Pain of Salvation
1. What were your VERY FIRST impressions on listening to the album, say from the first five minutes in?
Actually, it sorta reminded me of Genesis. I think it was the vocals that did it for me, but I kept thinking that this is what a modern Peter Gabriel-era Genesis record could sound like.
2. What did you think of the opening tracks?
I listened to the youtube link (thanks, Troll!). So I didn't really notice any "songs" rather just one long piece of music. Not just because I couldn't see the song changes, but because it flowed together as one track.
3. What did you think of the later tracks?
See above.
4. Did you like the vocalist? Hate him/her? Any impressions?
I was reminded of Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins several times. I preferred the vocals solo compared to the harmonies. The harmonies just kept reminding me of cheesy power metal.
5. Did the music (only) generally appeal to you, or not?
I really enjoy progressive rock, but it's heavily skewed towards the genre's older artists. In terms of the very limited amount of new prog, this was pretty average for me.
6. Did the album get better or worse as you listened to it (first time)?
I feel like it drags in the middle. I remember expecting to see it at the 40 minute mark and I was only 22 minutes in. I wasn't totally satisfied with the ending, but this is only my first listen.
7. What did you think of the lyrical content?
Being progressive, I found the lyrics pretty avoidable. I focused more on how the voices sounded with the music. In that regard, I think they matched up quite well.
8. Did you like the instrumental parts?
I thought there were interesting things happening. I liked the majestic scale of the music they were trying to make. It had a classic symptoms of ELP songs, where sometimes the band took their foot off the gas to highlight a specific instruments. I've said before that's not my cup of tea as I prefer the King Crimson method of the whole band coming together. Nevertheless, I found the level of musicianship very impressive.
9. What did you think of the production?
I thought the sounds were blended together in a way that bled them together. I'm not familiar with the rest of their work, so I'm not sure if this is the intention or not.
10. How well do you already know the band/artist?
I've only heard of them in passing as one of the better modern progressive rock bands. That's it.
11. What sub-genre, if any, would you assign this music to?
Progressive metal.
12. On repeated listens, did you find you liked the album more, or less?
TBD
13. What would you class as your favourite track, if you have one?
TBD (When I listen to it again, Ill pay attention to the track listing)
14. And the one you liked least?
TBD
15. Did the fact that this album is a debut/sophomore/middle period or later period allow it, in your mind, any leeway, and if so, was that decision justified or vindicated?
The only way I could do that is to compare it to the rest of their work, and I don't have the background to do that.
16. Are you now looking forward to hearing other albums by the band/artist?
I wasn't loving this, but I would like to return to it again. There were several moments that I really enjoyed and that peaked my interest in terms of sound and structure.
17. Did you get, thematically, the idea behind the album if there was one?
I didn't know there was one. According to my sources, it's about "the search of man to discover the nature of himself." I'll take that into consideration on my next listen.
18. Did the album end well?
I liked where the album was going once it passed the hour mark. However, the only 5-7 minutes dragged for me.
19. Do you see any way the album could have been improved?
Maybe differentiate between the songs just a little bit, I would have assumed with was a 'Thick as a Brick' situation if I hadn't checked the tracklist afterwards.
20. Do you think the album hung together well, ie was a fully cohesive unit, or was it a bit hit-and-miss?
In terms of what it is trying to do, I think it says true to it's style and direction.
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