Flower Kings Appreciation Thread

infandous wrote: All this Steven Wilson talk made me buy tickets to his show in Pittsburgh on April 30.  Not really a consolation for not seeing the Flower Kings, but still something for me to look forward to. I did discover that I can buy tickets JUST for the Flower Kings at Rosfest (well, them and whatever band plays before them).  I don't think I can though, partly because of the date (have my son that weekend) and partly because of the price (with all fees and everything, nearly $70 for a ticket.........I'm paying $10 less than that for two of us to see Wilson).  Plus, there are very few seats left, and what's left are not very good locations in the theater (though it's small so there aren't really any "bad" seats).

dennismoore wrote: infandous wrote: Roland113 wrote: Yeah, I was thinking the same thing Dennis, something to the effect of 'who the heck is Wilson to go and replicate the Crimson meets Genesis vibe when he was just giving Stolt a large amount of grief for not being original enough.  I'll be honest, The Raven sounds like a much bigger clone of 70's prog than anything done by The Flower Kings.  I guess, despite my general ambivalence for Tomas Bodin he does not sound like a seventies wanna be, he is very much his own keyboard player. Yes, Wilson did refer to TFK's and TA as "the death of progressive rock", in an interview 8 YEARS AGO!!  Seriously, he apologized for the statements a couple of years ago, and has admitted that he likes prog and wants to make prog, using influences from the past.  Let it go people. Personally, I would not say that Raven is no more, or less, derivative than any Flower Kings album.  It actually has far more than just Crimson influence, and is much less derivative than any Glass Hammer album I've ever heard (and I actually like some of them).......or Big Big Train, for that matter.  Still, it IS regressive.  But damn good for being that. I understand not wanting to like Wilson, as I resisted for many years.  When I finally just sat down and gave an objective listen to some PTree stuff, I couldn't help but be impressed.  He certainly seems to be the guy that "real" prog fans love to hate.  Having said all that, the constant dark, moody, and depressing lyrics and atmospheres have gotta a bit old.  I wonder if he's even capable of writing positive, happy stuff?    (actually, he is......the song The Rest Will Flow is quite upbeat with very upbeat lyrics..........but it's the only one in his entire catalog like that that I've heard) He does come off as rather arrogant, but considering he's been more successful than pretty much any modern prog artist on this site, I think he can be forgiven for thinking that he's doing something right.   @Roland113:  Great minds think alike is all I can say....   @Infandous: Re-read your post.  You seem to be aggreeing with us than disagreeing, kinda confusing...   "Let it go people"   WTF???   Dude, in the USA we have this thing called the 1st Ammendment.  You've heard of it? 8 years or not, Wilson made a very strong statement and I think people should live with & by their words, and yeah I read his other statement which was hardly an apology or clarification.  Plus there is an active thread about the matter AND we all love & support Roine and his lads whenever we can, so...  Let the cards fall where they may, I say.   You say:  "I understand not wanting to like Wilson..."  I don't get the context here.  Most of us love PT and suport his music.  I have bought most of his records & DVDs and I have seen PT twice live, I am just tired of his same old theme of teenage futility, since I pay $$$ for his stuff, I think its natural to voice an opinion...  Lots of love here for SW, but he should be held accountable for doing the same crap over and over AND for being a copy-cat AFTER his very strong judgement of other prog bands.  Live by the sword, die by the sword, life's a beach right???   Still love ya though.  You are one of the true kindred spirits here.  I hope you enjoy Steven Wilson in concert.  For me, he really shines live.  The two PT concerts I saw were fantastic!   P.S.  Do you have Glass Hammer - If?

Dennis, Dennis, Dennis (I love using my condescending tone with people who are older than me )

While I was writing, I was thinking it was odd that I was defending Wilson.  If you read my Porcupine Tree reviews, you'll notice that I make special emphasis on my thought that they (and Wilson) are not really "progressive" at all.  I still think that's true.  So I guess I kept backtracking because I was thinking as I type about what I like and don't like about Wilson, and it all just kind of got mixed together.  Hope that makes some kind of sense.

When I wrote "let it go" it was a suggestion, not an order.  I'm not exactly sure how anything I write could possibly affect your, or anyone's, freedom of speech.  It's not like I'm going to come to your house and wipe your thoughts of all memory of Wilson's comments.........or will I?????

Yeah, when I read that interview 8 years ago (did I mention it was 8 years ago? ), I was pretty ticked off at Wilson, and totally agreed with Stolt.  I still do (and said so in that thread, I believe).  I just have read (more than one) interviews with Wilson where he basically says that it was lame of him to say that but that he had his reasons and thinks they were valid but has a different view now. I just find it funny that, 8 years later, people are still up in arms about that interview (of course, on this site, there are also plenty that still agree with Wilson).  I'm sure for Wilson, it's the old "no publicity is bad publicity" view.   I love TFK's music, overall, more than his, always have always will.  But he makes great music now, IMO.  Musically, I like Raven a lot better than Banks, but both are very good albums.  Both, oddly enough, have very dark and depressing lyrics (probably the thing that bothers me most about Banks.......where is Roine's optimism?....it's one of the things that attracted me to them in the first place).

I have Glass Hammer's "If" album.  It's fun.  I really don't hear it, musically, as very much like Yes (okay, there are places where it's a lot like Yes).  Mainly it's the vocals that are a dead ringer for Anderson.  I guess there are just a lot of Yes cover band singers out there trying to do more stuff, while still imitating Anderson.  Or something like that.  I suspect  if anything is the "death of prog", it's going to be stuff like that.  But I'm an old school progger, so I can still enjoy it

Glasshammer's latest CD's are more like Yes than their older ones...thats for certain - I've got to be in a certain mood to listen to GH - listened to Darwins Radio last night - excellent prog-metal, also some of SB - X - also an excellent CD.

DId the keyboard dude from Glass Hammer lose a lot of weight and shave his head?  

Dennis, Dennis, Dennis (I love using my condescending tone with people who are older than me )

That's ok, the underwear you are wearing is also older than me. so I guess we are even.


While I was writing, I was thinking it was odd that I was defending Wilson.  If you read my Porcupine Tree reviews, you'll notice that I make special emphasis on my thought that they (and Wilson) are not really "progressive" at all.  I still think that's true.  So I guess I kept backtracking because I was thinking as I type about what I like and don't like about Wilson, and it all just kind of got mixed together.  Hope that makes some kind of sense.

This explanation actually makes perfect sense, what happened?  They increased your meds to the proper dose?
Either way, keep it up.  I enjoy chatting with you when I have at least a vague idea of what you are sayin!

When I wrote "let it go" it was a suggestion, not an order.  I'm not exactly sure how anything I write could possibly affect your, or anyone's, freedom of speech.  It's not like I'm going to come to your house and wipe your thoughts of all memory of Wilson's comments.........or will I?????

A "suggestion"..  Hmm... Perhaps we need to break out the Official Flower Kings Thread Suggestion Box?

Yeah, when I read that interview 8 years ago (did I mention it was 8 years ago? ), I was pretty ticked off at Wilson, and totally agreed with Stolt.  I still do (and said so in that thread, I believe).  I just have read (more than one) interviews with Wilson where he basically says that it was lame of him to say that but that he had his reasons and thinks they were valid but has a different view now. I just find it funny that, 8 years later, people are still up in arms about that interview (of course, on this site, there are also plenty that still agree with Wilson).  I'm sure for Wilson, it's the old "no publicity is bad publicity" view.   I love TFK's music, overall, more than his, always have always will.  But he makes great music now, IMO.  Musically, I like Raven a lot better than Banks, but both are very good albums.  Both, oddly enough, have very dark and depressing lyrics (probably the thing that bothers me most about Banks.......where is Roine's optimism?....it's one of the things that attracted me to them in the first place).

Well, lots of us, (like me) didn't see the quote until recently, here in the forum, yeah I guess we live in a "yahoo news" generation where we dig up some crap 20 years ago and then get our collective panties in a bunch
dissecting the old comment endlessly!


I have Glass Hammer's "If" album.  It's fun.  I really don't hear it, musically, as very much like Yes (okay, there are places where it's a lot like Yes).  Mainly it's the vocals that are a dead ringer for Anderson.  I guess there are just a lot of Yes cover band singers out there trying to do more stuff, while still imitating Anderson.  Or something like that.  I suspect  if anything is the "death of prog", it's going to be stuff like that.  But I'm an old school progger, so I can still enjoy it

Yes, I really love "If", for years people say bands sounds like YES simply cause the singer has a high voice, same here with Glass Hammer.  If anything they have so much keyboards & hammond it reminds me of ELP.  I just love the album on its own merits.  The last song is an absolute killer and must be played LOUD!

I have to imagine Roine is gearing up for both new Flower Kings album AND new Transatlantic album. He's probably writing a lot of stuff.

darkshade wrote: I have to imagine Roine is gearing up for both new Flower Kings album AND new Transatlantic album. He's probably writing a lot of stuff.

Got the inner circle newsletter from Neal today.  TA sessions are set for May and he says they WILL happen.  He also said that he's already written a bunch of 'cool prog' stuff for the album.  They he has his little sermon...this time about god's economy.  So much naivety and delusion, i wouldn't know where to begin.  I guess the fact that there is no GOD would be a good place to start.

darkshade wrote: zumacraig wrote: TA sessions are set for May and he says they WILL happen. YES!

He also predicts an early 2014 release. So kind of what I thought. TFK in the fall and TA in the winter with a tour in the spring or summer.

Morse also said that flying colors plan to record again and a live DVD is coming out soon. I wouldn't be surprised if he records another solo album during the down time before and after TA.

I just love speculating about this stuff :-)

Just listened to Garden of Dreams. WOW!!!