Waiting for miracles cover

Waiting for miracles

The Flower Kings

84 min · 15 tracks · progressive rock

Ethereal melodies intertwine with intricate instrumentation, creating a lush progressive rock landscape that captivates from start to finish.

Top tracks — play these first

  • →
    House of Cards Start here — accessible entry with immediate hook
  • →
    Miracles for America — This track showcases the band's signature blend of complex arrangements and emotive lyrics, embodying the album's overarching themes of hope and resilience.
  • →
    Vertigo — With its dynamic shifts and expansive instrumentation, this track serves as a powerful centerpiece, illustrating the band's ability to create immersive soundscapes.
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    Sleep With the Enemy — The song's introspective lyrics paired with an intricate musical backdrop highlight a darker narrative, showcasing the band's versatility in tackling complex themes.
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    The Crowning of Greed — This track combines biting social commentary with vibrant musicality, exemplifying how The Flower Kings weave critical themes into their progressive rock framework.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

59 /100
Treeline
Higher than 57% of albums we've rated

The album showcases ambitious compositions with intricate arrangements, though its cohesion is somewhat affected by its length.

What we noticed

  • The album features extended tracks, with several exceeding eight minutes, allowing for complex musical developments.
Composition 25% of the score
8/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
7/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
6/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
7/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
5/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

  • dynamic progression with resolution
  • wave-like pacing for deep listening
  • heartfelt moments of reflection
  • immersive storytelling through music

Maybe skip if you

  • prefer short, standalone tracks
  • seek instant gratification

Where this album fits

In the catalog
Late Career Highlight — First studio album in over a decade, reaffirming their status in progressive rock.
Themes
American hope· social commentary· introspective darkness
Career context
Released in 2019, Waiting for Miracles marks The Flower Kings' first studio album in over a decade, following the 2013 release of Desolation Rose. This period saw the band reestablish their identity within the evolving progressive rock scene while retaining their classic sound.
Stylistic neighbors
Transatlantic· Spock's Beard· Yes

Tracklist

Disc 1

  • 1 House of Cards Start here 1:56
  • 2 Black Flag 7:39
  • 3 Miracles for America 10:03
  • 4 Vertigo 9:59
  • 5 The Bridge 5:30
  • 6 Ascending to the Stars 5:40
  • 7 Wicked Old Symphony 5:46
  • 8 The Rebel Circus 5:49
  • 9 Sleep With the Enemy 6:01
  • 10 The Crowning of Greed 4:48

Disc 2

  • 1 House of Cards Reprise 1:21
  • 2 Spirals 5:06
  • 3 Steampunk 6:31
  • 4 We Were Always Here 7:35
  • 5 Busking at Brobank 0:52

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata