Flower Kings Appreciation Thread

M27Barney wrote: infocat wrote: I have maybe 1200 CDs.  I can only offhand think of one album that I've listened to only twice and may never try again, which is Dune by "HUMI" (Hugh Hopper and Yumi Hara Cawkwell).  Dreadful (not to mention very disappointing!)  Though I shouldn't kid myself, as I probably will try it again some day! I've definitely had cases of quite disliking an album at first and coming to appreciate it later, so I'm not sure at what point I would really write off an album. I don't really have a problem with neglecting any CDs, as of about 2 1/2 years ago I started listening to them at work, so I have more trouble figuring out what to listen to that I haven't listened to "recently". I just noticed this is a Flower Kings appreciation thread I'm writing this in.  My apologies; but they started it!  1200? isn''t that just the output of Frank Zappa? Seriously - In any large collection (750+) - surely some CD's must never be played again? I mean if the average lengthof a CD is 40 Mins (and that a lower estimate for prog CD's) To listen to all 1200 would take 33 1/3 days - 33 1/3 isn't that the LP revolution speed - hey thats CREEPY... So it wold take over a month to listen to them all - probably considerably more if you have FK's CD's in your collection because I haven't included doubles etc - probably take two months to get through a prog collection of 1200..so you could recycle 6 times a year (if you did nothing else of course)..... Coz I know that even yes - albums, Drama, Tormato, Fragile, yes, yes album - I haven't listed to any of those this century I think......similarly - From Genesis to Revelation, And then..., Duke, Abacab.....

Certainly there are albums I haven't listened to in many years.  (My one Kenny G release, for example!!)  But I imagine I've heard most of my collection at least once in the last few years.  Many a lot more than once!  Even the one's I haven't listened to in years, however, I listened to more often when I first got them.

Only have 2 TFK albums, though...!

I listened to FGtR maybe a month ago and surprised myself by quite enjoying it! 



Edited by infocat - September 21 2012 at 22:35

M27Barney wrote: Numbers is quite simply up there with I am the Sun, Garden of Dreams, Stardust we are and Monsters and Men - The FIVE epics to end all epics - I want no arguments - no if's of buts - this is THE CANON laid down in the sight of all Flokis old and young = the FIVE books of the Flower Kings Bible - The Pentateuch - if you like

M27Barney wrote:  Numbers is quite simply up there with I am the Sun, Garden of Dreams, Stardust we are and Monsters and Men - The FIVE epics to end all epics.

Priot to me seeing them on Sunday Night - Looking forward to it - and thats an UNDERSTATEMENT....I listened to the bonus disc first - excellent Hor Deuvres - and then for the main event - Disc 1 -  Numbers is quite simply up there with I am the Sun, Garden of Dreams, Stardust we are and Monsters and Men - The FIVE epics to end all epics - I want no arguments - no if's of buts - this is THE CANON laid down in the sight of all Flokis old and young = the FIVE books of the Flower Kings Bible - The Pentateuch - if you like (and thats another old prog link).

Infandous, I support the love for The Sum Of No Evil. It's my #3 behind Unfold the Future and Space Revolver. I think the album is amazing in how much it's like the early TFK albums as far as the heavy symphonic prog, mixed with the more jazzy and modern sound like on UTF and Adam & Eve. in my opinion, it's THE album to put on in the middle of the day with the sun shining.

Based on my feelings about Banks Of Eden, I was starting to worry that I might be getting tired of TFK's.  It happened to me with Yes, ELP, Rush, and a few other bands I used to love and call my favorite, so I was thinking it was possible it could happen with the Kings.

So I pulled out The Sum Of No Evil last night, since I hadn't spun it in at least a year.  Holy crap what a great album!  I like it so much more than Banks.  I don't know if it is because of Zoltan, or Brunnusion (can never remember how to spell his name),  or maybe the sax player.  Maybe it's the dense melodies and huge number of changes of mood, tempo, time signature, and dynamics.  Maybe it's Roine's killer guitar solos over more interesting progressions.  Maybe it's the much more jazzy approach taken in many of the instrumental breaks (Jonas KILLS on that album, absolutely KILLS).  I guess it just contains so much more of what I love about the band than Banks does.  In any case, I was quite glad that I obviously haven't gotten sick of this band, just got sick of the new album rather quicker than I would have thought possible.  Much like my experience with Adam & Eve when it first came out (liked it at first, then got tired of it quickly as it became less enjoyable with each play).

Of course, this doesn't mean I don't like the album.  I suspect that much like Adam & Eve, I will come to appreciate it more over the next few years (I like it better than Adam & Eve right now as it is).  So once again, don't think I'm suggesting that Banks is a bad album, because it's not.  However when I get around to reviewing it, it will get a solid 3 stars from me (the lowest I can bring myself to rate a FK studio album).

Anyway, just thought I'd share this ,as I know pretty much everyone here loves Banks.  I also know a lot of you are not crazy about TSoNE.  I guess the drawbacks of TSoNE are that it doesn't breath much, and is quite a lot to take in on one listen.  They cast off the shorter songs on that one, and I could see that being a negative for some people.  Not for me, but for some people.  I just think the playing on it completely blows away Banks, even if the songwriting isn't as smooth and flowing as on Banks (which again is a plus for me, but I'm sure not for most fans).  There is just no replacement for Zoltan, IMO.  Best drummer for TFK, bar none.

Again, just happy that it isn't the band themselves I got tired of.  Whew! 

PINK FLOYD:

M27Barney wrote: Hmmm - recently I put all my CD's into their new - made by me CD mega-collection set of shelves from floor to ceiling - in my office - so I have them in Alphabetical band order - top left A to bottom right - Z & CD's by numerous artistes.....I haven't put them all into year order within bands (only my faves like the FK's) - and I have Cards with the bands names interspersed for easy location......I also have lots of gaps to fill in as my collection will grow..... I applaud your dedication on attempting to listen to them in alphabetical order...but when I am choosing a CD to play (once the newbies have been spun - I invariably think - i'm feeling like I need to hear a bit of prog metal - so I choose a CD.....I will usaully play my current faves until I realise that I am over playing them....then they become past faves. As for Yes - I got into them a lot later than Genesis....who were my first love saw them at earls court in 1977 courtesy of a spare ticket my brother had.....I was played GFTO in 1977 and I didn't like it - but by the time I had left school - Yes were suddenly turning me on more than Genesis......Now it's the Flokis who are my favourite but they have a lot more competition than genesis did in 1977......As for Floyd - the fact that so many non-proggers like them definately removes them the pantheon of greatness - as roj will testify I have always regarded DSOTM as a pop release - coz where id the Epic length / virtuosity and Extended instrumental breaks that a truly prog CD must have....I know this will get right up some peoples nose who have Floyd up there as rarified prog gods - nah not on MY watch....

I love Pink Floyd, and have for many years.  However, I never considered them "prog".  Always thought of them as classic rock, and would say I still do for the most part.  They were indeed "progressive", in that they seemed to grow and develop with each album.  The song structures became tighter and stronger, the lyrics more meaningful and relevant, the playing more skilled and refined.  Mind you, I much prefer the early stuff (pre-Dark Side) to the later stuff (Dark Side and after), but it's all quite good  to my ears.  They certainly were innovators in the use of the studio and synths and recording technology, no question about that.

I would call them one of the greatest bands of all time, true legends.  I honestly find their massive popularity a bit odd really, since their music can be so strange and their lyrics so stark and depressing.  But I agree with you that I wouldn't call Dark Side Of The Moon a Progressive Rock masterpiece.  I would call it a musical masterpiece though.


Edited by infandous - September 20 2012 at 11:22

infocat wrote: I have maybe 1200 CDs.  I can only offhand think of one album that I've listened to only twice and may never try again, which is Dune by "HUMI" (Hugh Hopper and Yumi Hara Cawkwell).  Dreadful (not to mention very disappointing!)  Though I shouldn't kid myself, as I probably will try it again some day! I've definitely had cases of quite disliking an album at first and coming to appreciate it later, so I'm not sure at what point I would really write off an album. I don't really have a problem with neglecting any CDs, as of about 2 1/2 years ago I started listening to them at work, so I have more trouble figuring out what to listen to that I haven't listened to "recently". I just noticed this is a Flower Kings appreciation thread I'm writing this in.  My apologies; but they started it!

1200? isn''t that just the output of Frank Zappa?

i've all but given up 'working' to listen to CDs.  if something doesn't catch my attention with a sound bite or two, i'm moving on.  also, if the first 3 tunes on a CD aren't good, then I move on.  there's so much stuff out there.  as far as the classic bands go, i've tried to be a completist, but everytime i listen to a subpar album of theirs i just want to head back to my favorites.  example, listened to floyd division bell yesterday.  good album, but if i'm gonna listen to floyd i'm gonna put on wish you were here or animals.