flower Kings ... as good as genesis??

I have to agree with Zito! Yes were one of my favourite three groups in the seventies, equal to Floyd and just behind Genesis. I always rated them highly, especially in their peak period, from Fragile to Going For The One. Technically excellent and the masters of 'the epic'. However, FK are as good, if not better. They are certainly more consistent. No bad albums, no really bad tracks (consider some of the dross Yes has produced since GFTO) I personally love Tomas Bodin's style, he has all the technical wizardry, yet knows when to stay in background and add the odd subtle touch as required. Reingold is as good as Squire ( my favourite bass player), Stolt is as good as Howe, more diverse in fact, and definitely a better singer and solo artist! All three of their drummers can, match White, and even Bruford. So yes, they are better than Yes, (all Yes fans will be shaking their heads now and saying 'how can you say that, Yes are the masters', but we all have our opinions, and remember, I am a Yes fan too!) As for better than Genesis, well, that is harder to say, they are so different. Genesis are probably still my favourite band. FK don't have their lyricism, or olde worlde Englishness, of course, but they are not far behind, for me. Interesting here, if I was put on the spot and asked to name my top five prog bands of all time, my first choice would be Genesis, but after that it is a toss up between Flower Kings, Yes, Porcupine Tree and Pink Floyd, in any order depending on the day. I just prefer to enjoy the music of all of them, and not worry too much which I like the best. Depends what music I am in the mood for too!

Interesting topic, really!

Hey, how can we compare Genesis (formers of art-rock, unique band) and Flower Kings (keepers of prog traditions, prog-masters and Champions Of Prog nowadays)? They are different bands, although Flower Kings has a lot of Genesis-like melodies and structures.
I love both Flower Kings and Genesis, they're my favourite bands. And of course, Flower Kings has created as wonderful music as Genesis. These two bands are winners, no doubt.

Rorro wrote: No one question the originallity argument, and the point here is discuss if TFK is as enjoyable as genesis, what you think about it?.

I clearly enjoy listening to TFK more than listening to Genesis. Doesn't mean that I think that they're the better band, not at all. You cannot compare them anyway, because TFK build up on Genesis.

It's all about personal preference...
Those who like Flower Kings over Genesis and vice versa so be it.

Personally i think that Genesis are better because they are Original.

Ok i feel so bad for saying this but Flower kings music is sooooo retro.Don't get me wrong but i think it's wrong comparing them with Genesis.When Genesis started their music was so groundbreaking and true progressive.But nowadays with the flower kings what you get is a modern copy of the Yes/70s prog rock.It's ok to like them but there're better things in prog today.(radiohead , the mars volta , tool , even KING CRIMSON for christ's sake evolve with each album  )

FragileDT wrote: Moatilliatta wrote: I'm going to go ahead and agree with you. The Flower Kings' musicianship and compositions are at the same level of quality, and I find them very enjoyable. The only thing is that Genesis was way before The Flower Kings. I think that's why everybody writes stuff like this off so quickly. The music is as good, but it's not as important (historically) or influential. I think it's unfair to judge based on the aforementioned. It's like this in all areas of music it seems. When you ask someone who the greatest guitarist of all time is, majortiy vote will probably be to Jimi Hendrix. Why is this? Surely, it isn't because of his skill or songwriting. It's because of his groundbreaking ideas and techniques. He influenced so many. Nowadays, if you put Jimi up against (roughly) any guitarist (especially in prog), the other guy will destroy him. So, I think The Flower Kings are as good, and as enjoyable as Genesis, but they will never get as much credit because of their chronological place in music.      Not true at all. Once again, people glorifying prog guitarists just because they play prog. 99% of prog guitarists couldn't come near Hendrix's playing. It wasn't about technicality, it was about the emotion of the song and the style of playing. Petrucci could come in and play 5000 notes to Hendrix's one, but no one would be affected by it. Too many notes don't mean you are a better guitarist. Once again, you can teach scales, but you can't teach how to play with emotional feel. The feel that Hendrix had.

Edited by Moatilliatta - May 10 2006 at 16:58

They have grown on me a lot lately, but to suggest that they are 'as good as Genesis' is just wrong, imo. They are as many have said, sometimes rather aimless and ambling. Few prog acts I know of have ever recorded as many double CDs and it's a frightening thought that if they were issued on vinyl, they'd be quadruple albums!! You don't need to have heard their music to get the impression that there's gonna be some plentiful filler there. Also, their music isn't even like Genesis' in the first place. Genesis were extremely innovative and knew the importance of good, concise songwriting. The Flower Kings' whole career can be tied down to two prog albums, imo- 'Tales From Topographic Oceans' by Yes(which I love) and 'Focus III' (half of which I love, half I don't) by Focus. Both are somewhat unwieldly at times yet the sound of The Flower Kings relies heavily on these bands, imo.

Edited by salmacis - May 10 2006 at 15:44

Rorro wrote: You're right saying that without genesis TFK would never have existed.

Rorro wrote: You're right saying that without genesis TFK would never have existed.

the flower kings as good as genesis.......????..better than genesis..???  what's this.... another "sacred cow" getting poked at with a sharp stick?? well everyone is entitled to their opinion, maybe they are  as good as genesis, but remember without genesis the flower kings would not exist!  (without a model 'T' Ford a Ferrari would not exist in theory!! ).

Edited by mystic fred - May 09 2006 at 16:53