened to them, but if memory serves me, they sounded like an older, less polished version of Satellite. Symphony X - I have one of their CD's (Odyssey I think) but haven't been in a huge prog metal mood lately.  I'll explore the CD that I have once I get back into a metal mood. To throw a recommendation back at you, if you're not familiar with Moongarden, their album "Songs from the Lighthouse" is a wonderful Neo-prog / symphonic cross over in the vein of Satellite but with a really soulful singer.  You may enjoy them. Thanks for the recommendations, I'll espicially keep an eye out for Cairo.

Heh, I can't stand Cairo.  They sound to me like a cross between an 80's synth pop band and a poor ELP imitator.  Or something like that.  Only heard the first album, but I gave it away to a friend, who also gave it away (not sure what happened to it after that).  Anyway, different tastes I guess

Symphony X, I had 2 albums, sold them both.  I really like Dream Theater, but SX just didn't appeal to me at all.  Also LOVE Liquid Tension Experiment.  Saw them live at Nearfest last year and the were AWESOME.  Great performance (though Echolyn was hands down the best performance of the fest for me).

Magic Pie I've only heard a couple tracks (here on the site I think) and didn't like them much.  I have considered giving them another chance though possibly.

I can tell you I have quite ecclectic tastes with prog.  Love, love, love Italian prog, from the big names to the more obscure I just can't get enough.  Also a big fan of the avante side, mostly bands like Present and Univers Zero, but also Samla Mammas Manna (who the Flower Kings sometimes percussionist used to play drums for), Thinking Plague, Panzerpappa, Guapo, and of course the great composer of the 20th century, Frank Zappa (though I can't say I like all of his stuff).

Anyway, as you can see, I like a lot of different stuff, with the Flower King usually at the top of the heap of course

I really like Cairo and would think fans of the Flower Kings would like them as well, but the previous post proves me otherwise.   He is correct though in that they are a Neo prog band that is spun more from the ELP cloak then from the Genesis cloak that most Neo bands are spun from.

Ok, I listened to Winter (Part 1) and thought it sounded good enough at first, I figured I'd put up one of those, 'yeah it sounded really great man' comments.  Then you started singing. 

Wow, great voice.    I'm very impressed by the tone and maturity of your voice, and your page says you're only nineteen.  Your voice is something special, very powerful.  In my opinion, you use just a little too much reverb on your voice on that track, but the power still cuts through the effects.

You have a really good voice and I mean that, it could get you far in the business if that's your desire.

Roland113 wrote: Ok, I listened to Winter (Part 1) and thought it sounded good enough at first, I figured I'd put up one of those, 'yeah it sounded really great man' comments.  Then you started singing.  Wow, great voice.    I'm very impressed by the tone and maturity of your voice, and your page says you're only nineteen.  Your voice is something special, very powerful.  In my opinion, you use just a little too much reverb on your voice on that track, but the power still cuts through the effects. You have a really good voice and I mean that, it could get you far in the business if that's your desire.

No, I'm not 19 sadly   I'm quite a bit older than that.  40, to be exact .  But thanks for the comments.  You actually listened to Placid Glow it sounds like, and I agree about the reverb.  I have a tendency to overdo it and don't really notice until I'm listening to it mixed down some.

Anyway, thanks again.  I would recommend Fear and Loving on my page for probably the proggiest song (I play in 5/4 in a few spots, and it's non commercial song ), and Autumnal Equinox (different time signatures, tempos, lots of sections and changes).  They were recorded a few years ago, and the vocals don't sound quite as good to me (on Fear and Loving, a friend of mine does some backing vocals and one really awesome dramatic part).

Also, Winter is an experimental one with delay loops and loads of spacyness.  Placid Glow is the first part of a much longer epic (that's the one you heard).


Edited by infandous - July 10 2009 at 21:41