Xurtio

Album Title: The Flower King
Artist: Roine Stolt
Nationality: Swedish
Year: 1994
Subgenre: Symphonic Prog
Player(s): Roine Stolt (Lead Vocals, Guitars, Bass, Keyboards, Percussion), Hasse Froberg (Vocals only on tracks 1 & 8), Hasse Brunisson/Jaime Salazar (Drums), Dexter Frank Jr (Keyboards, “electronics”), Don Azarro (Bass, Moog Taurus), Ulf Wallander (Sax)
Familiarity: None.
Favourite track(s): “Pilgrim's Inn”
Why? I liked most of the instrumental tracks because they have that iconic prog feel with the slow lead guitar with bends and vibratos.
Least favourite track(s): The Flower King
Why? While I liked the set ups and some of the emphasis in the vocals, I didn't like the the timbre of the vocals. And the "We believe" chorus. My god, I was suddenly transported to a church get together.
Factoids you'd like to share?
End impression: Good instrumentally overall, in terms of phrasing, emphases, and subtle characteristics. However, he keys get annoying and the vocals definitely get annoying.
Comments: I did like a lot of the guitar lead, even in The Flower King. The tone could have been a little warmer, and some of the get-up-and-go breaks seemed a little out of place, and the lead guitar in those parts wasn't as good. I mean, in terms of talent it was fine, but in terms of interesting expressions, it was forgettable. I'd also note that I couldn't find a studio version of Humanizzo, so I listened to a liver version from '97 when the band was technically "The Flower Kings". I liked the vocals a lot better for that song. Not sure if it was because the singer was older (or different singer?) or if he just always used a different style on that song.
Rating: 3

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