Flower Kings Appreciation Thread

I have albums from about 8 of these bands, including Sky Architect.  It seems to be a pretty good lineup.  I've not heard the album though.  Just happened to run acrossed it while browsing the Musea site.

Anyway - in Amsterdam - I was drawn into a bar in the Red-light district coz it was playing - Fountain of Salmacis... I entered and asked the barman if they had any proper - cask ales? - Aye - he said - Belgium Duvel export - expensive @ 7 euros a pint - but @ 12.5% ABV - the two pints I quoffed were liquid nectar -and I have to say the prog rock duke-box was a delight to behold........and watching the prostitutes on the other side of the canal was entertaining to say the least....

The cover is quite crappy, by the way... :\

Nightfly wrote: M27Barney wrote: Nightfly wrote: Anyone going to the Holmfirth gig tonight? I'll be off there in a couple of hours. I was at the gig - stood right at the front of the stage - left edge - i was the tall dude - I reckon I was possibly tallest there - wearing a blue kangol hooded jacket to keep the yorkshire rain off me bonce. fantastic Gig - started with numbers - played three off BOE - first 2nd and last tracks..... otther memorable moments - Stardust we are section.....Guitar solo in - "The truth will set you free" Other tracks - I am a clown in the eyes of the world.... Only gripe - encore of "paradox Hotel" - could have picked a lot of better tracks than that.... Sound - bit heavy on the drums / bass for my linking....but ok on the whole. Yeah a great gig, really enjoyed it.

zumacraig wrote: @darkshade- http://www.flowerkings.se/news_2004.php i love A+E too.  those three albums do kind of fit together.  i see Paradox as it's own beast.  anyway, i was checking out the TFK site and on their news archives Roine writes a lot about his inspiration for A+E.  he also talks about his vision for TFK.  very cool.  link above.  a cool fact is that the song Blade of Cain was supposed to be a part of the song A+E. @Infandous RPWL a pleasant and fair forgery of late period floyd! how dare you!  you're right there.  i do like gilmour floyd so RPWL hits the spot.  its amazing how everyone of their albums sounds like it was recorded in 1989.   @Barney yeah, RPWL has a certain sound.  i've been trying with marillion and they definitely aren't an immediate interest.  however, i think if i gave them some time i'd get into them.  their songs are a bit boring.  i'm fascinated by their fan base.

A&E, the song, is actually one that I like on that album.  I didn't at first, but it grew on me.  No  my problem with that album is the two epics and two shorter tracks that I can't stand (Cosmic Circus and Starlight Man).

The age old argument has emerged again - like the alien bursting forth from a writhing John Hurts Chest...

M27Barney wrote: The age old argument has emerged again - like the alien bursting forth from a writhing John Hurts Chest... can an album be classed as a prog-rock classic if it didn't have a track over 10 minutes long on it or linked tracks ala - The lamb.....

Gentle Giant have no songs over 10 minutes in their entire catalog, and at least 3 of their albums I consider prog-rock classics (none of which are concept albums, either).  Song length has nothing to do with music genre.  I've heard plenty of 10+ minute blues songs......that doesn't make them prog (or 20 minute jazz songs, for that matter).  Likewise, just because a song like The Advent Of Panurge is under 5 minutes long, doesn't mean it's not a prog song (it's as prog as it gets, really).  Oh yeah, Discipline by King Crimson has no songs over 10 minutes either, and whether you enjoy it or not, there is no denying that it is 100% prog rock.

Of course, if we want to generalize, then perhaps you could say that a lot of prog involves at least one track on an album being over 10 minutes.  But even then, I just don't think it's a good indicator of prog, let alone good prog.


Edited by infandous - October 03 2012 at 08:15

Oh wow . . . ok, off the top of my head, top 5 non-prog albums (and I'm not including Gabriel as he's Prog-Related):

Roland113 wrote: Oh wow . . . ok, off the top of my head, top 5 non-prog albums (and I'm not including Gabriel as he's Prog-Related): Involver - Sasha Here Comes Science - They Might be Giants Kick - INXS Brothers in Arms - Dire Straits Graceland - Paul Simon

zumacraig wrote: to be prog a band absolutely must have at least one 25 min. epic per album AND put out two double albums in a row.  now, who fits that bill?   okay dudes how about top 5 non-prog albums... 1.  Pat Metheny Group-First Album (kind of proggy, sorry) 2.  Neil Young-Neil Young 3. Wilco-A Ghost Is Born 4. Gillian Welch-Time The Revelator 5. Grateful Dead-Reckoning of course, these change daily :-)

Once again, Gentle Giant.  There are not many more progressive bands than them (and they are most certainly prog rock).  I think a lot of prog bands should have forgone the 25 minute epic, because they don't do a very good job with them.

As to non-prog, well, I wouldn't include the Grateful Dead in that category, as they certainly "progressed" quite a bit throughout their career.  I suppose they are not really "prog rock" though (except Terrapin Station, of course).

Beyond them, I can't say I really listen to any non-prog, aside from a fair amount of classic rock stuff that my girlfriend likes (she listens to all sorts of "pop" music though.........thankfully nothing modern, but 80's and 90's stuff as well as the 70's stuff).  I have a few Doors albums, some Beatles, some Grateful Dead.  That's pretty much it.  Oh yeah, and Pink Floyd


Edited by infandous - October 04 2012 at 08:41