Flower Kings Appreciation Thread

btw who else thinks The Sum of No Reason is a truly amazing symphonic album?!? i cant get enough of that album

The Quiet One wrote: progrocker2244 wrote: progrules wrote: Hey guys, something completely different now ! I just heard Sound Chaser by Yes just a minute ago on Morow And it struck me that the first minute of this song is very much like a TFK song. Is it Devil's Danceschool ? Any thoughts here ? I never noticed this before and in fact the rest of the song has nothing to do whatsoever with TFK I have to say. Well Yes's influence on The Flower Kings is huge. I think that TFKs use arrangements similar to that of Sound Chaser's opening on more than one song. Yes is to The Flower Kings as Genesis is to IQ (that's my analogy for the day) I see where you get that from, but I truly think TFK have a bigger bunch of influences compared to IQ's really notable Genesis influence. I mean, Roine Stolt's guitar style is very Zappa-esque in a lot of parts rather than Howe-ish. The compositions include a lot of jazz elements, something Yes barely does. You got Jonas with his fretless. Tomas seems to take influences from the big ones including Keith Emerson, Tony Banks and yes, Rick Wakeman. Of course the positive feel is very Yes-ish, but as far as how they sound they're much versatile than IQ in my opinion.

progrocker2244 wrote: progrules wrote: Hey guys, something completely different now ! I just heard Sound Chaser by Yes just a minute ago on Morow And it struck me that the first minute of this song is very much like a TFK song. Is it Devil's Danceschool ? Any thoughts here ? I never noticed this before and in fact the rest of the song has nothing to do whatsoever with TFK I have to say. Well Yes's influence on The Flower Kings is huge. I think that TFKs use arrangements similar to that of Sound Chaser's opening on more than one song. Yes is to The Flower Kings as Genesis is to IQ (that's my analogy for the day)

I see where you get that from, but I truly think TFK have a bigger bunch of influences compared to IQ's really notable Genesis influence.

I mean, Roine Stolt's guitar style is very Zappa-esque in a lot of parts rather than Howe-ish. The compositions include a lot of jazz elements, something Yes barely does. You got Jonas with his fretless. Tomas seems to take influences from the big ones including Keith Emerson, Tony Banks and yes, Rick Wakeman.

Of course the positive feel is very Yes-ish, but as far as how they sound they're much versatile than IQ in my opinion.

progrocker2244 wrote: Roland113 wrote: progrocker2244 wrote: This could have been done before, but what is everyone's thoughts on Unfold The Future? Also, what is your favorite song off of the album? I forget what I said initially, current opinion on Unfold the Future, four star album, favorite song is 'The Devil;s Playground". I think Unfold the Future has some of the greatest TFK songs ever, but didn't need to be a double disc. I think I'm gonna give it a 4.

I agree, if it were just Disc 1 it would have been a truly flawless masterpiece of the 21st Century. Being a double album, I think I would still give it a 5 star due to Disc 1 but it would be a flawed masterpiece.

Not that it's my favorite, but I think the 7 songs on Disc 1 are all perfect; solid composition, outstanding musicianship.

progrocker2244 wrote: The Quiet One wrote: ^on Page 13 the discussion starts.... Sorry, I haven't been following this whole thread...

Hey, no problem.

progrocker2244 wrote: This could have been done before, but what is everyone's thoughts on Unfold The Future? Also, what is your favorite song off of the album?

I forget what I said initially, current opinion on Unfold the Future, four star album, favorite song is 'The Devil;s Playground".

progrocker2244 wrote: Roland113 wrote: progrocker2244 wrote: Roj M30 wrote: ^ Very much agreed .   It appears that Pennsylvania/Pittsburgh is indeed a bit of a prog haven with a particular fondness for TFK!  And you get both 3 Rivers and Nearfest too!! I live on the exact opposite side of the state from Pittsburgh, but I still went to 3RP (it's about a 7 hour drive. Maybe you can fly there from the UK this year). Sadly I missed the Nearfest last year. I heard it was very good. I'm right on the PA and New Jersey border, so New Jersey proghouse isn't very far either... Too cool, are you coming again this year? I think I have to miss 3RP this year (which completely sucks because IQ is gonna be there!!!). I might be going to NJ Proghouse to see Karmakanic. btw, are you going to 3RP?

I'm absolutely going this year, day one is going to be amazing with IQ, Singularity, Phideaux and It Bites.  Day 2 isn't too shabby either. 

I think Karmakanic and Agents of Mercy are coming to Pittsburgh in October, probably the same tour.  If we can swing it, I'm going to see them as well. 

If you end up changing your mind and do go to 3RP, let me know, we'll can hook up for a beer or something.

This could have been done before, but what is everyone's thoughts on Unfold The Future?

Also, what is your favorite song off of the album?

Roland113 wrote: progrocker2244 wrote: Roj M30 wrote: ^ Very much agreed .   It appears that Pennsylvania/Pittsburgh is indeed a bit of a prog haven with a particular fondness for TFK!  And you get both 3 Rivers and Nearfest too!! I live on the exact opposite side of the state from Pittsburgh, but I still went to 3RP (it's about a 7 hour drive. Maybe you can fly there from the UK this year). Sadly I missed the Nearfest last year. I heard it was very good. I'm right on the PA and New Jersey border, so New Jersey proghouse isn't very far either... Too cool, are you coming again this year?

I think I have to miss 3RP this year (which completely sucks because IQ is gonna be there!!!). I might be going to NJ Proghouse to see Karmakanic.

btw, are you going to 3RP?




Edited by progrocker2244 - July 02 2009 at 07:24

Roland113 wrote: Hey all, So I'm trying to get a cohesive opinion on 'The Rainmaker", unfortunately, a lot of it doesn't stand out to me, if I had to rate it today, i'd give it a 3.  Serious Dreamers is a classic, it's in my top 5 FK songs, but the rest of the album easily fades into the background and doesn't have quite the same punch as many of their other albums.