Album Rating: 4.0

thanks ^-^ yeah that one's different for sure. it has to be in context with "Holy Tears" and "Garden of Light" to make any sense for me.

Album Rating: 4.0

Definitely.



This album took me little time to get into. Panopticon and Oceanic took way longer.

Album Rating: 4.0

Wavering Radiant has its teeth in me now. the earlier stuff is still a little caustic for my taste I think. metal vag still too tight for that.

Worst Isis album.

nah

Album Rating: 3.5

nah [2]

Album Rating: 4.0

ya I'm really liking the overall feel of it but there aren't any of the rapturous moments like on

"Garden of Light" or "Backlit." also too many growls for me. still thinking a 4.

Oh yeah, as for review criticism: As per usual, vague - quite possibly pretentious adjectives like "mellifluous". What's the point of those interspersed quotes? Do they have any connection to what you're saying or are they just thrown in there? I can't see how they incorporate into the review. Not going with too many (vague) subjective impressions would strike me as more indicative of the sound. It also almost seems obvious that this was written by someone who learned how to pick apart classical music and the likes. (at least to me)

I will note that I can be very nitpicky and I really don't like vague terms. (at least without a frame that would indicate their meaning)

Album Rating: 3.0

this is zZzZ and prob worst Isis, still need to check Wavering though

It's better.

Album Rating: 3.0

also good review gj new anime av user

Album Rating: 4.0

I would consider mellifluous is a pretty specific term...it's a lot of ideas rolled together -- smooth, harmonious, graceful, pleasant -- so I would consider it worth the risk of seeming pretentious.



the quotes are lyrics that address what I describe in the following paragraph. popular aversion to metal isn't a choice people make so much as a cultural norm that makes them feel comfortable. it's fake, following what is normal, what is permitted.



the harsher parts of the album -- the growls and heavy guitar -- aren't angry and crazy like most people se them. they're necessary counterparts to the rest of the music. hence, not madness, but on a higher level than it would appear to the uninitiated listener.



the last quote introduces the end of the storyline and brings together the lyrics and sound of the album. I mention that "Garden of Light" is the climax; the revelation. as Dulcinea rewards Quixote for his journey, Isis does the same for us. so there is a definite purpose to the quotes, and I chose them carefully from the lyrics.

Probably the best effort from the Isis drummer here.

Album Rating: 3.0

hey look another anime girl av

"I would consider mellifluous is a pretty specific term...it's a lot of ideas rolled together -- smooth, harmonious, graceful, pleasant"
Thanks for proving my point.

"the quotes are lyrics that address what I describe in the following paragraph. popular aversion to metal isn't a choice people make so much as a cultural norm that makes them feel comfortable. it's fake, following what is normal, what is permitted."
That kinda makes sense although I don't think the terminology is adequate. (who or what decides what is "fake" and what is "real" - is culture here equated with being "fake" ?) I would also question this aversion to metal.

"the harsher parts of the album -- the growls and heavy guitar -- aren't angry and crazy like most people se them. they're necessary counterparts to the rest of the music. hence, not madness, but on a higher level than it would appear to the uninitiated listener."
Okay, the first part of this makes sense but you lost me at madness. How is this alleged anger related to madness? What kind of "higher level" are we talking about here? Just seems like quite a stretch.

"the last quote introduces the end of the storyline and brings together the lyrics and sound of the album. I mention that "Garden of Light" is the climax; the revelation. as Dulcinea rewards Quixote for his journey, Isis does the same for us. so there is a definite purpose to the quotes, and I chose them carefully from the lyrics."
Again, I find that to be of highly subjective value. I mean I personally mostly don't even pay attention to the lyrics with this kind of music because I think they're of comparatively low relevance.

I mean, I don't know with which purpose in mind you wrote this. From my perspective a review is supposed to make it easier for a reader to know whether he would like the sound of this album or not and whether he should check it out or not. Which is exactly why I think vagueness and invoking a lot of subjectivity isn't really all that informing, at least not on a clear communicative basis.

That's why he said "anime girl AV"

Album Rating: 4.0

"I don't know with which purpose in mind you wrote this."



I wrote this as an exploration of the ideas behind the album and how Isis went about creating a piece of music that brings them to life. sure, reviews ought to address the sound and whether it's a recommended listen, but there are already five reviews that do that. my intention was to provide another angle, perhaps a more subjective and personal one, to an album that's already been dissected a number of times.

Album Rating: 4.0

@Celestial et al - which is why I've just given up correcting people when I get called dude, man, or bro XD

Album Rating: 4.0

edit: there are already four reviews that do that

"I wrote this as an exploration of the ideas behind the album and how Isis went about creating a piece of music that brings them to life. sure, reviews ought to address the sound and whether it's a recommended listen, but there are already five reviews that do that. my intention was to provide another angle, perhaps a more subjective and personal one, to an album that's already been dissected a number of times."
Fair point. I'll be looking forward to what other reviews you'll churn out. (just please don't repeat the whole metal stereotyping thing) I mean where I'm from people are just as likely to listen to metal and punk as they are to listen to pop.