Flower Kings: where to start?
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Topic: Flower Kings: where to start?
Posted By: Ty1020
Subject: Flower Kings: where to start?
Date Posted: August 06 2005 at 16:19
| After listening to (and loving) the samples from this site for some time now, I've decided that I need to go buy a Flower Kings album. Based on the rating thread, every one of their albums seems to have something good about it, but I want to know which one I should get first. I'm thinking either Unfold the Future or Space Revolver would be good, but since the quality of their discography is pretty consistent, I was wondering if there was any particular point I should jump in at. |
Replies:
Posted By: Damen
Date Posted: August 06 2005 at 16:33
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The 1996 album Retropolis is a good start, since it's the album where they found their sound in my opinion. ------------- "It's amazing that we've been able to put up with each other for 35 years. Most marriages don't last that long these days." -Chris Squire |
Posted By: Zitro
Date Posted: August 06 2005 at 16:40
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I am a newbie, I have 3 albums and their DVD. I heard that Space Revolver is their best album, you might want to get that one. I heard 2 epics of Unfold the Future in the live DVD .. I have to admit that 'The truth will set you free' may be one of the best modern epics of all times. I do not know if the rest of the album has that quality. Stardust We Are is very important for me (the first album I reviewed), because it's my first flower kings disc I got, and it made me realize the 70s-style prog is not dead. It is a double album, but I feel the second disk is much weaker than the first. I still recommend it. The music is very diverse here, so you might get a general idea of all the styles the band plays. Adam And Eve may be their most accessible one, and they sacrificed virtuosity for song writing. It is controversial, so beware. Rainmaker is probably their weakest album, many of their jams seem pointless here for me, and the songwriting leaves something to be desired. You will not like this album's lyrics.
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Posted By: Ed_The_Dead
Date Posted: August 06 2005 at 17:03
wait for Man Overboard ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/ed_the_dead/?chartstyle=asimpleblue5"> 
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Posted By: Man Overboard
Date Posted: August 06 2005 at 17:04
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Space Revolver is their poppiest, by far. However, it's also got
epics and virtuousity... I recommend that for starters. Then... go ahead and get Unfold The Future, and the DVD.  ------------- https://soundcloud.com/erin-susan-jennings" rel="nofollow - Bedroom guitarist". Composer, Arranger, Producer. Perfection may not exist, but I may still choose to serve Perfection. Commissions considered. |
Posted By: Sir Hogweed
Date Posted: August 06 2005 at 17:45
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Retropolis was my first and it took me some time to get used to the vocals. The instrumental title track is awesome though, and it made me try Space Revolver (the first with Reingold on bass). After that it became an addiction. I would recommend Space Revolver for first time buyers since it is a single CD. Only one short filler on it. Unfold The Future, Stardust We Are and Flower Power are also really great (although Unfold is quite experimental and not liked by everyone, but personally I think it's their best) |
Posted By: SonicTemple
Date Posted: August 06 2005 at 19:37
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Great advice from a solid source....I completely agree with these recomendations ------------- Fire Woman, your to blame! |
Man Overboard wrote:
Posted By: raindance
Date Posted: August 06 2005 at 19:41
| Even my non-proggy freinds like some of Space Revolver. Defineatly their most consistent and accessable release! |
Posted By: King of Loss
Date Posted: August 06 2005 at 19:43
| Try Stardust We Are! |
Posted By: ulver982
Date Posted: August 06 2005 at 19:53
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Yeah, try Space Revolver. Yet, I started out with Adam & Eve and now have all their albums. They're all great! ------------- Improvement makes straight roads, but the crooked roads without improvement, are roads of genius. Silence is the music of the future. |
Posted By: transend
Date Posted: August 06 2005 at 19:55
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I agree, 'space revolver' is a good place to start, it is a single CD and a little less to digest than the big double ones. It is a solid effort, with a good mix of their styles and ideas. The big doubles are all different, 'Unfold the future' is jazzy/improv almost.. so for that reason (even though UTF is wonderful) I would go for either 'Stardust we are' or 'Flower power' first. |
Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Date Posted: August 06 2005 at 19:57
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Space Revolver. (unless you're heavily into Jazz ... but if you like Space Revolver, get Unfold The Future as well ... and then Retropolis, Stardust, Flower Power, Back in the World of Adventures and The Rainmaker ... and maybe even Adam & Eve. ------------- https://awesomeprog.com/release-polls/pa" rel="nofollow - Release Polls Listened to: 
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Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: August 06 2005 at 20:18
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This is starting to be a trend, but sorry, I would recommend Space Revolver too! A very good album with an outstanding opening track! Great bass and drums throughout, and a great package! ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Date Posted: August 06 2005 at 20:22
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BTW: Check out the solo albums as well - Roine Stolt - Hydrophonia is breathtaking. Tomas Bodin also released some pretty nice albums ... ------------- https://awesomeprog.com/release-polls/pa" rel="nofollow - Release Polls Listened to:
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Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: August 07 2005 at 05:25
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Unfold The Future is the best I've heard.....don't bother buying any others as they all sound the same. |
Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Date Posted: August 07 2005 at 05:29
That's not true. ------------- https://awesomeprog.com/release-polls/pa" rel="nofollow - Release Polls Listened to:
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Posted By: TheProgtologist
Date Posted: August 07 2005 at 07:41
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Same here,great album and a fav of mine. -------------  |
Posted By: TheProgtologist
Date Posted: August 07 2005 at 07:43
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Might wanna also check out The Tangent too(Stolt,Reingold and Csorsz)and Kaipa. ------------- |
Posted By: Chris88
Date Posted: August 07 2005 at 08:27
I would also like to reccomend unfold the future. Back in the world of adventures was the first FKs cd i bought and i think it may be the best starting point. buy them both or better yet go online and order every single one of them,you wont look back.
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Posted By: Man Overboard
Date Posted: August 07 2005 at 13:18
I don't think it's right to spread that sort of ignorance, unless you truly believe that an album of electronic ambient experimentation with Eastern themes sounds exactly like an album of twisted, poppy symphonic rock. You lose.  ------------- https://soundcloud.com/erin-susan-jennings" rel="nofollow - Bedroom guitarist". Composer, Arranger, Producer. Perfection may not exist, but I may still choose to serve Perfection. Commissions considered. |
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: August 08 2005 at 02:42
I honestly feel that I've spent too much money on this band's albums.They are full of jazzy,meandering symphonic style prog with little direction.Very impressive instrumentally but it all becomes a gigantic haze too me.They are a band with great talent but very little focus or genuine ideas that crystallize into anything.They do recall seventies prog better than any other modern prog bands and that may be some credit to them but personally I'm now a bit bored by them.I would be quite happy just to own 'Unfold The Future' and jettison the rest.That is just my opinion.Sorry. |
Posted By: Man Overboard
Date Posted: August 08 2005 at 02:47
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You're entitled to your opinion. I personally feel that the direction is certainly there, it just takes a bit more work to find it than some, it's subtle oftentimes. I find each album to be a rewarding experience in its own right, and I have yet to find a TFK album that does not have its own very distinct feel. With that said, I wouldn't jettison any of them.  ------------- https://soundcloud.com/erin-susan-jennings" rel="nofollow - Bedroom guitarist". Composer, Arranger, Producer. Perfection may not exist, but I may still choose to serve Perfection. Commissions considered. |
Posted By: Yurkspb
Date Posted: August 08 2005 at 05:30
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I would recommend Retropolis or Space Revolver as starters - 2 asbolutely best TFK albums, in my opinion, then - Stardust We Are and FlowerPower. If you like it all, procede and buy all the rest and you won't be disappointed. |
Posted By: Sir Hogweed
Date Posted: August 08 2005 at 13:19
The new Tomas Bodin release I AM is also a must for Flowerheads. It's a great progrock opera with some great vocals. It is in the style of the epics whe wrote with TFK (Garden Of Dreams, The Truth Will Set You Free) with some Pink Floyd(wailing), Deep Purple (screaming) and Wagner (orgastic finales) influences thrown in. I sort of liked his earlier instrumental output but this one completely blew me away and I like it even better than Adam & Eve at the moment. It also features Reingold and Liliequist on drums (check out this new TFK drummer). Nice stuff to keep you going untill the next TFK release. |
Posted By: Tiresias
Date Posted: August 08 2005 at 18:27
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Try out the Meet the Flower Kings CD (or DVD) My Intro to TFK All the songs are epics. ------------- Wh'ghal ng'fth mglw'y Ry'leh, Cthulhu fhtagn... 
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Posted By: James Hill
Date Posted: August 08 2005 at 20:37
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The most consistant Flower Kings cd is Space Revolver and The Rainmaker.Stay away from the double albums.If you want good Swedish Prog start with Anglagard or Anekdoten not copycats like Ronie Stolt and the boys. ------------- symphonic james |
Posted By: Chris88
Date Posted: August 08 2005 at 20:49
| Explain how are they copycats? |
Posted By: Lyzarrd
Date Posted: August 08 2005 at 20:50
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I suggest either Roine Stolt's solo work or Back in the World
Adventures. Both give some great stuff with an epic involved without
having WAY too much on the album as some other Flower King releases.
------------- Can you tell me where my country lies... |