Flower Kings Appreciation Thread

M27Barney wrote: Oh - and the Flokis - I Bought Flower Power along with another 20 to 30 prog CD's, thus that CD didn't get the listening it deserved (I shall put that right in the next few months) - Roj told me to get Stadust we are - So I did and thats when I decided that I had been in a similar situation in the late 70's - I was REALLY into Genesis, then everybody told me I must LIKE Yes - And I tried to listen to Going for the One - and didn't like it !!! - However as the music appreciation subroutines in my brain became more mature and prog-orientated - I suddenly thought - Yes - WOW and they became my favourite band overall, and now when my prog-sense has developed some more - Roine Stolte's genius has sneaked up behind me and knocked me for six with his guitar solo construction and epic track writing prowess. I now think that I don't have a favourite all time band - just Genesis, Yes, IQ, DT, TFK sort of battling it out depending on my current mood. Anyway I shall review the rest of TFK's back catalogue once I have given them the ear and written down my thoughts in my prog appreciation log. TTFN.

Edited by Roj M30 - August 05 2009 at 03:08

Oh and Floyd - Shine on you crazy diamond - thats a gem and Echoes too - But Floyd have always been too poppy (DSOTM) and accessible and POPULAR, not so sure that TFK are ever going to have the same mass appeal - and thats a good thing obviously.

The Quiet One wrote: I've got a need to talk about The Tangent.... Please list their albums in order of preference: #1 The World That We Drive Through (5 stars) #2 Not as Good as the Book (4.5 stars) #3 A Place in the Queue (4.5 stars) haven't heard their debut, yet

#1 A Place in the Queue
#2 all the rest of them 

That really is my preference.  I find Queue to be far and away their best work, miles above the other albums.  But having said that, I enjoy them all.

^I will seek this out at one of the fine proprietors in my area that sell things to repel offensive objects.  Thanks for the heads up!  

Roj M30 wrote: ^ I've only got A Place In The Queue (so far) and I really like that.  I love Tillison's lyrics, Lost In London always makes me smile, being a Northerner here in England.  I think the two epics are superb. I have a birthday coming up in a couple of months, and I'm planning to "request" some Tangent.  What would you (Pablo) and everybody else for that recommend?  Would the Stolt albums be the best bet? I see Rob (M27 Barney) has joined us.  Welcome to the ranks.

 
The World that We Drive Through could be a better bet since knowing that you like almost everything where Roine plays, this album should not let you down, but you should first acknowledge the differences between The Tangent and The Flower Kings first, if you haven't yet.

Listen to the sample in PA, if you can.

BTW, I was surprised you didn't have them all already




Edited by The Quiet One - August 05 2009 at 16:04

The Quiet One wrote:   BTW, I was surprised you didn't have them all already

The Quiet One wrote: infandous wrote: The Quiet One wrote: I've got a need to talk about The Tangent.... Please list their albums in order of preference: #1 The World That We Drive Through (5 stars) #2 Not as Good as the Book (4.5 stars) #3 A Place in the Queue (4.5 stars) haven't heard their debut, yet #1 A Place in the Queue #2 all the rest of them  That really is my preference.  I find Queue to be far and away their best work, miles above the other albums.  But having said that, I enjoy them all. A Place in the Queue, for me is like Unfold the Future by The Flower Kings, for me it's each other's musicianship and composition peak. (note that both albums have 7 songs, without counting the second CD from UtF) However, as you know, UtF isn't my favorite, though definitely name it as their best, just like with A Place in the Queue.

Well, I agree actually.  Though unlike Unfold (which is "only" my second favorite FK album), Queue is my favorite Tangent.  Although I've come to the conclusion that tracks 1, 3, and 4 of The World That We Drive Through are the best the Tangent has ever done.  But, as a whole, I prefer Queue.

Here's a question for thought, and I don't really have an answer for it.  First, here's a list of bands / artists:

The Flower Kings
Neal Morse
Sylvan
IQ
Frost*
Dream Theater

Personally, I find that list to encompass a relatively wide range of styles (and by large range of styles, I'm not including the more avant / Zeuhl type things).  Dream Theater is progressive metal while The Flower Kings and Neal are firmly symphonic.  Sylvan is of the softer side of Neo while Frost* is notably harder.  Finally there's IQ (who I'll be seeing tomorrow night)  which is considered Neo in a historical aspect, though their music is firmly symphonic.

My point to all of this is that we, the group that posts a lot to this group, all seem to enjoy these different bands.  I put up a Sylvan poll and only a few people answered, but most of them (E-Dub) being the notable exception are regulars in this forum.  Pretty much the same group of people (with a few exceptions) post on the Neal Morse and the IQ thread, and every time a new Frost* poll comes up you can count on a similar pool. 

Other bands that could be on the list include The Tangent, Transatlantic and Karmakanic but I absolutely get the connection there.

I know that I'm making generalities, but I'd like to hear your opinions.  What links the bands mentioned above?  Why can many of us jump from "A Nightmare to Rememner" to "One More Time", two polar opposites musicially, yet have no problem with the transition.

Food for thought . . .

Well Roland, I'm going to blow your assumption I'm afraid.  I generally dislike Neo......a lot.  IQ is probably the only exception, but even with them I find that the more recent albums songs all run together and leave no impression on me after they are done (though they are pleasant enough while I'm listening).  I don't care for Frost* at all, and even less for Sylan (though I've only heard one album by each, the first Frost* and the Posthumous Silence from Sylvan).  I like some of the Fish ear Marillion stuff as well, and Pallas is tolerable to me (but much like IQ, the songs all run together and I can't recall anything about them when they are over).  I have never heard anything I liked from Pendragon, Arena, Jadis, etc. (can't think of all the neo I've heard at the moment.........but it's a lot, because it always seemed like something I should like in theory, but in reality I just don't).

Oh, and I love quite a few RIO/avante bands and Zappa is one of my favorite composers of all time.

Having said that, my favorite form of music is symphonic prog, so I suppose maybe it's a bit odd that I don't like neo.  But that's how it is for me.

^ Scott, maybe regular poster was not quote the correct term, but regular monitors.  Specifically, when I saw both you and Nate posting to the Sylvan poll is when I started thinking along these lines. 

And there are certainly exceptions to from those in here as well.  As infandous mentioned a moment ago, he's not a big fan of most of the other bands (besides The Flower Kings) and if I'm on my mark, Pablo will be an exception as well. 

J-Man (as he said above) , Henk and Roj though I'm thinking are all going to foll into that same category. 

Good point on the Transatlantic connection.  Even though I mentioned them, I wasn't thinking of them as the connecting factor.  Shoot, maybe I should include Marillion in the same group, I didn't cause I don't consider them one of my favorites, but that's part of the process, just cause they're my exception doesn't mean that they don't fall into the same category. Either way, in my own mind, I'm giving a bit more weight to recommendations from people that enjoy the previous listed bands just because of your musical compatibilities.

I'm still curious to what others may consider linking factors, though feel free to include Marillion on the list as well.