Flower Kings Appreciation Thread

miamiscot wrote: There are plenty of great modern Prog records out there. The Flower Kings put out a bunch, Transatlantic is amazing, and The Neal Morse Band's most recent, The Similitude Of A Dream, is 10/10. Opeth, The Tangent, Riverside, Steven Wilson, Pain Of Salvation, Karmakanic, Knifeworld. It's a great time to be a fan of this music. As good as the Golden Era? Maybe not but what is? Seriously. Nothing tops those classic Prog albums. Nothing ever will.

There's a good TFK thread over at progressive ears. Nice write up of last years TFK family releases and some speculation on the future. There's a 'new' interview posted there from prog-shine. Some interesting stuff. Roine makes it sound like it is the rest of the band that is keeping TFK from happening. Mmm. 

zumacraig wrote: There's a good TFK thread over at progressive ears. Nice write up of last years TFK family releases and some speculation on the future. There's a 'new' interview posted there from prog-shine. Some interesting stuff. Roine makes it sound like it is the rest of the band that is keeping TFK from happening. Mmm.  I have not dug into A/S or De Capo, much less Dot. I'm looking forward to Roger Waters tour this year and maybe his new album. A teaser is up on his site and it's got a classic PF vibe to it. Incidentally, been listening to A+E lately. I think Love Supreme is very much in vein with what I've heard from TIoK. It's such a great, uplifting epic, especially in these times. I that album would've been so much better with other artwork (worst cover) a shortened track list and maybe a bonus disc of outtakes like Vampire song etc. And, calling it A Love Supreme. I know Roine was toying with calling it that. He could get away with it given the great music on there. Anyway friends, I've got so much prog to catch up with. We are definitely in a time of deluge. Too much to listen to much less give appropriate time to. Peace!

Well, you know how I feel about A&E   It's still my least favorite FK album.  That said, it's still pretty good.  The opening epic though......it has it's moments but it just drags for me.  TIoK does not do that.

In any case, I've been listening to old and new stuff.......picked up King Crimson The Great Deceiver (the two double CD sets of the music that was on the box set in the 90's) and Frank Zappa Little Dots.  The Great Deceiver material (all live stuff from 73, 74) is outstanding.  I've heard some of it before, but it's nice to have it all.  Haven't spun the Zappa yet, but it's from the "Petite Wazoo" band of the early 70's.

I dig the Kaipa De Capo, but it's not the FK's.  Almost makes me think of a more epic Agents of Mercy with Michael Stolt on vocals instead of Nad.  Something like that.  Worth listening to though, just for the guitar solos.




Edited by infandous - February 10 2017 at 16:34

zumacraig wrote: So Tomas is giving away his music via soundcloud. Not all of it though. Kind of weird. Thoughts? Infandous, you don't like A+E?!!!

I think you know my feelings pretty well by now   I would never say I don't like it, just that it's my least favorite.  It's really not a bad album, just still find it very disappointing even after all these years  (I bought it the day it was released.......after Unfold it was just such a huge let down......but I've come to appreciate some of the tracks over the years since).

As to Tomas, not really sure why he's doing that.  He should at least do a "name your price" type of thing.  I'm sure none of his albums sold very well, but still.  Seems like giving up to just put them up for free.

bump

I know very little Flower Kings. Mostly their last two albums, which I have, and I have heard a few times some songs on YouTube... but in general, I have been rather underwhelmed. Perhaps I need to try a real classic from them. And in general, I apreciate Roine Stolt as a great guitar player, but I usually end up with a feeling that it could be still better. The Kaipa albums were good, but I feel they don't reach the greatness of the british giants (though I just got Solo, and I think I actually liked it better than their first two albums, but I still have to hear it more). From Transatlantic I really love "The Whirlwind", but the others may sound just a bit too prog formulaic (specially the last one). And the collaboration with Jon Anderson really was a disapointment... nothing that I would really hate on that one, but nothing I can really enjoy either, unless I just want to listen to some prog without really paying attention at it. However, I just got the Kaipa do Capo album (along with Solo), and I really liked it a lot (not as much as The Whirlwind, but it's perhaps the next best thing I have heard with Stolt Involved, as little as I know from him). So, anyone else has liked that Kaipa do Capo album too?

I love the Kaipa Da Kapo album, though I don't think it's as good as most TFK albums.  You definitely need to go with something earlier by TFK's.  I'd suggest Stardust We Are or Space Revolver as good examples of their best work (if you are feeling more adventurous, Unfold The Future is a  great album as well).

As to Roine's super group, I have not heard anything, though I saw he played a gig with Rikard of Beardfish and the bootcut drummer (also Rikard solo).  He was playing bass with them, as a three piece, so I don't think that would qualify as a "supergroup", but I do wonder now if this new group will involve Rikard.  That would be awesome, IMO.

I've been dipping my toes in TFK, recently. Karmakanic too. Haven't heard their new album.

TFK are always in my rotation, whether I am home spinning rekkids or on the train to work with ear buds. Although clearly like others I am awaiting news of new TFK music.

beauty of an album if you ask me. I've spun it at least once a month since it's release and I still haven't gotten tired of it.