Flower Kings Appreciation Thread

Roland113 wrote: Roj M30 wrote: 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.     Thanks Roj, I'm pretty excited to have been asked.   I didn't know that Talk Talk was considered post, I like a lot of what I heard of them.  I kind of get what you mean about Sigur Ros, they are certainly bleak and yeah, I get the feeling that they're trying to convey.  Sadly, I balked at the vocals as well.

Yeah, congrats Tom! 

As to post-rock in general.  I tried Godspeed, I tried Sigur Ros, neither did anything for me.  Though, like Tom, it was quite a while ago (10 years or more!).  So maybe I should pull those out.

Talk Talk, on the other hand, is excellent.  Spirit of Eden is a great album that I just listened to again recently.  Very good Autumn/Winter album for me.  I'm not sure they really fit the post-rock genre as it's known today, but they certainly seem like they were one of the inspirations for it.  I don't have any of their other albums, but there is one other (their last one) that is in the same vein as Spirit that I think I will have to check out soon.  Their first couple albums were 80's synth-pop so avoid those (unless you like that sort of thing, I guess).

RE:  Jonsi, yeah his vocals are a bit annoying.  it's a made up language too.  incidentally, that movie about sigur ros is pretty awesome.  i love the icelandic landscape...just so open and grey, yet warm.  they're a poor country but don't they have the highest ratings in life satisfaction etc.?  

Edited by zumacraig - December 18 2012 at 22:02

infandous wrote: As to post-rock in general.  I tried Godspeed, I tried Sigur Ros, neither did anything for me.  Though, like Tom, it was quite a while ago (10 years or more!).  So maybe I should pull those out. Talk Talk, on the other hand, is excellent.  Spirit of Eden is a great album that I just listened to again recently.  Very good Autumn/Winter album for me.  I'm not sure they really fit the post-rock genre as it's known today, but they certainly seem like they were one of the inspirations for it.  I don't have any of their other albums, but there is one other (their last one) that is in the same vein as Spirit that I think I will have to check out soon.  Their first couple albums were 80's synth-pop so avoid those (unless you like that sort of thing, I guess).

 
Yes definitely avoid the first 2 Talk Talk albums like the plague.

However The Colour of Spring, Spirit of Eden and Laughing Stock are superb.  I think it's safe to say the latter two are regarded as the starting point from where post rock emerged.  I've not heard any other post rock albums that are remotely near as good as those two.  As I say though, I really enjoy Sigur Ros too.  Musically they're fantastic.

"Post Rock" ?? Not sure i'm liking that anything with "post-" in front of it is almost certainly arty farty Physics envy - i.e. post-modernism...God Speed lured me in with humingously long track lengths....I was horrified when I played the two CD's i'd purchased...still they're in my collection.....

After all this time, I finally understand the greatness of Retropolis.

darkshade wrote: I'm generally not into anything with "post" in the sub-genre name. As far as post-rock goes, I tried Godspeed You! Black Emperor, didn't like them. I tried Sigur Ros "()", listened to it 3-4 times, didn't not like it, but it never captivated me. I don't think post-rock is for me, like black metal, or "post-hardcore" kind of music.

That's exactly the same as my experience with post-rock.  Except that I got Spirit Of Eden a few years later, and love it.  If you get a chance, check it out (listen first, of course).  It took me a few spins, but it's minimalist approach and extremely broad dynamic range won me over.  The great vocals helped as well.

rushfan4 wrote: I'm not much into post-rock or post-metal but I like Battles quite a bit.  You might want to check them out.

But what is post-metal? or post-Rock? I can understand some genre titles - but post-x? Sounds so bloody humanities departmental bollocks.....Lets try to sound clever/intellectual even though the subject we study / teach is just a load of old subjective codswallop...what about Nouveaux-Faux-Progressive.....or Pre-Retro-symphonic-progressive......They sound impressive but......

rushfan4 wrote: I'm not much into post-rock or post-metal but I like Battles quite a bit.  You might want to check them out.

Thanks Gus,

infandous wrote:   Talk Talk, on the other hand, is excellent.  Spirit of Eden is a great album that I just listened to again recently.  Very good Autumn/Winter album for me.  I'm not sure they really fit the post-rock genre as it's known today, but they certainly seem like they were one of the inspirations for it.  I don't have any of their other albums, but there is one other (their last one) that is in the same vein as Spirit that I think I will have to check out soon.  Their first couple albums were 80's synth-pop so avoid those (unless you like that sort of thing, I guess).