ADAM & EVE

Unfortunately, TFK did not continue with the jazzy improvs here, but there is still some great music. However, the band also includes some duds, which break up the flow. The best track on the album, and I think up there among the best TFK songs (and indeed, among the most inspired pieces of music ever) is "A Vampire's View". This song is quite different from the standard TFK. And Daniel Gildenlow provides an astounding vocal performance here, which makes me wish he had continued singing with the band occassionally on subsequent albums. This song is the high point of the album. Another high point is the amazing epic "Driver's Seat". These two tracks are in the upper echelon of TFK's catalogue. On the other hand, the title track, "Adam and Eve" is a joke that fails both musically and poetically. A standard three chord rock tune (except for the excellent guitar solo/interlude), the lyrics paint a picture of a jealous machismo Adam. Gildenlow sings this one too, but the rough voice just works to reinforce the impression of the song as a throwaway joke. In a way, the cover - which should have been seen as a hideous mistake for an album cover - works well to communicate the failure of the title track. While interesting as art (like how the title track is interesting as a joke/statement), the cover fails as an album cover (just like how the title track fails as a song). TFK often include a dud on each album (except their two masterpieces). On this album, it is the title track. The other tunes fall somewhere in between. "The Blade of Cain" and "Timelines" are both very good music. I particularly love "Babylon", one of Thomas Bodin's most beautiful melodies, as well as "Days Gone By" which perfectly extends/end "A Vampire's View" musically and thematically. "Love Supreme" is a decent, but not particularly notable, TFK epic. I actually think one of the reasons that this album does not get as much respect from reviewers is that the order of the tracks is messed up. "Driver's Seat" should have been the opener, followed by "Vampire's View/Days Gone By", with "Love Supreme" as the closer. It works much better as a closer, wtih its repeated chorus. The two remaining tracks, both shorter vocal-based tunes, seem like filler to me ("Cosmis Circus", "Starlight Man"). So, on the whole, a mixed bag. Some of TFK's most amazing inspired music, but also a few whose expiration date was shortly after the first listen. But the strength of the excellent tracks raises this above the 3-star level. And the quality of both the recording, and the playing, is excellent. I give this 8.3 out of 10 on my 10-point scale.

Share this THE FLOWER KINGS review

Social review comments () BETA

---

---

Review related links

• Send comments to Walkscore
• Report this review (#1703406)
• Buy THE FLOWER KINGS music online with PA partners
• Show all THE FLOWER KINGS MP3/Stream
• Go to THE FLOWER KINGS page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to Adam & Eve page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for THE FLOWER KINGS related discussions