Flower Kings Appreciation Thread

Darkshade!!

The Flower King is a really great album.  Not sure where I rank it but probably somewhere in the middle.  Roine's guitar solos on it are easily among his best, and the sound he uses is very different, more in your face or something (which I guess makes sense since it is the solo album of a guitar player).  Dissonatta is my favorite track, but they all have good elements.  I would say I prefer the live versions of Humanizzimo to the studio version though, by a good bit.

As to Zappa, I most enjoy the instrumental stuff, like Make A Jazz Noise Here, Grand Wazoo, Waka/Jawaka, Hot Rats etc.  Though there is plenty of stuff with lyrics I enjoy as well like One Size Fits All (my favorite Zappa album, if I had to pick just one).

I actually haven't listened to any Zappa in quite a while, I'll have to pull some out soon.

glad to see the thread running again.  i've missed it.  the internet would be a total wasteland with out progarchives!

Definitely see Zappa plays Zappa!  That is not to be missed.  It's probably sacrilege to say, but Dweezil's solos blow anything his dad ever did away.  But then, Frank never thought much of how own guitar playing and always said he was a dabbler in guitar, not a "pro".  Of course, there are some Frank solo's I would rank as the best guitar solos I ever heard, so I guess the Dweeze is not quite that good.  Mainly it's the fact that he has such great technique along with some obviously inherited talent at improving.  

I saw them when they opened for Dream Theater back in 2009, and they were pretty awesome. Don't expect stuff like "Dumb All Over" or "Broken Hearts are for a****les", but they play a lot of Zappa classics, and are pretty entertaining. 

The Grateful Dead is not an artist though  but he knows Roine and company, so it is a good start.

Roland113 wrote: zumacraig wrote: yeah, i missed them last time they came around.  they're on my list to see, along with TFK, of course.  seeing zappa plays zappa open for return to forever sounds so f'n awesome!!!!!!!! It was Craig.  It was my birthday / father's day present to him, I took the two of us, drive, paid for everything.  It was his present technically, but you know, I really really enjoyed giving it to him . . . ;)

darkshade wrote: The Grateful Dead is not an artist though  but he knows Roine and company, so it is a good start. My problem with ZPZ is they haven't really expanded their repertoire, and have kinda become a very glorified Zappa cover band.

Well to be fair to ZPZ, it's not the easiest material to learn and play well   They are probably the best Zappa cover band, at any rate.

hey, do you guys like any post-rock stuff?  i had a stint with tortoise and the the like.  that was years ago.  i have been enjoying some of the drone type stuff lately.  Stars of the Lid is a favorite.  actually more like Eno ambient stuff, but all done on guitars.  they slow tape down and stuff.  i'm going to check and see if they are on PA.  

Roland113 wrote: I tried Godspeed once or twice, I own Lift Your Skinny Fists . . . I love the title of the album, sadly, the music itself didn't leave quite as much of an impression on me, though in fairness, it has been a few years.  I should probably give them another whirl.

 
Hey Tom, I see a little change there my friend.  Big congrats from me on your promotion to the ranks of Collaborator.  You'll do a great job on the Neo Team I'm sure.  Well done .

On the question of post rock, I've always been a huge fan of Talk Talk ever since the mid-late 80s.  I always thought them to be slightly prog even back then, well before the term 'post rock' saw the light of day.  Their last 2 or 3 albums are amazing works that I still return to, although you definitely have to be in the mood for it.  I have a few Sigur Ros cds too.  The vocals annoy me a little at times but their music is wonderful.  I don't know if any of you guys have had the pleasure and delight to visit Iceland, but if you have you'll know what I mean when I say never have I heard music that reminds me of anywhere as much as their music reminds me of their homeland.  Awe inspiring, desolate, stark and beautiful.