Flower Kings Official Thread

[Zydar]

Flower Power without Deaf, Numb & Blind???

Yes. Sacrifices have to be made.

Yes and this sacrifice should be called Magic Pie 

Noo, Magic Pie is probably my favourite on the whole album. I know, I've only been listening to it a couple of days but damn that song is great. DAT CHORUS.

[Orbert]

I love Magic Pie!

It takes me through the skyyyyyyy! ♫♫

[Fritzinger]

Okay okay okay 

I listened to Magic Pie again and you guys are right, it's a very good song. I still like Deaf Numb & Blind better, but Magic Pie's chorus is indeed... magic

[RoeDent]

To be clear, that's not to say I don't like any of the tracks I omitted. But that's the whole point of the challenge to edit the albums down to single-disc length.

To carry on with said challenge:

Unfold the Future (69:12)
1. The Truth Will Set You Free - 30:50
2. Monkey Business - 4:23
3. Black and White - 7:39
4. Fast Lane - 6:33
5. Grand Old World - 5:26
6. Silent Inferno - 14:21

I've done a little bit of tracklist adjusting here to balance it out a bit more. Again, my experience with Devil's Playground has tarnished that song a bit for me.

Paradox Hotel (63:49)
1. Monsters & Men - 21:21
2. Pioneers of Aviation - 7:49
3. Lucy Had a Dream - 5:28
4. Man of the World - 5:55
5. Life Will Kill You - 7:05
6. Paradox Hotel - 6:29
7. Blue Planet - 9:42

[Zydar]

Damn, no Hit Me With A Hit or End On A High Note?

[HOF]

Going through Unfold the Future to see about a single-disc edit, and to be honest I’m not sure that wouldn’t just be the same as the first disc. I think there are some strong parts on Devil’s Playground, but also a lot of not strong parts.

[KevShmev]

Damn, no Hit Me With A Hit or End On A High Note?

Busting Paradox Hotel, which is possibly my favorite TFK album, down to one disc would be pretty difficult.  I know that End on a High Note (top 3 song from the record) would survive it, but not sure Hit Me... would. 

Honestly, even though Bavarian Skies and Mommy, Leave the Light On are not among my favorites, I like them a lot within the flow of the first disc, and can't imagine messing with that immaculate run and flow of Lucy Had a Dream through End of a High Note, so I would have to keep all five.

[DTA]

Listening to Retropolis today and Flora Majora's middle section jumped out at me. It's never been a favorite song of mine, but I always appreciated how composed, melodic and interesting their earlier instrumentals were until the jazz influence took over and everything became more "improv-y". The middle section of Flora is especially beautiful...these grand, triumphant melodies with subdued drums and an expressive guitar solo were such a trademark of their earlier material. I hate to live in the past and I really enjoy Islands, but Roine's songwriting was on a whole other level back then. Theme For A Hero is another one that really hits hard.

[HOF]

Listening to Retropolis today and Flora Majora's middle section jumped out at me. It's never been a favorite song of mine, but I always appreciated how composed, melodic and interesting their earlier instrumentals were until the jazz influence took over and everything became more "improv-y". The middle section of Flora is especially beautiful...these grand, triumphant melodies with subdued drums and an expressive guitar solo were such a trademark of their earlier material. I hate to live in the past and I really enjoy Islands, but Roine's songwriting was on a whole other level back then. Theme For A Hero is another one that really hits hard.

I love Flora Majora. Especially where it repeats the “open up your eyes” melody from Scanning the Greenhouse (off Roine’s The Flower Kings).

[Mladen]

I've been spinning Retropolis a lot this week, actually. I especially like The Judas kiss and Silent sorrow. There are plenty of great instrumental bits on it, I agree.

[KevShmev]

Silent Sorrow will always be one of my favorites.  It was integral in making me a big fan.  I still can't believe my luck, too, as they actually played the only time I've seen the band back in late '06. 

[Zydar]

Listening to Paradox Hotel now. Is Bavarian Skies sort of a Nazi lullaby?

[KevShmev]

I think these previous posts by Marc and me sum it up well.

Ahhh good old "Bavarian Skies"... AFAIK, it doesn't reflect anything by Roine or the band. It's just another part of the story/concept that they decided to throw in there.

BTW, what's the deal with "Bavarian Skies"?

IIRC, it is supposed to be in the first person of a character staying at the hotel. 

[Zydar]

Okay, thanks Kev

[DTA]

Listening to Retropolis today and Flora Majora's middle section jumped out at me. It's never been a favorite song of mine, but I always appreciated how composed, melodic and interesting their earlier instrumentals were until the jazz influence took over and everything became more "improv-y". The middle section of Flora is especially beautiful...these grand, triumphant melodies with subdued drums and an expressive guitar solo were such a trademark of their earlier material. I hate to live in the past and I really enjoy Islands, but Roine's songwriting was on a whole other level back then. Theme For A Hero is another one that really hits hard.

I love Flora Majora. Especially where it repeats the “open up your eyes” melody from Scanning the Greenhouse (off Roine’s The Flower Kings).

I knew that melody was from a prior Stolt song but I couldn't remember which! Roine was cool about throwing in little references to other songs in his stuff - The End of Innocence intro from Skenet Bedrar, Inget Nytt Under Solen in The Pilgrim's Inn, The Melting Pot using the melody from Retropolis, etc.

[HOF]

Listening to Retropolis today and Flora Majora's middle section jumped out at me. It's never been a favorite song of mine, but I always appreciated how composed, melodic and interesting their earlier instrumentals were until the jazz influence took over and everything became more "improv-y". The middle section of Flora is especially beautiful...these grand, triumphant melodies with subdued drums and an expressive guitar solo were such a trademark of their earlier material. I hate to live in the past and I really enjoy Islands, but Roine's songwriting was on a whole other level back then. Theme For A Hero is another one that really hits hard.

I love Flora Majora. Especially where it repeats the “open up your eyes” melody from Scanning the Greenhouse (off Roine’s The Flower Kings).

I knew that melody was from a prior Stolt song but I couldn't remember which! Roine was cool about throwing in little references to other songs in his stuff - The End of Innocence intro from Skenet Bedrar, Inget Nytt Under Solen in The Pilgrim's Inn, The Melting Pot using the melody from Retropolis, etc.

There are also a few references to other classic prog songs on those early TFK albums. Back in the World of Adventures has a brief Genesis reference. There’s a King Crimson reference somewhere on Retropolis (I think), and a Camel reference on Stardust We Are.

[KevShmev]

Okay, thanks Kev

 

[HOF]

Listening to Retropolis again. Man, Roine was on fire on this album.

[KevShmev]

Listening to Retropolis again. Man, Roine was on fire on this album.

Yeah, he was firing on all cylinders from a songwriting standpoint on that album, and his guitar playing was out of this world as well.  To me, it's still neck and neck with Space Revolver for best TFK single studio album.

[Zydar]

I gave Desolation Rose a few spins yesterday and I really liked it. What do you guys think about that album, and how would you rank it to their other albums?

[The Letter M]

I gave Desolation Rose a few spins yesterday and I really liked it. What do you guys think about that album, and how would you rank it to their other albums?

I like it, a bit more than the preceeding album Banks Of Eden, and the following album Waiting For Miracles. I only listen to DR in my personal expanded/edited version that mixes in the bonus tracks to make it a more traditional TFK double album.

I think the general consensus here has been that DR is a lower-tier album for many and I feel like I'm one of the few here that likes it overall. It's got some great melodies and moments throughout! I think I put it around the middle of the pack, but even then, mid-tier TFK is still great music!

-Marc.

[Mladen]

Of the ones I've heard, it's clearly my favorite. It's consistent, catchy and powerful song after song after song. Tower one, Dark fascist skies, Silent masses, White tuxedos, Last carnivore... And who can forget that epic scream at the end of the closing track? 

[RoeDent]

Despite having its moments, it's probably my least favourite TFK album. That said, White Tuxedos is a real earworm.

[Zydar]

Of the ones I've heard, it's clearly my favorite. It's consistent, catchy and powerful song after song after song. Tower one, Dark fascist skies, Silent masses, White tuxedos, Last carnivore... And who can forget that epic scream at the end of the closing track? 

That's my impression of it too, very catchy stuff. Great riffs and choruses.

[DTA]

Desolation Rose has really jumped up in my ranking of FK albums lately. I’ve been playing it a lot at work and there’s a ton of really strong melodies that run through and reappear in different configurations. It’s basically a pre-Islands though I think the high points of DR are much higher. Tower One is an absolute beast and might be my new favorite of their songs in the 10-13 minute category. Interstellar Visitations is another high point.

I really can’t see how this one rates so low. So many great guitar parts and melodies

[KevShmev]

I gave Desolation Rose a few spins yesterday and I really liked it. What do you guys think about that album, and how would you rank it to their other albums?

It is easily my least favorite. I like it, but I don't love it.  Recent listens of all of their albums reinforced my belief that every other studio album is (at the very least) quite a bit better, IMO.

There are some glorious melodies on that album, but they are often surrounded by ones that feel like they missed the mark. The middle section of Tower One is killer, but the first and last few minutes all leave me kind of cold.  The Resurrected Jesus sounds like classic TFK in those verses, but then the chorus falls kind of flat and takes a lot of the air out of the song. 

To me, the best songs from those sessions were on the bonus disc, but I do not factor in bonus stuff when determining how good a record is.  I judge only the proper album.

[darkshade]

DR is not even my least favorite TFK album, I just don't listen to it. Never been into this album.

[Zydar]

Wow, really diverse opinions on this one then

After a couple of weeks of listening to nothing but TFK I can present my 10 favourite songs at the moment (in chronological order).

The Flower King
World of Adventures (probably the best of them all)
Train To Nowhere
In The Eyes Of The World
Magic Pie
I Am The Sun (1 & 2)
Hit Me With A Hit
End On A High Note
Wicked Old Symphony
Black Swan

[DTA]

Wow, really diverse opinions on this one then

After a couple of weeks of listening to nothing but TFK I can present my 10 favourite songs at the moment (in chronological order).

The Flower King
World of Adventures (probably the best of them all)
Train To Nowhere
In The Eyes Of The World
Magic Pie
I Am The Sun (1 & 2)
Hit Me With A Hit
End On A High Note
Wicked Old Symphony
Black Swan

That’s a solid top 10. Glad to see Magic Pie on there! I always thought that was Hasse’s strongest song by far. I’m also surprised to see Train to Nowhere, Hit Me, and the two newer songs beating out stuff like Stardust We Are or Big Puzzle.

[Zydar]

I guess I'm more drawn to the shorter, catchier stuff than the long epics right now. I'm sure they will click with me after a while

[KevShmev]

Wow, really diverse opinions on this one then

After a couple of weeks of listening to nothing but TFK I can present my 10 favourite songs at the moment (in chronological order).

The Flower King
World of Adventures (probably the best of them all)
Train To Nowhere
In The Eyes Of The World
Magic Pie
I Am The Sun (1 & 2)
Hit Me With A Hit
End On A High Note
Wicked Old Symphony
Black Swan

Interesting top 10. 

I suspect, as you keep listening, that will change a lot over time.  I have a few favorites that are always up there (the first 7 listed below), but the others tends to fluctuate.  If I had to spitball a top 10 right now, I would go with:

Business Vamp (add Dawn and Simple Song to it if I can combine those three from the suite into a single track)
I Am the Sun
Big Puzzle
Silent Sorrow
Ghost of the Red Cloud
End of a High Note
What If God Is Alone?
All You Can Save
The Road Back Home
The End of Innocence

[425]

Train To Nowhere

I'm really only beginning to explore the Flower Kings' discography (kind of been working at it for a couple of years, just going a bit a time). But I think this is a really special song that I don't see people talking about very much.

[Zydar]

They seem to have a few live albums too. Which should I check out first?

[The Letter M]

They seem to have a few live albums too. Which should I check out first?

If you like epics, go for Meet The Flower Kings. If you want a large variety of songs, go for either Alive On Planet Earth for earlier material, or Instant Delivery for middle-era stuff (a show from their Paradox Hotel tour).

Speaking of live TFK, I almost wish they had released a live album after WFM just to showcase what this latest lineup can do on stage, but now that touring is nearly impossible, I doubt we will see another live album anytime soon. I believe the last live album they put out was Tour Kaputt, released several years after the Sum Of No Evil tour it was recorded on, so well over a decade ago. I almost expected a live album from their BOE/DR era, but nope...ah well.

-Marc.

[RoeDent]

Did they even do any shows in the aftermath of WFM?