Flower Kings Appreciation Thread

Roj M30 wrote: Roland113 wrote: I don't know how many of the regulars are paying attention to the Flower Kings Survivor polls but they've made it up to "Paradox Hotel".  I was amazed, "Touch My Heaven" was eliminated in the first round which amazed me.  What do you all think of the song? Me, it's one of my favorites.  In all honesty though, I can see the dislike.  If you listen only to the first couple of minutes, it's kind of boring, the blistering Roine blues solo at the end is absolutely phenomenal though.  What do you all think of the song?   Hi Tom, how's things your side of the pond?   I've not really been paying much attention to those Survivor polls, they're much too slow moving for me.  I've just had a look however and that's a real surprise to be honest.  Touch My Heaven is a great song (I tend to always like the Bodin-composed tunes) with a superb solo and there's quite a few I'd have elbowed before that.  I think I might just go and cast a vote.  P'raps Unorthodox Dancing Lesson?

I love Touch My Heaven, the whole song is great.  It's about a time in Tomas' life when he was "partying" and not feeling good about it.  I think the music and vocals are just perfect for the subject matter.  Others who are not as familiar may feel differently.

Unorthodox Dancing Lesson is another one of my favs from that album.  A really great instrumental.  I love the Fripp-like guitar patterns in that song.  Great stuff.

Oh yeah........ I don't pay attention to any of the polls anymore.  Not really very interested at all.  I think I voted in one not long ago simply because it was mentioned here.  Other than that though, I have no interest.


Edited by infandous - October 15 2012 at 14:08

M27Barney wrote: Roj - You have mail, Apart from M & M - haven't listened much to the rest of PH, I am concentrating on Nexus at the moment - the first two CD's are bloody marvellous and the CD Metanoia - I can't remember the last CD where I enjoyed every single track!!!! - with every one a winner this is definately a five star job  when I review it. I have started to dish out my  winter solstice CD wish list to my family - I am a simple man with not too much to want really... - all I require at that time of year is a prog CD - I will be hoping for a haul of about 12 CD's - keep me busy while I build up a bit of cash for the spring time prog offensive....

I can't figure out where the stream player is

I got the same 'unavailable' as you Tom, and I don't have anything blocking at work here.  Zuma, are you sure it's Nad singing?  He only sings on a couple tracks, I understand.  Unfortunately, I don't know which ones.

(from Hackett's web site, here are the singers who will appear on the album:  Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree), Mikael Akerfeldt (Opeth), Simon Collins (Phil Collins' son), Amanda Lehmann, Conrad Keely, Francis Dunnery, Neal Morse, John Wetton, Nad Sylvan and Nik Kershaw .......... I would assume they don't all sing on each track )


Another edit:  Just found where hackett talks about all the tracks on his web site, and Nad does indeed sing The Chamber Of 32 Doors, so I guess it was him you heard   I still can't seem to play the video, so I'll just have to take your word for it that he sounds amazing...........


Edited by infandous - October 16 2012 at 10:36

infandous wrote: I got the same 'unavailable' as you Tom, and I don't have anything blocking at work here.  Zuma, are you sure it's Nad singing?  He only sings on a couple tracks, I understand.  Unfortunately, I don't know which ones. (from Hackett's web site, here are the singers who will appear on the album:  Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree), Mikael Akerfeldt (Opeth), Simon Collins (Phil Collins' son), Amanda Lehmann, Conrad Keely, Francis Dunnery, Neal Morse, John Wetton, Nad Sylvan and Nik Kershaw .......... I would assume they don't all sing on each track ) Another edit:  Just found where hackett talks about all the tracks on his web site, and Nad does indeed sing The Chamber Of 32 Doors, so I guess it was him you heard   I still can't seem to play the video, so I'll just have to take your word for it that he sounds amazing...........

For some reason I'm quickly growing an appreciation for the not-so-popular albums in the Flower Kings' discography, especially The Rainmaker, Adam and Eve, and Paradox Hotel. It's the weirdest thing. I suppose I spent so much time on all the other albums that I didn't pay enough attention to those three releases I usually find mediocre. But now every time I hear them I feel like they're the best albums or something.

M27Barney wrote: The thing is (with an expanding prog collection) - I have realised that Pan European and Central/South American prog - is a rich vein of prog that I have yet to mine...... I have Cuban, Argentinian, Italian, French, Dutch, Polish, German, Swedish and French CD's but I am sure that there is absolutely loads yet to get - and it's a personal mission to own every single CD that Stolte has played on.....

I like Paradox Hotel and all, but it's still one of my least preferred TFK albums. However, I really enjoy Adam & Eve and The Rainmaker, and I'd probably rank them somewhere in the middle.

Roj M30 wrote: Flower Power Disc Two Appreciation Yes, strange I know.  I've had this disc on in the car the last few days and I think it may have finally won me over.  I've always absolutely loved Deaf Numb and Blind and Power of Kindness, and quite liked Psychedelic Postcard but that was about it.  However I seem to have developed an affinity for Calling Home too.  Afterlife I have really enjoyed and think it's a worthy album closer.  Gulp, I have even quite enjoyed Magic Pie .  Am I losing it?

Hardly losing it! `Disc Two' is a mighty Flower Kings album in it's own right! It's only considered lesser because the first disc `Garden Of Dreams' is so good! I think it's been said on here before that the two discs probably would have been better off being released separately.

Aussie-Byrd-Brother wrote: Roj M30 wrote: Flower Power Disc Two Appreciation Yes, strange I know.  I've had this disc on in the car the last few days and I think it may have finally won me over.  I've always absolutely loved Deaf Numb and Blind and Power of Kindness, and quite liked Psychedelic Postcard but that was about it.  However I seem to have developed an affinity for Calling Home too.  Afterlife I have really enjoyed and think it's a worthy album closer.  Gulp, I have even quite enjoyed Magic Pie .  Am I losing it?  Hardly losing it! `Disc Two' is a mighty Flower Kings album in it's own right! It's only considered lesser because the first disc `Garden Of Dreams' is so good! I think it's been said on here before that the two discs probably would have been better off being released separately.

Well, I still place Flower Power CD2 next to last in my FK rankings.  Which means, it's still good FK material, for the most part.  I usually enjoy listening to it when I do play it, but Magic Pie is one of the very few FK tunes I simply can't stand.  It's main melody is stolen from somewhere I can't quite place (but it's "adult contemporary" pop, I'm sure of that) and the Yes sounding section is just to contrived for me.  Painter is pretty generic (FK generic, but still).  Calling Home starts out fantastically, but then kind of fizzles out in the second half.  Other than that though, I actually like all the other songs pretty well.  I just don't find any of them to be "great" FK tunes, just good to very good.  My favorite is Deaf, Numb, and Blind.  I've actually always liked Stupid Girl, mainly for the Zappa like ending section.