The Incident

Having listen to it a few more times I think The Incident is more of a Tales of topo, The Wall kind of album. Which means it´s better left for those "special" moments, it´s not an everyday album. But I do think it´s good. Shame disc 2 is so short, I would have liked another song...

Mr ProgFreak wrote: I genuinely don't understand what is happening to this place ... when I joined even despite of all the arguments about which band should be added and which shouldn't, it was still a place where music lovers came together to praise music. Nowadays it seems to me more like a big arena where people try to slaughter bands that they, for whichever reason, can't get into after one quick listen.

I think it is a reaction to the fanboism thing that Toaster Mantis wrote about in his blog.  Praising bands is not a problem in any shape or form but there's a problem when fans are not receptive at all to a contradictory opinion and gang up to crucify dissenters.  It's not much prevalent here in all fairness but it happens a lot on the net and I can understand why Negoba already sounds tired of PT mania.  A particularly annoying aspect about fanboism in the internet is how the fanboys like to assume their favourite bands are underrated and overlooked.  I have never understood why that is so important.  I gladly call myself a fan of popular bands like Beatles, Queen, Pink Floyd, Scorpions and Van Halen.  I have met a lot of PT fans though who consider them to be underrated and aforementioned bands overhyped...in what sense I don't know because PT are a lot more popular than many bands in the prog umbrella, old or new. 

Anyway, I haven't heard the new album yet but will soon get around to it, this reads like it's something different for this band, whether it is remains to be seen for me. 

I have said before that it's not much of a problem here at all but it is in the net in general.  I remember reading a thread elsewhere recently where the premise of the poster was simply that bands like PT didn't get as much recognition as bands like Queen and hence classic rock was horrible and overrated.  I don't know if you are referring specifically to Negoba by the term hateboys, but his post didn't read like one.  He sounded a little grumpy about the hype over the album, that's all.  Maybe not reasonable but understandable human tendency. 

Mr ProgFreak wrote: ^ I would define the word "hateboy" as someone who tries to make an album look worse than it actually is ... IMO that applies to portions of his post. But of course I'll never know for sure - maybe it's his true and honest opinion that The Incident is like an average art major compared to a Picasso. In that case I would say that in my opinion he's simply wrong. But that shouldn't be a problem either, since my opinion has no binding effect on anyone ...

An album is ultimately as good or as bad as you perceive it to be.  I don't bother anymore about which albums people talk about more than the others, but I can see why it would affect Negoba's perceptions, for instance.  I really can't say anything more about it because, I repeat myself, I haven't yet heard the album.

Mr ProgFreak wrote: ^ can you point me to one post or review where someone says that PT are underrated *and* that some other bands are overrated - in a sense that people should stop listen to those bands and listen to PT instead (or stop giving them high ratings and give them to PT instead)? I can't remember having seen just one ... BTW: What I *am* seeing in this thread is a lot of hateboys trying to counteract the fanboys ... and personally, I think hateboys are much worse than fanboys. Incidentally: Have a look at my top 40 albums of 2009: You see that I listen to a lot of different styles, and my favorites are really not limited to the popular bands.

The Incident over Part the second? Wow, you must really like The Incident! jejeej

Man With Hat wrote: After first listen...not impressed.   A few (and I mean few) nice passages throughout the "epic" but overall falls very flat imo. Seems they've taken all the things I didnt like about FOABP and expanded on them. Second disc was less satisfying.   Also, is it me or was the production ho-hum? I was expecting a big sound (with Wilson's audiofile behavior) but it seemed quite subduded...even in the more explosive sections.

I think The Incident is very subtle... and maybe too subtle for it´s own sake. It´s probably more intelectually stimulating than emotionally and musically. Still, as I said before, I think it´s a type of album that shouts out for a special moment, it´s not an everyday album if you will.

Anyway, so I must admit over time FOABP has been getting less and less interesting to listen too, so admittedly when I found out "MAN NEW PT ALBUM" I wasn't even excited. Although I do still seriously enjoy the song Anesthetize, that's probably one of the best songs from PT this decade.

So yeah, I heard it, and my policy these days, if I'm not sure if I'll like an album, I download it, listen to it. If I dig it, generally I'll go out and buy it. If I don't, usually will just delete it off my computer.
And yeah,  I deleted it off my computer, if that's any indication of how much I enjoyed this latest PT release =P


Edited by Petrovsk Mizinski - September 21 2009 at 09:34

I'm now listening again, and I do like it better. It's prog and it's going to take some work to truly appreciate. From the beginning I've said it is a good album. I may even give it 4 stars by the time I review it. But it's not the album of the year and that phrase is mainly what I was referring to.

Is it me or is there more Opeth influence in a couple places on this album than I've ever heard before?

Edited by Negoba - September 21 2009 at 13:11

So Tony, do you like the new album?