Alive On Planet Earth: Live 1999 (2CD) [Live]

The Flower Kings | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 29, 2000)
• Original Release Date: February 29, 2000
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Live
• Label: Inside Out U.S.
• ASIN: B00003TFUG
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #332,710 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. There Is More to This World

2. Church of Your Heart

3. The Judas Kiss

4. Nothing New Under the Sun

5. The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway

Disc: 2

1. Big Puzzle

2. Sounds of Violence

3. Three Stories

4. In the Eyes of the World

5. The Flower King

6. Stardust We Are, Pt. 3

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Start Your FK Journey Here, August 3, 2000

By 

Michael Askounes (Frederick, MD) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Alive On Planet Earth: Live 1999 (2CD) (Audio CD)

Very rarely would I suggest picking up a live CD before any studio CDs, but here I will make an exception. "Alive..." really captures the emotion of the Flower Kings music, and will most definitely get you hooked enough to seek out the rest of the bands catalog. The first two songs of the CD "More of This World" and "Church of Your Heart" are songs of the goosebump variety... I honestly didn't know there was still music like this available.

I'm the standard prog-head - grew up on Yes, Genesis, KC, etc. I GUARANTEE that if you come from a similar background, you will be blown away by this CD. Roine Stolt has quickly become - for my money - the finest guitarist/composer of today. His guitar playing is not so much fast as it is straight from his heart - it's a very emotional style, much like Steve Rothery of Marillion.

Anyway, please do yourself a favor and give these guys a try. It's the best new music available in the world. Period. Thank goodness for Roine and the Kings.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Prog at its Best!, May 5, 2000

By 

"mystery_train" (Chandler, AZ United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Alive On Planet Earth: Live 1999 (2CD) (Audio CD)

The Flower Kings prove that the future of progressive music is in good hands with Alive On Planet Earth. I picked this up a couple months ago in anticipation of Transatlantic, the new supergroup of Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater), Neal Morse (Spock's Beard), Roine Stolt (The Flower Kings), and Pete Trewavas (Marillion). Since then this 2CD set hasn't left my CD changer.

Influenced by the likes of Genesis and Yes, The Flower Kings can be classified as prog-rock. But some of the best moments come when The Flower Kings turn up the intensity, as in "Sounds of Violence" and the closing of "The Judas Kiss". All of the songs are extremely well crafted. Stolt proves to be an equally talented songwriter as Morse, Jim Matheos (Fates Warning), and Roger Waters.

To round things out, this is one of the best mixed live CDs I have ever heard. If you like bass guitar, you'll love this CD. The bass is right where it should be: out in front without sacrificing the other instruments. Whether you want to hear guitar, drums, bass, keyboard, or vocals, all are crystal clear.

We can only hope that bands like the The Flower Kings and Spock's Beard continue to produce CDs like this one. Our ears will be all the better for it.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Live And Well Done!, February 29, 2000

By 

K. A. Walsh (Eatontown, NJ, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Alive On Planet Earth: Live 1999 (2CD) (Audio CD)

As I had posted in an earlier review for "Flower Power"...this band has become an obsession...they are *that* good! Along w/Spock's Beard, the best of the new ProgRockers out there, imho.

Amazon recently got a supply of their earlier studio CDs (which I ordered) and after buying and listening to their complete catalog, nothing could have prepared me for their live stuff!

As compelling as their studio work is, nothing compares to live performances by this group. The magnificient vocals, musicianship, and sound are still here...but with new, jamming arrangements from the last few CDs (Flower Power, Stardust We Are) and some older material...and a great cover of Genesis' "Lamb Lies Down On Broadway" to boot!

From the beautiful "Church Of Your Heart" and "Stardust We Are Pt 3" to the *totally* jamming arrangements on "Big Puzzle" and "Judas Kiss"; this CD is a MUST have for all music fans out there. Probably the best examples of live jamming and re-arrangement of studio stuff since the days of the Greatful Dead.

These guys are phenominal musicians who write incredibly intricate music that is powerful, passionate, and delicate. I firmly believe that The Flower Kings will be the Band Of The Decade. This is a great intro to the band if you've never heard their stuff before, and icing on the cake if you have.

Buy this CD...it's wonderful!