Space Revolver (Bonus CD) [Import, Limited Edition]

The Flower Kings | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 23, 2000)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Import, Limited Edition
• Label: Marquee Inc. Japan
• ASIN: B00004YNVL
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (51 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #980,702 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. I Am the Sun, Pt. 1

2. Dream on Dreamer

3. Rumble Fish Twist

4. Monster Within

5. Chicken Farmer Song

6. Underdog

7. You Don't Know What You've Got

8. Slave to Money

9. A King's Prayer

10. I Am the Sun, Pt. 2

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It takes awhile to get into, but it's worth the effort..., September 18, 2000

By 

Lord Chimp (Monkey World) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Space Revolver (Audio CD)

Comparatively speaking, the Flower Kings' music takes awhile to get into. Sometimes prog is easily accessible and it becomes more engaging as you pick up the wonderful nuances of each song. Not so with Flower Kings. While it has it's catchy moments, you can't really appreciate this one until you spend a lot of time listening to it. If you're already a Flower Kings fan, it won't take as long, but it's still a bit of 'work'.

But it's worth it! The two part epic "I Am the Sun" (that opens and closes the album) is brilliant, weaving intricate soundscapes and moving from heavy moments to a more jazzy groove (and many other changes) very smoothly. "Dream on Dreamer" is a strange song that doesn't really seem to serve much purpose aside from moving into the next track. The cool instrumental "Rumble Fish Twist" is a crazy 8-minute ride...it's exhilarating and fun at first, but then it changes and becomes a slow, lugubrious tune that leaves you feeling down (in a good sort of way). "Monster Within", one of the album's longer tracks, took a really long time to really get into (for me, at least), but it's now one of my favorite tracks. The lyrics seem to meander a lot at the end, but the music keeps things concise and focused. "Chicken Farmer Song" is a silly, upbeat tune that remains the catchiest song on the album even if it's the cheesiest (it's probably a guilty pleasure to like it, but whatever...it's cool). "Underdog," "Slave to Money" and "A King's Prayer" are all solid tracks, while "You Don't Know What You've Got" -- which is principally a pop song -- is pretty good but I think it's the weakest here.

If anything is questionable, it might be Roine Stolt's vocal delivery. It takes some getting used to, with his accent and all. The lyrics are pretty wack too...but I like them in a weird sorta way.

All in all this is a good album, but although I like Flower Power and Stardust We Are more. If you're new to Flower Kings, I'd go with one of those. If you're already a fan, pick this one up.

Final Note: The liner notes are very nicely produced, and the picture beneath the CD itself is quite amazing.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars HOW CAN A GROUP BE THIS GOOD??!!, April 20, 2001

By 

Thomas Sebring (Philadelphia, Pa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Space Revolver (Audio CD)

Question: if you were to take the master tapes of Yes' "Close to the Edge", ELP's "Brain Salad Surgery", Genesis' "Lamb Lies Down on Broadway", UK's "UK" and Return to Forever's "Romantic Warrior", cut them up ,splice the pieces together, and add some incredible original licks, what would you get? Answer: the Flower Kings' "Space Revolver"! This album flattened me with dazed astonishment minutes after putting it on, and left me mentally out of breath by its end. It took me hours to return to reality after such an epic musical voyage. I am an old prog afficionado of the school of Genesis, early Rush, Yes, ELP, UK, Starcastle, Focus, early Queen, Dixie Dregs, and Kansas, as well as more obscure stuff like Camel, FM, Triumvirat, Nektar and Gryphon, and REALLY obscure but great stuff like Galaxy and Fireballet (you won't find them here). As such, though prog isn't the only music I listen to by a long shot, when I purchase music labeled "prog", I approach it with cautious skepticism. Much of the "prog" of the late 70's and 80's was a vacuous shell of its former self, many groups having sold out to commercialism to survive. In this present era of TrashPunkGrungeDeathMetal, Gansta Rap, Britney and the rest of the DisneyTeenMachine, and TransAmbientTechnoJungleEuroDanceRaveMusik, how glorious it is to hear the jaw-dropping hypersonic dazzle of the Flower Kings' superior musicianship transport me to other solar systems and beyond! This album at least equals any of the aforementioned prog classics, if not surpassing them!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mianstream or prog? it doesn't matter its music!!, August 22, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Space Revolver (Audio CD)

Ok, First I will point out to all of you that I'm only 16 and that my review here might have a negative effect on people but I assure you that I'm not throwing the bucket on anybodies opinions, I'm just merely making my own :). Ok, I've been listening to prog for a couple of years now and I realize that the definition of progressive rock to me is music that combines many different styles of music in one. They just put that label on it becuase they DON'T know where to place the music in. Is it rock? classical? jazz? country? fusion? it doesnt matter..it's music!! And this cd by the Flower Kings shows how musically open - minded they are. Sure you've got your obvious influence, Genesis and Yes and so on..but I can hear sounds of Hendrix, Beatles, Miles Davis, and The Doors smuged in their too along with 100% of their creativity. Let's go on with the tracks.. 1.I Am The Sun - Beautiful with alot of different moods ranging from spacey and sort of romantic music interludes in the beginning and then coming into a driving bass rythmn that brings on the deep and bizarre vocals of Stolt (very cool) and then from there exploding into all kinds of different styles like a personality disorder. 2.Dream On Dreamer - I can't believe alot of people don't like this. Sure it sounds like jazz but who cares! Keep an open mind..this is some of the spaciest jazz I've heard. It sort of puts me in sort of fantasy night landscape..very moving. 3.Rumble Fish Twist - Oh my god. This is one of the best tracks on the record to me. It's got sort of a black and white effect. It starts off with an attitude that will make performers of swing drop their jaws. I can almost see people dancing to the first part of this song as it spins and whirls around my headphones. Ok, time for a rest. The song then turns into a very mellow classical sounding synth with guitar soloing swirling in a comforting pulse. Breathtaking.. 4.Monster Within - Now you've got a metal influence in the music. These guys don't stop with the variety. Not just metal but all kinds of things are happening in this song that I can't put my finger on. It's also wierd because it has an evil theme to it..about nightmares and fear and such. 5.Chicken Farmer Song - Now were getting a little folky. Song does sound a bit poppy but like I said I don't really care its all music to my ears. The song may sound silly but the lyrics are actually very deep and moving almost. 6.Underdog - Hmmmm country? Whatever! I also hear bagpipes! My god when I heard the beginning to this song I almost passed out..how can these guys have the guts to put bagpipes in their music? They obviously dont care what anybody thinks about it..so they'll do it anyway. Very catchy chorus to this song I think! 7.You Don't Know What You Got - Nice acoustic piece..too short to say much about it though..but it is friendly and playful and fun to listen to. 8.Slave To Money - This song is almost like a carnival ride the way it flows and sort of bounces. Lots of different things happening in this track so keep your ears open. 9.A King's Prayer - Oh now their getting a little on the philosophy side of things. Very deep and peacful song that really kind of makes me feel good about the world for 6 minutes. Lyrics are some of the best on the album 10.I Am The Sun - "sigh" the end of the album. But it closes with a nice mellow finish, finishing up the first song on the album. Sort of like a Pink Floyd effect. Also I hear alot of the Floyd sound on this track as it fades away and the CD stops turning. Well in conclusion I believe this band is one of the best musical acts out there today and its really a treat to hear this music in a world of billboard chart bubblegum pop. I think I'll go listen to Stardust We Are now :).