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~Rael~ 
Forum Senior Member
Joined: April 11 2006
Location: United States
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Points: 247
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 Topic: PoS Road Salt One - I Don't "Get" It
Posted: March 07 2011 at 21:45 |
Hello, all. Looong time since I've posted here. It took Pain of Salvation to bring me back (after all, what other band could?).
So, I have listened to Road Salt One a couple times. I like it, but after reading some of the reviews here, I feel like I'm missing something. I just can't get into it. It's good, but nothing special as far as I can tell. What really boggles my mind is how it has a 3.59 rating. Now, if this was a rating based only on how much one enjoys a piece of music (and I know that does factor in) it wouldn't be a problem, but the rating is supposed to be based on the progressiveness of the work, and I just can't find much prog in RS1. I'll grant it's more progressive than the average shlock pumped out of radios, but that seems about it. It actually sounds like another indie band, and I hate indie.
So, I'm hoping someone can explain to me what I'm missing. PoS is one of my all time favorite bands. Hell, I even like Scarsick. If it was any other band, I would probably like the CD more. But this is PoS, and I really want to like it. So, help me, please. Show me the light.
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I repeat myself when under stress, I repeat myself when under stress, I repeat myself when under stress, I repeat myself when under stress, I repeat myself when under stress . . .
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Padraic
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Posted: March 07 2011 at 21:47 |
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3.59 seems about right for "good, but nothing special". I don't think people rate using the same criteria as yourself, viz. "progressiveness".
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stonebeard
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Joined: May 27 2005
Location: NE Indiana
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Posted: March 07 2011 at 21:48 |
 ~Rael~ wrote:
but the rating is supposed to be based on the progressiveness of the work, and I just can't find much prog in RS1. |
That is a completely terrible way to review albums on this site now, especially given what is is crossover and prog-related. A lot of stuff is progressive; a lot of progressive stuff is terrible. I'm dumbfounded that rating criteria hasn't been changed if it hasn't.
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~Rael~
Forum Senior Member
Joined: April 11 2006
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 247
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Posted: March 07 2011 at 21:54 |
< ="utf-8">
Padraic wrote:
3.59 seems about right for "good, but nothing special". I don't think people rate using the same criteria as yourself, viz. "progressiveness". |
I don't know, looking at ratings, a 3.59 is pretty good. 4 ratings don't seem to be common, and 4.2 and above ratings are reserved for the best of the best. Hell, none of The Flower Kings' albums even have a 4.
stonebeard wrote:
~Rael~ wrote:
but the rating is supposed to be based on the progressiveness of the work, and I just can't find much prog in RS1. |
That is a completely terrible way to review albums on this site now, especially given what is is crossover and prog-related.
A lot of stuff is progressive; a lot of progressive stuff is terrible.
I'm dumbfounded that rating criteria hasn't been changed if it hasn't.
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Well, the rating criteria is listed as follows:
5 stars: Essential: a masterpiece of progressive rock music 4 stars: Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection 3 stars: Good, but non-essential 2 stars: Collectors/fans only 1 star: Poor. Only for completionists < ="utf-8">< ="utf-8">< ="utf-8">< ="utf-8">< ="utf-8">
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I repeat myself when under stress, I repeat myself when under stress, I repeat myself when under stress, I repeat myself when under stress, I repeat myself when under stress . . .
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Man With Hat
Collaborator
Jazz-Rock/Fusion/Canterbury Team
Joined: March 12 2005
Location: Neurotica
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Points: 166178
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Posted: March 07 2011 at 22:07 |
stonebeard wrote:
~Rael~ wrote:
but the rating is supposed to be based on the progressiveness of the work, and I just can't find much prog in RS1. |
That is a completely terrible way to review albums on this site now, especially given what is is crossover and prog-related.
A lot of stuff is progressive; a lot of progressive stuff is terrible.
I'm dumbfounded that rating criteria hasn't been changed if it hasn't.
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Which is why you rate that sh*t low. 
Though, as far as I know PR has a different criteria list.
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Dig me...But don't...Bury me
I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive
Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect.
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Man With Hat
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Jazz-Rock/Fusion/Canterbury Team
Joined: March 12 2005
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Posted: March 07 2011 at 22:11 |
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As for the original poster: Yeah...I agree with you. Sadly people don't always rate according to the rules. I've done this myself, so I'm allowed to throw stones according to the gods of aphorisms. Hate to sound like an ass but its always better to go on the reviews. A good reviewer should specify why hes giving the rating and if its more prog or more jazz or more whatever. I haven't read the reviews for this particular album so I can't comment on that, I'm just saying in general.
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Dig me...But don't...Bury me
I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive
Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect.
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~Rael~
Forum Senior Member
Joined: April 11 2006
Location: United States
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Points: 247
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Posted: March 07 2011 at 22:12 |
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PR does. For the four-and-five star rating, just take out "progressive" and "prog," respectively. Same with proto-prog.
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I repeat myself when under stress, I repeat myself when under stress, I repeat myself when under stress, I repeat myself when under stress, I repeat myself when under stress . . .
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TheClosing
Forum Senior Member
Joined: May 11 2010
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Points: 527
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Posted: March 07 2011 at 23:53 |
stonebeard wrote:
That is a completely terrible way to review albums on this site now, especially given what is is crossover and prog-related. |
Agreed, wholeheartedly. I rated Road Salt low because it wasn't compelling music imo, not based off how "progz" it is. I'm at the point where I'm not concerned about genre labels and to me that's the whole essence of what prog used to be about. If anything RS1 is more of a prog record than most of the stuff on here. Why you ask? Simple, put on Remedy Lane then put on BE then put on Scarsick then put on Road Salt. Besides Daniel's discernible voice, this could be four entirely different bands. Seems to me prog died the minute it became a specific pinpoint-able sound. So basically I can fully appreciate Daniel's pursuit of a new sound for the band even though it doesn't click with me personally, but sadly he's just not the songwriter he once was which is what's most important first and foremost. And if all that doesn't jive well with someone's "rules" or their text book definition of what "prog" is then they can take a number and get in line to kiss my grits. 
Edited by TheClosing - March 08 2011 at 01:58
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sleeper
Prog Reviewer
Joined: October 09 2005
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Posted: March 08 2011 at 09:36 |
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Its definitely much more song oriented than previous PoS albums and the sprawling epics of The Perfect Element and Remedy Lane are long gone. Its progressive more in a "we refuse to stand still and repeat ourselfes" way rather than keeping to some prescribed ideas of what is prog metal. As far as getting it goes, you either like it or dont and if you've listened to it several times already then you might as well put it down and come back to it after a few months, you might have changed your mind or you might not have.
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Spending more than I should on Prog since 2005
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~Rael~
Forum Senior Member
Joined: April 11 2006
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 247
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Posted: March 08 2011 at 16:17 |
sleeper wrote:
Its definitely much more song oriented than previous PoS albums and the sprawling epics of The Perfect Element and Remedy Lane are long gone. Its progressive more in a "we refuse to stand still and repeat ourselfes" way rather than keeping to some prescribed ideas of what is prog metal. As far as getting it goes, you either like it or dont and if you've listened to it several times already then you might as well put it down and come back to it after a few months, you might have changed your mind or you might not have. |
Yeah. It's just a bummer when a band doesn't go in the direction you want it to. It's also exceedingly selfish, but there it is.
I kind of think Gildenlow should have just made a another band or just gone by his own name for this album (along with Be) because it is so far removed from PoS. I think it might have been better received by a lot of people if that happened.
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I repeat myself when under stress, I repeat myself when under stress, I repeat myself when under stress, I repeat myself when under stress, I repeat myself when under stress . . .
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peart_lee_lifeson
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Joined: February 22 2009
Location: North Dakota
Status: Offline
Points: 305
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Posted: March 08 2011 at 23:50 |
~Rael~ wrote:
sleeper wrote:
Its definitely much more song oriented than previous PoS albums and the sprawling epics of The Perfect Element and Remedy Lane are long gone. Its progressive more in a "we refuse to stand still and repeat ourselfes" way rather than keeping to some prescribed ideas of what is prog metal. As far as getting it goes, you either like it or dont and if you've listened to it several times already then you might as well put it down and come back to it after a few months, you might have changed your mind or you might not have. |
Yeah. It's just a bummer when a band doesn't go in the direction you want it to. It's also exceedingly selfish, but there it is.
I kind of think Gildenlow should have just made a another band or just gone by his own name for this album (along with Be) because it is so far removed from PoS. I think it might have been better received by a lot of people if that happened. |
Why would Gildenlow release any album from a side project? It's obvious he wants to show people that POS is going to write what they want and play what they want. To him, there is no "POS sound." I see what you're saying from a fan's perspective, but I don't think Gildenlow thinks this way.
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PROG ON!!!
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AtomicCrimsonRush
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Posted: March 09 2011 at 00:28 |
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i dont have the cd but you have me interested now!
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King Manuel
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Joined: October 16 2010
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Posted: March 09 2011 at 03:21 |
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Prog or not, Road Salt One is for me an below average and boring album. I listen to it a few times, and put it aside. Why try so desperately to get into it and like it. Yes I agree, some albums take time to get into them, but if after three to four listening sessions nothing happens, probably also nothing will happen at the 10th listening.
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Don't Bore Us, Get To The Chorus
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TheClosing
Forum Senior Member
Joined: May 11 2010
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Points: 527
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Posted: March 09 2011 at 05:43 |
AtomicCrimsonRush wrote:
i dont have the cd but you have me interested now! |
If I only had a dollar for every time you've posted about a record you haven't heard ...
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AtomicCrimsonRush
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Posted: March 09 2011 at 05:59 |
TheClosing wrote:
AtomicCrimsonRush wrote:
i dont have the cd but you have me interested now! |
If I only had a dollar for every time you've posted about a record you haven't heard ... |
You'd be able to buy 50 more CDs?
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~Rael~
Forum Senior Member
Joined: April 11 2006
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 247
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Posted: March 09 2011 at 08:05 |
peart_lee_lifeson wrote:
~Rael~ wrote:
sleeper wrote:
Its definitely much more song oriented than previous PoS albums and the sprawling epics of The Perfect Element and Remedy Lane are long gone. Its progressive more in a "we refuse to stand still and repeat ourselfes" way rather than keeping to some prescribed ideas of what is prog metal. As far as getting it goes, you either like it or dont and if you've listened to it several times already then you might as well put it down and come back to it after a few months, you might have changed your mind or you might not have. |
Yeah. It's just a bummer when a band doesn't go in the direction you want it to. It's also exceedingly selfish, but there it is.
I kind of think Gildenlow should have just made a another band or just gone by his own name for this album (along with Be) because it is so far removed from PoS. I think it might have been better received by a lot of people if that happened. |
Why would Gildenlow release any album from a side project? It's obvious he wants to show people that POS is going to write what they want and play what they want. To him, there is no "POS sound." I see what you're saying from a fan's perspective, but I don't think Gildenlow thinks this way. |
I don't think he does, either. Hell, who knows how his mind works.
But, I do think there is a PoS sound that has been relatively constant up until RS1. Even in Scarsick we get metal. RS1 just seems to deviate from everything.
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I repeat myself when under stress, I repeat myself when under stress, I repeat myself when under stress, I repeat myself when under stress, I repeat myself when under stress . . .
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Negoba
Prog Reviewer
Joined: July 24 2008
Location: Big Muddy
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Posted: March 09 2011 at 08:23 |
Rael, I agree with you about progressiveness being a part of the rating.
The new Decemberists album is slightly above average indie folk IMO. There is absolutely nothing prog about. Not one thing. In the grand scheme of things, I'd give it about 6/10 but I gave it 2 stars and rightly so. No prog fan would want this album unless they're specifically fans of the band. So "fans only" is appropriate.
Similarly, I will bump up an album that truly has something new to say even if it's a little raw or has some flaws.
BTW, you still in St Louis area?
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You are quite a fine person, and I am very fond of you. But you are only quite a little fellow, in a wide world, after all.
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~Rael~
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Joined: April 11 2006
Location: United States
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Posted: March 09 2011 at 16:06 |
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Yep, still near St. Louis, suffering the endless parades of indie bands that infest the good music venues.
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I repeat myself when under stress, I repeat myself when under stress, I repeat myself when under stress, I repeat myself when under stress, I repeat myself when under stress . . .
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TheClosing
Forum Senior Member
Joined: May 11 2010
Status: Offline
Points: 527
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Posted: March 09 2011 at 16:43 |
 Poor, poor you! I'll take an indie scene any day over these kiddies with their tight pants, flat ironed hair, and screamy breakdown noise that they call music.
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~Rael~
Forum Senior Member
Joined: April 11 2006
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 247
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Posted: March 09 2011 at 17:20 |
1. I wasn't aware kiddies in tight pants and flat hair didn't go to indie concerts. 2. If you think that's all metal is now, you're quite ignorant.
You're going to find more instrumental and writing skill at almost any metal show rather than the played out and exhausted indie formula.
Edited by ~Rael~ - March 09 2011 at 17:22
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I repeat myself when under stress, I repeat myself when under stress, I repeat myself when under stress, I repeat myself when under stress, I repeat myself when under stress . . .
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PoS Road Salt One - I Don't "Get" It
