Flower Kings Appreciation Thread

darkshade wrote: I had no idea it would be so cheap. This is why I will buy an album there if it's more expensive than other means, just to support the store. I did find an even cheaper offer for the deluxe edition. Laser CD is selling it for just $12! http://www.lasercd.com/Products/Flower-Kings--The---Banks-Of-Eden-%282CD-Digipak%29__05862.aspx

Wow!  Good deal!  I'll see what Greg Walker wants for the one he's holding for me for Nearfest.  I imagine I have to pay shipping on the Laser CD one.

This turned into a mini-review.

On my 2nd listen of Banks of Eden, and WOW, it kicks so much ass. It's definitely TFK, but there's something different about it. Roine is playing so great, even Tomas is showing off his chops more than he usually does. New drummer is excellent, Hasse sings some of the best vocals on the album, and Jonas is great as usual.

The epic "Numbers" is dark (for them), but has a lot of cool stuff going on. It's sort of different for the band. Damn, it's HEAVY!!!  At times, it's also like The Flower Kings in a haunted house. Excellent guitar from Roine, some of his best work. It's not all dark, of course, and the main chorus/refrain is beautiful; maybe my favorite section from the whole album so far, a little jazzy. The climax of the song is so glorious, it's like the band are so friggin' happy to be back! I'm so happy for them, and for listening to this! A near-perfect epic, in so many ways.

The other songs aren't as dark, though there's moments. The album is only 55 minutes, and not one minute is wasted. The album just flies by. New drummer Felix rivals Zoltan in both ability and style, but he's got his own thing going on too. Every song is great, and they kind of all segue into each other with little atmospheric bits. I cannot see most people calling any songs here "filler", every song does it's job. Maybe because this is somewhat of a concept album, but the flow is magnificent, for those of you who have had a problem with most TFK albums being too long.

"For The Love Of Gold" might be this album's "Chicken Farmer Song", the one you were waiting for Dennis , nice uplifting song from the Kings, and a nice contrast from the big, dark epic before. I gotta say, Roine is really pulling out all the stops on this album, he's on fire. This has to be some of his most powerful, and technical, guitar work. Also, great organ solo by Tomas.

"Pandemonium" sure is intense. Interesting vocals. Very dark. Roine's got that vocal effect he used on "Bavarian Skies", but it's used to great effect IMO, and isn't used a lot, in case you don't like it. Most of he vocals are Roine's normal voice. I don't know what it is, but the band just sound so energized and ready to take on the world, so to speak. Maybe it's the new drummer, he's playing so fierce.

"For Those About To Drown" is a lighter song, a little pop, but also includes some of the heaviest moments on the album too. Tomas plays some real technical stuff at times. Great ending.

I think the last song "Rising The Imperial" might be the best song on the album (not sure yet), and it's a Jonas song! Of course, he's come a long way since TFK's last album 5 years ago, what with Karmakanic's last 2 albums being superb. Jonas plays some great bass on this one. This song acts as a finale to the entire album, and the finale of the song itself rivals those of Devil's Playground, Stardust We Are, and other great epics by the band in the past.

The bonus songs are great too, the only reason I think they were separated from the main album is that they don't fit with the overall theme of the album. They are NOT leftover songs. They ARE great songs, and the last 2 songs are 2 of the best songs out of both discs.

Not taking the bonus disc into account, the album feels too short, even though it's just under an hour. But that is not a flaw in the album, I'm just used to 2 1/2 hours of TFK on one album

So then in general it is a dark album, compared to previous TFK efforts? I don't like when these bands put out the "Bonus CD" Its just a way to charge more.....the songs never fit the base album. ie The Whirlwind.......Still waiting for them to issue the vinyl without the CD, since this was recorded using analog equipment I am looking forward to a much better sound than CDs.....I probably will get it, assuming the album is good, in vinyl......If not will just deal with a CD or Zune download....whatever is cheapest.

^ Thanks....well it is TFK, so I will have the album one way or another......And those punks better make it to Seattle soon!

Must . . . .Control. . . . TFK. . . . Fanboyism . . . . . 

Numbers might be the most disappointing Flower Kings epic., especially compared to their last epic. Maybe it will grow on me, but right now it feels like it doesn't go anywhere. It sounds less like the Flower Kings and more like a bunch of Black Forest scraps patched together or something.

Edited by Harry Hood - June 15 2012 at 19:53

darkshade wrote: "For The Love Of Gold" might be this album's "Chicken Farmer Song", the one you were waiting for Dennis , nice uplifting song from the Kings,

I just ordered the CD!          


P.S.  Thanks for the detailed review!

Oh boy. Well, at least you'll only talk about 2 songs instead of just one. 

So who has the album so far?