Flower Kings Appreciation Thread

The new OHMphrey's album is a lot better than their debut. It's a great heavy prog/jazz-fusion album, and much more structured than the last album, which felt mostly like a bunch of jams. I've come to enjoy the debut more since the new album came out, having something to compare it to (besides the bands the members came from), but the new one is still far superior to the debut. I recommend it.

Let's see how long BOE stays on the top 100 

My first impressions of BoE were right.  After 2 more listens this weekend I'm loving this album.

Roj M30 wrote: My first impressions of BoE were right.  After 2 more listens this weekend I'm loving this album.   The short songs are excellent, especially Pandemonium.  However, Numbers is pure genius, a fantastic epic and right up there with the very best of TFK's work, in my humble opinion.  It's just a continual succession of spine tingling goose bump-inducing moments.  The repeated themes are gorgeous and 25 minutes seem to pass in the blink of an eye.  I'm going to have to start listening to this track last rather than as the opener!   Overall, I have to say Roine's guitar work is sensational.  His playing is absolutely inspired, as if he's been re-invigorated by the hiatus.  The solo at 12:00 of Numbers, well you'll go a long way before you hear anything as good as that.  The vocals from both Roine and Hasse sound great, the rhythm section is tight (the new drummer fits in very nicely) and Tomas is well, Tomas, nice work throughout and some vintage mellotron to boot.   The bonus disc is just for us completionists, but the rest of them got what they wanted, an album pruned of what most of PA term as "filler".  A 54 minute album full of inspiration and not a wasted moment.  Perhaps that's why it's burning the rubber on it's way up the PA Top 100.  It's deserved too, and long may it continue.

I have heard quite a few people say that the epic fits better at the end, and that is how they listen to it.  Guess I'm going to try that, though I do like the flow of the album as released, with the intensity level gradually decreasing until the end (Numbers being a sort of mix of intensity to give you a taste of what to expect the rest of the way).  However, I've always felt that the "big epic" should be at the end.  Maybe we'd all feel differently about Flower Power if that was the case.  Of course, you also have albums like Unfold, where epic open and close the album, which works brilliantly as well.

Anyway, I find this easily the best album since Unfold.  It's just pure, undiluted Flower Kings.  Which, incidentally, was what Roine said Sum was supposed to be.  I think though, that Roine really needed the time in Agents to work with simpler structures with more of a focus on feel and atmosphere.  I think my main issue with Sum is just that, the atmosphere and feel just isn't the same as previous works.  But whatever, all is forgiven with this album, that's for sure (not that the albums since Unfold are bad in any way, just that this one is so much better).

The only thing that I still find odd, is how negative and dark Roine's lyrics are.  Every song they are like that, except the Jonas songs, which have light, uplifting lyrics like you'd usually get from Roine.  There are many moments where the music and lyrics seem completely disconnected emotionally.  While I am kind of happy to see Roine change it up a bit, I still find it odd and somewhat unsettling.  Seriously, sit down and read the lyrics.  They are all dark and negative, without exception (again, Jonas' lyrics are the opposite, however).

New Roine interview:

http://www.rocking.gr/interviews/en/The_Flower_Kings_Interview_with_Roine_Stolt_Its_ok_to_say_that_you_like_Yes_ELP_or_Pink_Floyd_albums_Its_not_a_taboo_anymore/13400/

I don't get the impression that Roine is a particularly religious guy.

So now Mike Portnoy, Neal, and now Roine have all stated
that a new Transatlantic album is on the horizon for next year, 2013. 

darkshade wrote: So now Mike Portnoy, Neal, and now Roine have all stated that a new Transatlantic album is on the horizon for next year, 2013.

Roland113 wrote: M27Barney wrote: Anthony H. wrote: I don't get the impression that Roine is a particularly religious guy. Perhaps he isn't - but would a geezer who wasn't religious mention the Bible/religious themes in nearly every song he pens the lyrics for.... He's particularly fond of the Book of Genesis......Maybe it's just all a unconscious link to Gabriel Era Supremacy...... It's been said before by others far more versed than I, but, he has said in the past that he is not a fan of organized religion but he is rather spiritual.  I don't have the full lyrics for numbers in front of me but in my mind, the lyric that you were saying before could be a reference to someone being stuck between a rock and a hard place.

looks like kaipa have a new one coming out next month.  i've had notes from the past for several weeks now and i just cannot get into it. i like the third song.  i've read that the post roine albums are less TFK sounding.  i think i'll check out a few of those.  it's funny, but roine in this band doesn't heighten my interest at all.  fwiw, the cover for the new album is awesome!