Customer Reviews

Flowers of Evil

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a great CD - The studio side features great playing the band and great songwriting from Felix, including a really cool anti-vietnam war song (a little dated now but still a cool song), while the live side has an extended "dream sequence" jam that has to be heard to be believed. "Dream Sequence" represents probably the best live playing from mountain recorded.

All in All - one of the great Mountain albums - I leave it up to you to determine how it should rank in your own favorites ;).

Mountain may have been the best "live" band I have ever seen, and I've seen Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, and YES. Leslie West, and Felix Pappalardi could rock. FoE shows them at their best. Side one includes a great anti-Vietnam War song "Flowers of Evil" and another classic "Last Kiss." Side two, though is a MONSTER. The "Dream Sequence" is simply the best live music I have ever heard. I've read, and now heard that the "Mountain Live" album almost equals the "Dream Sequence" of FoE. NO WAY. Believe me, buy this cd for side two, you'll be playing for quite awhile.

I've been a fan of Leslie West since I saw the Vagrants open for the Yardbirds at an ice arena back in 67. I got to see Mountain open for the Allman Bros in Stony Brook.For me Flowers of Evil is perhaps the best live side of any live LP,or CD ever recorded. One can just feel the musical camaraderie between Leslie,Felix & Corky. Leslie at that time was the "tastiest" guitar player of that period in rock. I so long for those days.

and hear how a live rock and roll band should sound! This original "B" side of the LP was taken from a concert Mountain did the last night of the Fillmore. The entire concert is available on a bootleg called, interestingly, "Closing the Fillmore". The part available on this CD comes from the middle of the concert, just after Felix pappalardi says, "Let me introduce you to....Leslie West". The CD picks up right after that.

Leslie West has a massive guitar tone. In the intro he smashes power chords, lets them drone on, then does the finger touch thing, without a pick. The notes sound like they are coming from a violin. Then, more chords, finally followed by about 60 seconds of feedback, gradually exploding into "Roll Over Beethoven." Felix Pappalardi and Corky Lang are outstanding musicians, and as they finally kick into the song it is like, well, an explosion. The two of them are as good a rhythm section as Rock n Roll has produced. The song scorches along for awhile, with Leslie West finally doing the guitar flash thing at the end, all alone, playing the absolute dog out of that guitar.

"Dreams of Milk and Honey" follows, and the band is just tight, tight, tight, obviously feeling it, making the most out of an obviously good night for them. After "Dreams" ends there is an extended high speed jam, including one section where Felix and Leslie play call and response. It is riveting, the two just thrashing their instruments, having fun. But, through it all, the thunder of Corky Laing makes it very clear the drummer is the man in charge. They speed up when he does, slow down with him, extend the song when he changes patterns. The band finally jams on a section from "One Last Cold Kiss", and the onslaught finally ends.

A live version of "Mississippi Queen", not from the Fillmore concert, finishes the side. About as good and tight a live recording as you will ever hear.

The studio side has the usual Mountain selection of hard, tough Leslie West rockers, rough voice and all (Flowers of Evil), and the gentler, more lush Felix Pappalardi numbers (One Last Cold Kiss, Pride and Passion). Good stuff, standard Mountain, great musicianship, but the jewel on this disc is the live recordings. It is way, WAY better than other live offerings from this band. It is just a shame the entire concert wasn't included, it was ALL good!

The Great Fatsby is not fat anymore--but he's still Great. Catch him on tour this year. This LP/CD showcases Leslie West. He had/has the best hard rock voice in the business. His guitar playing was/is impeccable. A true master from a by-gone period exploding with musical talent. Every cut on the record is good. Something rare now days, but pretty much status quo back in the late 60's & early 70's. Buy it for nostalgia's sake, enjoy it for what it is: pure sublime effort.

what an album! I'm 21 years old, and I got into Mountain when I first heard my father's albums with Mississippi Queen and Blood of the Sun. I later began to get into them when I got older. When I got this album, I couldn't stop playing dreams of milk and honey. If I could burn out the CD, it would be burned out by now. The bass and guitar trade off is definatly well worth it. A MUST HAVE

The opening track "Flowers of evil," is an up beat, good feeling song with lots of emotion and great hooks. "Kings Chorale," "One Last Cold Kiss," and "Pride and Passion" are on the more downside of the spectrum, they are not really what I call sad, but of a downside of emotion. "Crossroader," is actually a groovey song and is probably my favorite. There are also 2 live cuts, "Dream Sequence," and "Mississippi Queen," that totally ROCK. If you are into good solid hard rock with emotion...BUY THIS RECORD

This is almost a forgotten Record from the band known as: "Mountain", and that is a shame.

With an excellent studio side, and the second side of this record that contains: "Dream Sequence" which in only 29 minutes, just might be the most exciting live display of live guitar work ever captured on tape.

Side One: "The Pappalardi Side" shows the group in fine fashion as a good heavy hard rock band. The opener: "Flowers of Evil" has never gotten it's due as one of Mountain's very best songs. Felix Pappalardi, was a veteran studio wizard by this point in his career, and as a songwriter, one of the very best as well. His work with the band, "Cream" is very big proof of his greatness, and here on this record his bass playing and vocals are the "Ying" to Leslie West's "Yang". Leslie West, what can you say? In my opinion Leslie, along with Joe Walsh are the two most underrated guitar heroes of the rock era. Leslie, adds the right touches to this music and really rocks-up the music of Felix Pappalardi, that would just be too pretty or soft without his playing skills.

With the instrumental: "King's Choral" and "One Last Cold Kiss" the softer side of the group does show through as these belong to Felix, and as Leslie does add guitar touches here and there, these two songs are as pretty as Mountain will ever be on record. "Crossroader" is your typical hard rock/bluesy song, and here Leslie is allowed to step up more as he has some fine solo guitar featured. The closer of the studio side is: "Pride and Passion" and it does not sound like Mountain at all. This track is almost all Felix using his studio tricks and gimmicks. I tend to skip over this one to get quickly to the live side and my favorite Mountain music of all.

Side Two: "The Leslie Side" this amazing live music is taken from The Fillmore East in 1971. This is the summit, here we have the high-point of all music, Mountain. Leslie, is on fire on these live tracks, he has lot's of room to solo and sing, this is his spotlight. It all begins with a solo, and right into: "Roll Over Beethoven" with his heavy chording and lead runs, Leslie sounds like three guys here, nobody was more on top of his playing in 1971 than Leslie West. as Leslie West. This music, is way beyond great. With a bit of applause we now switch to another part of the same show and right into: "Dreams of Milk and Honey" and Leslie steps it up a few notches higher with his tones and phrasing, he gets every note right, he never overplays but he does show some fantasic showmanship for an almost silent crowd that has got to be gasping here. Leslie and Felix play with the theme and bend and change it up, but they never lose focus. There is no: pointless-jamming found in this Music. This is quite simply great rock music. It all builds into: "Swan Theme" and then it ends. And at over 25 Minutes of Music it is over TOO SOON.

The closer and probably the encore of the night is of course: "Mississippi Queen." I have heard this tune performed many times on many records, but for me this one IS the version, the definate one.

This is my favorite record by one of my favorite bands. As Mountain will never get recognized as one of the greatest hard rock bands of America and a forerunner of Heavy Metal, so be it. Rolling Stone Magazine and The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame are not chasing Mountain or Leslie West down and honoring them with any awards, and they most likely never will. For me it's all good, some of us ARE aware. Mountain were one of the great ones, and this record: "Flowers of Evil" was their moment.

Five Stars!!!

A "must have" for anyone who is remotely interested in progressive rock from the 70's. Side 1 (of the original record) consists of studio recorded tracks; Side 2 is a live recording, commencing with Roll over Beethoven followed by the Dream Sequence. Play the first track and go straight to side 2 - you will not be disappointed.

This CD is the epitomy of classic rock. Very underated. Not only is Leslie West's guiter playing oustanding throughout - it is the overall rhythm and synergy of the band and which ooze forth, that gets your attention. The recording quality of the studio takes are good; the live recording is so so, but is more than made up for, by the quality of the music.

Mountain Flowers of Evil shows two sides of this most under rated rock band. The true genius and talent of band leader and producer "Felix Pappalardi" shines on the live cuts as well as the studio offerings. I challenge any rock hound to find a more unique bass tone than that of the late great Felix Pappalardi. The guitar work of Leslie west works best when combined with the talent and direction of Pappalardi. Corky Lang and Steve Knight keep the progressions moving and provide a solid platform to showcase the great talent of West and Pappalardi. Inspired songs, great production, sheer technical brilliance. Flowers of Evil is a must own for all who appreciate American Rock-N-Roll.