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The Flower Kings - Paradox Hotel CD (album) cover

PARADOX HOTEL

The Flower Kings

 

Symphonic Prog

3.70 | 567 ratings

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The Pessimist
Prog Reviewer
3 stars 1. Check In (1:37) 2. Monsters & Men (21:21) 3. Jealousy (3:22) 4. Hit Me With A Hit (5:32) 5. Pioneers Of Aviation (7:49) 6. Lucy Had A Dream (5:28) 7. Bavarian Skies (6:34) 8. Selfconsuming Fire (5:49) 9. Mommy Leave The Light On (4:38) 10. End On A High Note (10:43)

1. Minor Giant Steps (12:12) 2. Touch My Heaven (6:08) 3. The Unorthodox Dancinglesson (5:24) 4. Man Of The World (5:55) 5. Life Will Kill You (7:03) 6. The Way The Waters Are Moving (3:12) 7. What If God Is Alone (6:58) 8. Paradox Hotel (6:29) 9. Blue Planet (9:42)

Not a very good concept, I must add, but i will be judging the album on musical content, not lyrical.

Highlights of the album would be about ten of the songs out of 19, so it's not bad going. The rest are either pointless or average prog songs. The rating system goes as follows:

1. Check In - Pointless really. Not a song - 1/5 2. Monsters & Men - Great song with some fantastic guitar work, one of FK's best work, extremely melodic in every way - 5/5 3. Jealousy - Another pointless waste - 1/5 4. Hit Me With A Hit - Stunning single from TFK, one of my favourite listens. A nice 9/8 riff as well - 4/5 5. Pioneers Of Aviation - Great follow up to HMWAH. Reminds me a lot of Camel with the 6/8 feel - 4/5 6. Lucy Had A Dream - The best Bach-like keyboard melody I've heard in years! one of my favourites of the album - 5/5 7. Bavarian Skies - Rubbish, I have to say - 1/5 8. Selfconsuming Fire - Another of my album favourites, not quite masterpiece though and slightly unoriginal - 4/5 9. Mommy Leave The Light On - OK I guess - 2/5 10. End On A High Note - Another just good song. Worth a listen however - 3/5

1. Minor Giant Steps - HAHA! one of my favourite FK songs, masterpiece, Stolt at his songwriting best - 5/5 2. Touch My Heaven - Very Floyd. Great blues song with some incredibly emotional guitar playing and atmospheric keyboards and vocals - 5/5 3. The Unorthodox Dancinglesson - Average prog song with unusual time signatures. A bit unbearable to listen to - 2/5 4. Man Of The World - Another great single by the FK - 4/5 5. Life Will Kill You - Very listenable heavy prog song, slightly nostalgic of Whitesnake - 5/5 6. The Way The Waters Are Moving - Rather pointless ballad - 2/5 7. What If God Is Alone - Not so pointless ballad with a 5/4 feel. Very moving with cheesy lyrics - 4/5 8. Paradox Hotel - Average single with a very embarassing riff, not prog at all - 3/5 9. Blue Planet - An excellent ending, some very good progressive moments that remind me of Yes's Awaken - 5/5

Overall, 3.5 / 5, good with not so good concept. Non-essential but has some nice ideas.

The Pessimist | 3/5 |

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