Flower Kings Appreciation Thread

infandous wrote: Tom Ozric wrote: I do love TFK - but 1 album alone, start to finish, is Prog overkill - and they just prove that you can have too much of a good thing. Couldn't disagree more.  Though I admit that a couple of those doubles are quite challenging to sit through from start to finish, but the singles I've never had any feeling of overkill whatsoever.  To each his own, I guess.

I did mean 1 complete release (as opposed to a single disc/LP). At over 2hrs, can be a slog - and yes, it's mostly excellent material.

Roj wrote: I don't know if any of you guys have heard the Italian band The Watch.  They are a part-time Genesis tribute band that also write their own music and have several albums to their name.  After hearing a sample track I took the plunge and bought their album Vacuum.  All I can say is this is like a long lost missing Genesis album circa 1973-4.  The sound is Genesis, the vocalist is a Gabriel clone and the music is exceptional.  A huge plus is the top class modern production, sadly missing from those earlier Genesis releases.  There are no rip offs as such, just songs written in the Genesis style, which I can live with (some probably can't).  Particularly recommended to Rob, possibly slightly earlier than your favourite Genesis period Tom? This persuaded me to get their latest album Tracks From The Alps.  It's good but not as good as Vacuum, and they have done it and commited the cardinal sin, yes the obligatory Apocalypse in 9/8 "borrow", a move already made famous by many prog bands.  Strangely though the latest album is less of a Genesis soundalike and I found myself likening it more to IQ.  Now I know IQ have always been heavily influenced by Genesis but in my view they don't sound like them.  Perhaps The Watch are progressing .

I've been listening to them since 2000 or so...........I recommend The Nightwatch album....different lineup, different band name.....same type of music.  It's basically their first album.   http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=265

It's probably their most Genesis sounding album, I'd have to say, though there is an instrumental that sound much more like 80's King Crimson than Genesis (the guitarist, who also co-wrote a lot of the tunes, went on to form an RIO style prog band later on.......probably not your cup of tea).

Strangely enough, Vacuum and Tracks From the Alps are the two albums I don't own by The Watch.  I have all the rest.

infandous wrote: Roj wrote: I don't know if any of you guys have heard the Italian band The Watch.  They are a part-time Genesis tribute band that also write their own music and have several albums to their name.  After hearing a sample track I took the plunge and bought their album Vacuum.  All I can say is this is like a long lost missing Genesis album circa 1973-4.  The sound is Genesis, the vocalist is a Gabriel clone and the music is exceptional.  A huge plus is the top class modern production, sadly missing from those earlier Genesis releases.  There are no rip offs as such, just songs written in the Genesis style, which I can live with (some probably can't).  Particularly recommended to Rob, possibly slightly earlier than your favourite Genesis period Tom? This persuaded me to get their latest album Tracks From The Alps.  It's good but not as good as Vacuum, and they have done it and commited the cardinal sin, yes the obligatory Apocalypse in 9/8 "borrow", a move already made famous by many prog bands.  Strangely though the latest album is less of a Genesis soundalike and I found myself likening it more to IQ.  Now I know IQ have always been heavily influenced by Genesis but in my view they don't sound like them.  Perhaps The Watch are progressing . I've been listening to them since 2000 or so...........I recommend The Nightwatch album....different lineup, different band name.....same type of music.  It's basically their first album.   http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=265 It's probably their most Genesis sounding album, I'd have to say, though there is an instrumental that sound much more like 80's King Crimson than Genesis (the guitarist, who also co-wrote a lot of the tunes, went on to form an RIO style prog band later on.......probably not your cup of tea). Strangely enough, Vacuum and Tracks From the Alps are the two albums I don't own by The Watch.  I have all the rest.

Mmmm, that sounds good, I'll certainly look into that one.  Thanks for the recommendation Mike

well I`ve been researching the progressive rock and classical music are joined together within the people whom listen to one may/ do listen to the other. so is or isn't that true... hmmm to be truthful I`m in the yes vote... but I`ve never known many other worshipers of PROG like CLASSICAL TOO!...  

well firstly biggest thank you to M27Braney for passing on the bands whom I`ve checked out and am adding to my collection so many thanks... right the progressive monster is out in full for GF, as I`ve been listening to the bands M27 told me about and so of my already added bands the old guard to. the best times where the newer bands two of them MS/Haken where the heightened pleasure dome of upper lifting music moments with the musicians where playing... than the band Magic Pie wow yes. also the two `70`s greats TLLDOB/TFTO what happiness YES... sadly on TFK... maybe later or once the sun comes out LOL...

Hey Roj, I've got Contagion, Breakfast in Biarritz and Immortal - and I don't think I've spun them!!! or if I have it was a long time ago and they didn't grab me first spin....

don`t have any albums by Arena. I`ve a few by Pendragon which I`ve enjoyed for yrs... must check out so of Arena albums... 

darkshade wrote: Space Revolver was my first, I would do that or World of Adventures. Something about that first album has that feeling of "here we go!"

Yeah, those first 5 (including The Flower King here because it's basically a FK album) are all outstanding.  I don't think they bettered them, though Unfold is brilliant and a different beast, and I love Sum as well.

I just listened to Banks Of Eden a couple of times, for the first time in probably 2 years.  I was thinking maybe my opinion would have changed.  It really hasn't.  It's decent, I suppose, and the second and third tracks I really like, but Numbers just seems so drawn out and lethargic to me.  Roine plays a couple of killer guitar solos, as usual, but it just feels like they are dragging themes out to make it a really long track.  I feel like it could have been 10 minutes long and been a much better piece.  Anyway, I tried.  I'll have to pull out Desolation Rose again soon too, though I liked that one more than Banks.  Neither one really seems up to their usual standards for me though.

I also pulled out Tomas Bodin's "I AM" for the first time in a few years, and I still think it's the best FK album since Unfold, even though it's not a FK album.

M27Barney wrote: infandous wrote: but it just feels like they are dragging themes out to make it a really long track Ehhh?? - Next, You'll be asking why they couldn't cut it down to say three or four minutes and put in lovely meaningful words... to make it a song your wife would dig!!!! - HIT YOURSELF ON THE HEAD WITH THE PROG HAMMER......I would be asking myself why they didn't make it LONGER....Roine had space for another solo at least.... PEACE!

Speaking of crazy long songs . I bought this monster 3-LP/2-CD set and simply love Side 6 25:00 minutes of Stardust We Are. It does not drag on since it changes directions all thru the piece, really seems shorter than 25:00 minutes