3-LockBox
04-21-2006, 11:50 PM
First off, this is an excellent album. There's already been some talk about this CD on this board. I haven't reviewed an FK album since Space Revolver, which I liked it OK, but it wasn't a grower. I didn't appreciate the new age flourishes and jazzy saprano sax. Or the hippy dippy lyrics. Or Stolts sometimes corny vocal delivery. Or the slightly misused cultural references.
I'm happy to report that things have changed for the better, IMO. I've paroused their output since then (over the course of the last few years) and not only has Stolt reeled in those over-the-top vox, but they've also reigned in those dopey new age embellishments, and their lyrics have slowly gone from hoplelessly optimistic to preachy, to jaded, and now, songs like Jealousy, Mommy Leave The Light On, and Bavarian Skies, are somewhat dark.
Not that dark lyrics bother me, but a song like Bavarian Skies could backfire on them. I understand that its just an artistic statement, but what if some yea-hoo gets a hold of it...what if this song is the first song someone ever hears from FK? Myself, I think it is totally out of place on this album. They coulda let this be on disc two, and put one the other killer tracks on disc one, like the title track, or Life Will Kill You, or just leave it off completely. It wouldn't be a FK album without some cringe inducing moments. For this one, its Bavarian Skies.
Unorthadox Dancing Lesson (an instrumental number) is OK, but only interests me for about three minutes. Minus this track, and the afore mentioned Bavarian Skies, this is a superb ablum that seems to question our existance while still lavishing gorgeous melodies upon you. Although the use of 'astronaut radio chatter' is by now "old hat", it isn't too much of a distraction and seems to carry the central theme. That being said, this is not a concept album (thank God).
But don't worry, this music couldn't be mistaken for anyone else but FK. I kinda wish they would have kept this one to single disc, just for the sake of having only one a killer album to digest, but even at its considerable length, it contains some great stuff. I like that it eschews jazz trappings of the past and resembles some of the best prog 'rock' that ever came out of the '70s. This is a more straight forward 'rock' oriented album, though some may miss psuedo-psychadelia of earlier works. It kinda reminds me of the first Transatlantic album, SMPTe.
They've had better songs on other albums, especially the epic length tunes of the past, but this is their most consistant album IMO. Both Stolt and Froberg deliver their finest vocal performance, the band is tight as ever and lyrically speaking, its their most coherent effort. This might be a good album to introduce the uninitiated to The Flower Kings, though it may not win over anyone who professed a strong dislike of the band in the past. I wasn't a diehard fan before either, but I can't stop listening to this album. Great cover art as well, (though it isn't terribly original). Highly recommended.
I'm happy to report that things have changed for the better, IMO. I've paroused their output since then (over the course of the last few years) and not only has Stolt reeled in those over-the-top vox, but they've also reigned in those dopey new age embellishments, and their lyrics have slowly gone from hoplelessly optimistic to preachy, to jaded, and now, songs like Jealousy, Mommy Leave The Light On, and Bavarian Skies, are somewhat dark.
Not that dark lyrics bother me, but a song like Bavarian Skies could backfire on them. I understand that its just an artistic statement, but what if some yea-hoo gets a hold of it...what if this song is the first song someone ever hears from FK? Myself, I think it is totally out of place on this album. They coulda let this be on disc two, and put one the other killer tracks on disc one, like the title track, or Life Will Kill You, or just leave it off completely. It wouldn't be a FK album without some cringe inducing moments. For this one, its Bavarian Skies.
Unorthadox Dancing Lesson (an instrumental number) is OK, but only interests me for about three minutes. Minus this track, and the afore mentioned Bavarian Skies, this is a superb ablum that seems to question our existance while still lavishing gorgeous melodies upon you. Although the use of 'astronaut radio chatter' is by now "old hat", it isn't too much of a distraction and seems to carry the central theme. That being said, this is not a concept album (thank God).
But don't worry, this music couldn't be mistaken for anyone else but FK. I kinda wish they would have kept this one to single disc, just for the sake of having only one a killer album to digest, but even at its considerable length, it contains some great stuff. I like that it eschews jazz trappings of the past and resembles some of the best prog 'rock' that ever came out of the '70s. This is a more straight forward 'rock' oriented album, though some may miss psuedo-psychadelia of earlier works. It kinda reminds me of the first Transatlantic album, SMPTe.
They've had better songs on other albums, especially the epic length tunes of the past, but this is their most consistant album IMO. Both Stolt and Froberg deliver their finest vocal performance, the band is tight as ever and lyrically speaking, its their most coherent effort. This might be a good album to introduce the uninitiated to The Flower Kings, though it may not win over anyone who professed a strong dislike of the band in the past. I wasn't a diehard fan before either, but I can't stop listening to this album. Great cover art as well, (though it isn't terribly original). Highly recommended.