A quick introduction to my new rating system…
In the past I’ve ended my reviews with a simple numerical rating that is my overall feeling towards the album. In the future I’m going to move into a more in depth rating system. I will be rating albums on a scale of 10 in four different categories for a total of 40 points max. This score can then be converted into being out of 5, 10, or my favorite, 100. The four categories will be composition, sound, musicianship, and final presentation. Composition is pretty self explanatory. Sound refers the quality and mix of the recorded sound. Musicianship analyzes the talents displayed by each individual member of the band. Finally, final presentation rates how an album comes together. It takes into effect all the other categories as well as the extra things an album might have such as a special emotional punch.
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Reviewed By: Nicholas R. Andreas
Artist: Devin Townsend Project
Album: Ki
Genre: Post-Metal
Year of Release: 2009
On Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Ki-Devin-Townsend/dp/B0025T65GC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1245200910&sr=8-2 Going into this album I was relatively new to Devin Townsend, enjoying his Terria release a great deal, and loving his appearance on Ayreon’s The Human Equation. Unfortunately, after listening to this album, I think there might be a great deal of time going by until I pick up anything spearheaded by him again.
The music is certainly interesting in a way, and I find many of Devin’s ideas put forth on the album to be good in concept, but to me they simply are not executed that well. The ideas seem disjointed, sections out of place, and as a whole I’d say the album lacks the elegance and beauty that seems apparent on a King Crimson album which would share some of those same qualities. Sometimes I can’t tell if Devin is trying to annoy me, bore me, or both. However, there are certainly a few nice things I can say about the album. Devin’s voice, when it’s not annoying me in one way or another, can tend to be one of the most soothing and atmospherically pleasing out there. On a similar note the female vocals added to the album by Che Dorval seem to fit perfectly, even if they are fitting perfectly into a fundamentally flawed framework. Lastly, I’d say that if you do pay close attention to the album, there will be moments, few and far between, that you can sense shades of brilliance looking for better surroundings.
For the most part, I’d sum up the album saying I find it to be a combination of good moments, poorly executed ideas, and more than anything, parts in which I just find myself drifting off to other things due mainly to a simple lack of interest.
Composition: 3/10
Sound: 8/10
Musicianship: 4/10
Final Presentation: 2/10
Overall: 4.2/10