Lost/Forgotten Album #254

[Jon]

Since this is an anniversary weekend and since the last Pain Of Salvation post (also on an anniversary weekend) went over so well, it's time for more Pain Of Salvation on another anniversary weekend.

Yes, this was planned all along. Why?

It's really quite simple. See, the first album was prog metal and I thought it would be amusing and fascinating to post a couple albums from a band that are so different from each other that you wouldn't even think they were from the same group. 

This week's selection is 2010's "Road Salt One" and you can now compare the two albums and have your mind blown (or not). This is definitely NOT prog metal, but it is prog. Parts of this has a 70's feel and it's quite "mellow" compared to the previous post. 

When I first started listening to this, I couldn't grasp what was going on. It was not what I expected. But, as the album continued, I was sucked in. There's a lot going on here, so much so that a single listen won't work. Blues, rock, gospel, prog and more. Oh, my!

Obviously this album has it's lovers and haters. Definitely not what a lot of fans expected so the reviews are definitely mixed.

Listen closely and you'll be able to tell when "side one" is over. It gives this more of an "old-timey" feel, know what I mean?

Road Salt One

1. No Way
2. She Likes To Hide
3. Sisters
4. Of Dust
5. Tell Me You Don't Know
6. Sleeping Under The Stars
7. Darkness of Mine
8. Linoleum
9. Curiosity
10. Where It Hurts
11. Road Salt
12. Innocence

Availability: Used or new runs around $10. 

[RJhog (Admin)]

I was trying to remember back a few weeks to what I thought of the previous POS album that you posted. I think it was fair, but not great and not really my style.  I also think it had good Queensryche type moments, which were the best moments overall.

This time I only hear a couple of brief moments of that sound.  But, believe it or not, I think this one is more enjoyable.  Maybe it's just the day (rainy today and I'm in some pain).  Or maybe it's the moments that remind me of 90's Black Crowes sounding like 70's Rolling Stones.  That stuff really, really surprised me for the good.  

Sure, there are some silly parts in here, but overall the sound of this album is much more interesting than the previous offering.  It's really kind of all over the place with it's sounds, the previously mentioned Stones/Crowes vibe (the guitar in these parts is phenomenal) and even some stuff that would sound right at home in a movie about 17th Century Scottland.  

So you did good this week Jon.  Now you just have to dig out that Wishbone Ash IV album.  Or maybe a J. Geils Band album.  Or maybe a Jeff Beck album.

[Scott]

I started listening to this POS album at the same time I was messing with some SHT I was thinking about.  Wasn't sure what to make of that opener but #2 was a decent blues tune, nothing unique or great but not bad.  

I started to get lost with the track 'Sisters', it was plodding and not very interesting.  Of Dust sounded like an extension of Sisters.  Not sure where this album is going!  Tell Me You Dont Know picks up the pace a bit the interest level is waning, was hoping for some prog of which I hear none....

Darkness of Mine at least has some all-too-brief moments of rock and roll, but its yet another droner.  And so it goes.  Road Salt as a title track is weird as it another atmospheric keyboard driven go nowhere tune.  I can see why people have passed this band over.

When you said these would be polar-opposite listening experiences, you weren't kidding!  This is nothing like the other POS you posted.  While I definitely prefer the previous POS far more, this band will remain far outside the purchase zone.

[Scott]

In the meantime, this post gives me an idea...