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Flower Kings Appreciation Thread |
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Catcher10 
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 Posted: January 21 2011 at 15:20 |
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^ Yes but as he said...the "prog" world will think it is boring....
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Anthony H.
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Posted: January 21 2011 at 15:24 |
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Well, I'm excited to see him branching out. It worked out well with Wall Street Voodoo, so it will probably work out again. |
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Nov
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Posted: February 05 2011 at 03:57 |
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Roine wins "Best Guitarist" in the Classic Prog Magazine readers poll for the second year running!!
I am so, so pleased that Roine is gradually getting the attention he so richly deserves :) Here are some of the results: BEST GUITARIST 1st place - Roine Stolt (again) :) BEST BASSPLAYER 5th place - Jonas Reingold BEST BAND 2nd place -Transatlantic EVENT OF THE YEAR (1st place - "High Voltage Festival" ) 2nd place - TA @ Shepherds Bush Empire - London BEST DVD 2nd place - Transatlantic |
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infandous
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Posted: February 08 2011 at 09:20 |
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A couple things:
According to Roine, The Flower King is NOT the first Flower Kings albums. It was the popularity of that album that made him decide to create The Flower Kings as a group. Of course, he also says that he really didn't think of it as a real band until Stardust We Are (when they started doing actual tours instead of one off local performances), so take that however you want. He did say that a Flower Kings album was possible for 2011, but he also said that about 2010. I don't recall if he said that about 2009, but I don't think so. Back in '08 and '09 (and early '10, for that matter) he was mostly saying they were on indefinite hiatus. So the fact that he keeps mentioning the possibility is very promising. We can hope  Eggs and Dogs "You Are" is easily my favorite of the Flower King offshoots since 2007, hands down. I like I AM better, but it's a very good follow up. The Whirlwind is good too, of course, but I prefer You Are even over that one. The Agents albums are decent, but not very exciting. Dramaramma has really grown on me, but I'd still hesitate to give it more than 3 stars (though I think 3.5 would be more appropriate). Anyway, good to see new blood in here! I'm guessing we won't see a new FK album before next year, but I'd love to be wrong! |
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The Quiet One
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Posted: February 08 2011 at 09:49 |
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^regarding 'The Flower King', I consider it the first TFK album sonically speaking. He even said it, that gave the idea to form the band.
Regarding the best offshoot, I still think 'Who's the Boss in the Factory' is the best TFK album TFK never released. Jonas & Co. really did an incredible job, I love it so much because the keyboards are way clearer and better imo, plus the rest of the band is a notch better than in TFK. But the reason why I like this so much is undeniably because I prefer the more eclectic/jazzy stuff by TFK (Unfold the Future), with the great rhythm section of Zoltan and Jonas.
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PinkFloydrulez
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Posted: February 09 2011 at 10:57 |
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I've never really been able to get into these guys but this topic looks like it'll be a fun read through. I'll be listening to them more and who knows I may even be converted somewhere down the line :P
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http://www.last.fm/user/PinkFloydrulez
http://rateyourmusic.com/~pfr_77 |
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Roland113
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Honorary Collaborator Joined: March 30 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Status: Offline Points: 3843 |
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Posted: February 09 2011 at 23:03 |
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We look forward to hearing your progress pfrulez.
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-------someone please tell him to delete this line, he looks like a noob-------
I don't have an unnatural obsession with Disney Princesses, I have a fourteen year old daughter and coping mechanisms. |
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infandous
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Posted: February 10 2011 at 11:13 |
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Well, I love Unfold, and Who's the Boss is a very good album, but I prefer Wheel Of Life personally. Who's the Boss is too "smooth" or something. Not sure how to describe it but something about it just doesn't click with me. Still, I enjoy it quite a bit, so it's certainly good. Pretty much all the FK related stuff is very good, if not excellent, so it's really just a matter of degrees of awesomeness I guess  |
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PinkFloydrulez
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Posted: February 11 2011 at 20:28 |
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hey, thanks. which album ought I stick to listening to?
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http://www.last.fm/user/PinkFloydrulez
http://rateyourmusic.com/~pfr_77 |
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The Quiet One
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Posted: February 11 2011 at 21:09 |
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It depends on your taste.
If you like your things more eclectic and/or jazzy, listen further to Unfold the Future.
If you're more into the classic Prog stuff, Yes, Genesis, ELP, etc, listen to any of the 90s releases (Stardust We Are, Back in the World of Adventures, Retropolis, Flower Power).
If you just want to listen to The Flower Kings at their best with their own sound, listen to Space Revolver and Paradox Hotel.
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natewait
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Posted: February 11 2011 at 21:36 |
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I doubt many would agree with me, but I think the best Flower Kings album is Sum of No Evil. It is just consistently amazing from start to finish and, to me, is a really good statement of what the band is all about. It hearkens back to their "classic period" sound, but still contains elements of their more modern approach. Sometimes I think other Flower Kings albums, especially the double albums, tend to have some 'filler,' meaning tracks that just seem to fill up space, but don't have much substance. Now, before I make any enemies, I realize that one mans filler can be another mans treasure. I'm sure the tracks I consider weak are amongst others favorites. But, that is typically how I feel when listening to most Flower Kings albums. But, the ratio of good to filler largely favors the good. And sometimes tracks that I used to consider filler are now some of my favorites. I just come across the odd track here and there throughout their catalog that fails to captivate me. But, when the Flower Kings are doing what they do best, they are playing music that is my favorite in the whole genre. So, getting back to the question, I would suggest starting with Sum of No Evil or one of the more "classic" albums like Stardust We Are or Retropolis. But, they are all most certainly great albums and well worth listening to  |
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natewait
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Posted: February 11 2011 at 21:42 |
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Oh! and getting back to the other question floating around in this thread, I think the best Flower Kings offshoot is by far Transatlantic's The Whirlwind. But, not counting Transatlantic, the next best would most definitely be "Who's The Boss In The Factory" by Karmakanic. It is such a great record with a great jazzy feel and incredible playing all around. I can't wait for their new album, hopefully coming out this year.
Eggs and Dogs is certainly an amazing record as well. It seems that it is very underrated--I hardly ever hear about it. But, it has some great tracks and some great melodies. Very enjoyable and highly recommended. Also great is FuturePast by Hasse Froberg and the Musical Companion. I've really been getting into that one lately. All these great offshoots just shows the immense amount of talent that comes from The Flower Kings. I hope they can get together again and make an album. It has been a long time... |
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Harry Hood
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Posted: February 11 2011 at 22:11 |
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Unfold the Future The Rainmaker Paradox Hotel The Sum of No Evil In that order. Continue to next regardless of wether or not you liked the last. One will click and the rest will follow. Also, make you sure to listen to each with the best proper setting, mood and audio quality. They really use the sonic spectrum in ways a lot of bands don't, and that really doesn't come across listening with low-quality speakers. Good headphones are ideal, but good speakers will do in a group setting.
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Man Overboard
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Posted: February 11 2011 at 22:36 |
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I think TFK are an intriguing enough band that any given album has potential to catch/grow or at least make one curious enough to seek out other works. After a while, their music can haunt you when you least expect it and you will want more
 So, why are TFK so in absentia on Wikipedia? Everyone and their dog has a fully-detailed Wikipedia entry, but most TFK members/albums/etc don't have a page and the information is woefully lacking. I wonder the collective regulars of this thread probably have enough TFK knowledge to ameliorate this situation.
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PinkFloydrulez
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Posted: February 12 2011 at 01:21 |
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Wow, I really dig how passionate you guys are about the music. I never really see this at other sites I frequent.
I listened to Retropolis earlier since that's the one I've had for... probably about 4 years now. I've always loved the title track a lot, but a little ways into the next song I had to start working on something. Rhythm of the Sea is where I usually get a little turned off but I left the album playing while I worked and when I had a chance to tune into it there were a few parts I liked. I know it requires closer listening but I just don't really have a good listening space any more. My dad's got some serious stereo equipment in the basement but it'd too cold down there to stay and listen. I have decent headphones (senn hd280 pros) but tinnitus acts up sometimes and makes headphone listening annoying :/ so I just have this old (ooold) Logitech z-340 system @ my computer to listen with, and it is ohsohard to concentrate on anything with all of the internet before me... haha
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Nov
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Posted: February 12 2011 at 18:51 |
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Well remember that you're advising a Pink Floyd fan here so he'll know all about filler on albums OK that's a bit of a tongue-in-cheek comment but I think The Flower Kings get unfairly criticized for having a bit of experimentation here and there on CDs that last 75 or 150 minutes. Bands in the 70s had experimentation (another man's "filler") on LPs lasting only 45 or 90 minutes. Especially Pink Floyd. (and I'm a big Floyd fan by the way) |
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Harry Hood
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Posted: February 12 2011 at 20:32 |
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While we're on the subject of Pink Floyd: I love Roine's interpretation of David Gilmour's guitar parts. He pretty much improvises through the entire song except for a few signature melodies.
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natewait
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Posted: February 12 2011 at 21:56 |
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Yeah, I guess I fill the same way about Pink Floyd, ha ha. I guess I'm easily bored/have a short attention span. But, just to clarify, I absolutely love The Flower Kings, and those 'filler' moments are not very often. I bet that over time, I'll learn to appreciate those moments more. A good example of what I'm talking about is "Christianopel" (especially the first three minutes) on Unfold the Future. I just struggle to get through that song each time I listen to that album. But, I appreciate their desire to experiment and go outside their comfort zone. Perhaps over time, I'll get it. |
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Nov
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Posted: February 13 2011 at 10:55 |
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That track is a typical case in point I would advise not trying too hard to get it because that for me is just a really boring track. The Flower Kings have slowly risen to being my 3rd all-time favourite band (behind Genesis and The Beatles) but there are tracks such as 'Christianopel' that leave me completely cold. The trouble is there are those people who allow it to colour their view of the whole album. Yet this is an album with three MONSTER epics on it and lots of other good stuff. To me, classic 70s albums such as Fragile, Meddle, The Lamb, etc all have difficult, boring and experimental moments on them but they are stll classic albums. Imagine what bollocks Yes, Floyd and Genesis would have produced if they'd have had 75/150 minutes per album available to them |
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Anthony H.
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Posted: February 13 2011 at 11:06 |
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I love DramaRama. Five stars. Their third album should be coming out within the first half of this year.
I doubt that there will be a new TFK album any time soon. |
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Catcher10 wrote: