Flower Kings Appreciation Thread

infandous wrote: zumacraig wrote: Stardust does play through pretty easily. That's a rarity in double albums. I prefer vinyl length albums and I really think that a really good epic can't go past 20 minutes. I used to pick albums based on how long the tracks were.  I still kind of do that sometimes without thinking about it.  However, in the past 10 years I've come to realize that adding 15 minutes to a basically poor musical idea and approach does NOT improve it in any way......makes it much worse actually.  So to a certain extent, I agree.  However I think All Of the Above, The Truth, Stardust We Are, Garden Of Dreams, and probably at least a dozen more prove that you are incorrect   (or The Icon, from the 70's.......a fabulous 30 minute epic from Todd Rundgren's Utopia)

darkshade wrote: Is TFK slated for a fall release? Have they announced a date yet?

Awesome news, something to look forward to at the end of summer :-).

Nov wrote: Just read this comment by Roine on Facebook: "Next week - a Mellotron from early 70's arrives @ Casa Stolt. More vintage to come then......btw. The TFK album is recorded on real reel to reel tape machine. Release Oct 2013."

Excellent!  Despite my ambivalence towards Banks, I'm looking forward to this  (they redeemed themselves for me after Adam & Eve, so I fully expect them to do it again )

^ Not at all. 

By the way, I've probably said this before, but I'll say it again, The Flower King has to be one of the best prog albums made since 1980. It's such a fun record, and some of Roine's most powerful performances.

darkshade wrote: ^ Not at all.  By the way, I've probably said this before, but I'll say it again, The Flower King has to be one of the best prog albums made since 1980. It's such a fun record, and some of Roine's most powerful performances.

That would be Unfold the Future.  I listened to it over the weekend for the first time in at least a year, and confirmed once again that it is easily their best album.  The Flower King really does seem like a Roine solo album to me.  Which makes it no less great, of course, but I don't rank it that highly.  Of course, your statement is so vague that I suppose I can't really disagree (it is certainly "one of" the best prog albums since 1980........I would just put about 30 above it ) 

I do love Roine's guitar sound on that album, as it's the only time he really comes across as a real "shredder", in the vein of Vai or Satch.  He really sounds like Vai on some parts (the solo in Dissonatta comes to mind).  It's definitely a  more guitar driven album than any of the FK proper albums.


Edited by infandous - June 10 2013 at 08:46

I listened to "Meet the Flowerkings" - Disc 1 - the Truth will set you Free - is awesome - miles better than the studio version IMHO. Garden of Dreams part one is also excellent - I couldn't wait for part II...Alas they bloody ruined my favourite bit - where the Piano riff is then taken on By Stolt - to rip out a truly fantastic solo...that's is what you call disappointment on a truly HUGE expectation....ARRRRRRGH....Hope disc 2 fairs better.....

dennismoore wrote: infandous wrote: I don't really think Tomas wants to do a lot of synth solos, as I don't think that's really his thing.  Which is a shame because when he does break one out it's always very good.  He seems to like to create atmospheres the most,     Yes, well, that's just the sort of blinkered philistine pig-ignorance I've come to expect from you non-creative garbage.    (Sorry that was John Cleese, not me.)   Seriously, all you guys are a bunch of "taw-sirs" for not sending me a PM to see how I was doing, except for Zuma who is a true kindred spirit and handsome young devil as well.   Your comment about Tomas' atmospheric playing is spot on. TFK version of Genesis - Cinerma Show has none of the great lead keyboard parts and is very atmospheric instead.  When he does play lead, it can be way over-modulated so it is hard to discern his progression of notes. His solo in Garden Of Dreams pt 1 on Meet TFK is a good example.  Though his traditional piano & organ playing is magnificent and very organic. Very hard to figure that dude out.   I for one am not in a rush for a new FK record, the ink of Banks of Eden is barely dry.  I am still enjoying that a lot. Last time they rushed we got Rainmaker and that sucked.   I'd rather the lads take their time and get it right and do:     The Chicken Farmer Album.   The Chicken Farmer Song prologue The Chicken Farmer Song overture The Chicken Farmer Song parts I - IV The Chicken Farmer Song parts V - VIIII The Chicken Farmer Song parts X -  XV The Chicken Farmer Song reprise

Good to see you back Dennis!  For what it's worth, I don't ever send anybody here PM's if they disappear for a while, so it was nothing personal


You do remember that since Back In The World, The Flower Kings released an album every year, or at least every other year, up until 2008 (and 1998 was a live album, 2003 was a live album and DVD, and 2005 was a bunch of solo stuff.......only missing an album a year 3 times in 12 years is pretty darn good, especially when you consider the generally extremely high quality of each and every one of those releases).  So I think you are worried for no reason.  Frankly, I think they took way too much time to come up with a clunker like Banks

infandous wrote: You do remember that since Back In The World, The Flower Kings released an album every year, or at least every other year, up until 2008 (and 1998 was a live album, 2003 was a live album and DVD, and 2005 was a bunch of solo stuff.......only missing an album a year 3 times in 12 years is pretty darn good, especially when you consider the generally extremely high quality of each and every one of those releases).  So I think you are worried for no reason.  Frankly, I think they took way too much time to come up with a clunker like Banks

Horizons wrote: The new Simon Collins stuff doesn't sound too good.  Also insulting KC and MR will kill u k

Junior: Don't you know enough to not get in between a lovers' quarrel???

Seriously....
Please explain more about Simon Collins.  Is it too pop?  His band is playing Progday 2013.

Seriously(more).  Is Banks of Eden really your favorite Flower King CD?




Edited by dennismoore - June 10 2013 at 19:30