RETROPOLIS

The Flower Kings' sophomore effort. They have succeeded in making an album of higher quality to their surprisingly good first album. The style is not very different, and this is not very creative music (except for maybe 'melting pot'). However, this is GOOD MUSIC!!

Retropolis begins the album and is an intense and dynamic instrumental song full of virtuosity. Rhythm of the Sea begins as a nice ballad, but an excellent electric guitar dominates the middle of the song. Ambient music in the end helps lead the next song. "There Is More To This World" is a Genesis-influenced anthemic rocker with memorable vocal melodies and impressive music. Romancing The City is a beautiful classical piano short piece. The Melting Point is one of my favourite Flower Kings songs. It which is later rbegins with a brilliant piano introduction epeated on a bombastic synthesizer. Later, after the strange chanting, an arabic-style solo is played with a saxophone! The piano theme is repeated and after that, a great instrumental section that even has church organs in it finishes the song. A keyboard riff leads the beginning of Silent Sorrow, and after the verses finish, a blueish guitar solo is played and is later transformed into a hard rock one, later Tomas Bodin steals the show with a long keyboard solo. The Judas Kiss is a hard rocker in the style of 'Go West Judas', with powerful vocals by Stolt, church organ playing, and an instrumental section with amazing soloing. Retropolis By Night is a Blade-Runner style instrumental. Flora Majora starts as an good rocker from the Flowers until it reaches an ambient section accompained by a great soloing section. The first solo (with the pedal effect) stands as one of my favourite guitar solos in modern Prog. The Road Back Home concludes the album with an uplifting soft rock sound. This song does not disappoint at all, and has a great climax led by a slow guitar solo.

2. Retropolis (9.5/10) 3. Rhythm Of The Sea (8/10) 4. There Is More To This World (8.5/10) 5. Romancing The City (8.5/10) 6. The Melting Pot (10/10) 7. Silent Sorrow (7/10) 8. The Judas Kiss (8/10) 9. Retropolis By Night (8/10) 10. Flora Majora (7.5/10) 11. The Road Back Home (8.5/10)

This is one of the best Flower Kings albums yet.

My Rating : B+

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