1. Butsku

   10

   I waited for a peaceful moment in the busy work week to listen to the album with full concentration. I’m glad that I listened to the album on headphones because they do the album great justice. False Priest sounded amazing with the added low end and generally beefed up, organic sounds but Paralytic Stalks sounds even better. The sonics are amazing with plenty of layers and detail. Heavy panning and wide stereo image add up to the immersive soundscape. Make no mistake, this album is not a lightweight pop album. Even the chaotic Skeletal Lamping had a lot of clear, poppy funk bits and was generally accessible as a whole, but Paralytic Stalks is quite challenging. There’s a lot of noise and sound collages on the album. Solid pop structures don’t usually last for more than a moment and often a great melody is used only once, leaving the listener craving for a repeat. This is a good thing. The album offers extreme replay value. As other people have noted, the album is clearly split to two “sidesâ€� (ah, I miss vinyl age album running order with distinct sides) with the first thirty minutes offering a more accessible collection of songs, in the album’s scale at least. The latter thirty minutes is split to three lengthy songs which contain long abstract collage/noise parts. Because of the challenging songs and the album structure, the album really works only when listened to in full. Some songs such as the lead single Dour Percentage and Malefic Dowery work well out of context but Exorcismic Breeding Knife is a seque between two songs and is not very enjoyable stand alone. A full run-trough is extremely rewarding. I found great relief in poppy bits after a lengthy attack of noise. We Will Commit Wolf Murder, Malefic Dowery, Wintered Debts and the grand finale Authentic Pyrrhic Remission are my favourite parts of the album. It’s difficult to compare Paralytic Stalks to other oM albums but it’s an excellent album nevertheless. I recommend it for people who enjoy the album format and can take up the challenge of listening to less poppy songs.… Expand

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2. carla125

   10

   Kevin Barnes creates another splendorous record. I understand the different opinions the critics are having, but this has to be one of the most interesting releases in months. Totally worth buying it, the songs won't leave your head.… Expand

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     2 of 2 users said yes
3. Glowguy

   2

   To say I strongly dislike this album would be a huge understatement. It's the worst album I've heard in a long time and it ranks pretty low on the all time list. Words can't really do it justice but I will try. I always try to listen to an album at least three times but I really struggled to get through two listens with this (and this is coming from a guy with a very high tolerance for musical experimentation). Silence never sounded so sublime as when this album ended. On the vegetable scale this album ranks as boiled cabbage. If you are a fan of the band this album will change your mind. I feel like the quality of my life has declined since listening to this album. Ok all joking aside, besides the cover art I really can't find anything redeeming about this record at all. I've always thought these guys were eccentric but here they've completely gone over the top and they sound full blown pretentious. The lyrics and song titles are obnoxiously bad ("I turn to my crotch for counsel and it won't disappoint me" ) - I mean really?!? This guy takes douchebaggery to a whole new level. Musically it's even worse. The album is all over the place and not in a good way. The songs have no direction or cohesiveness. Think of the Beatles releasing an entire remix album of Revolution #9 and that's what this album sounds like - only much worse because of the horrendous lyrics. I could go on and on but I have to stop and purge this atrocity from my hard drive. For the love of christ Kevin Barnes check yourself in rehab (I'm assuming this album is heavily drug induced but I could be wrong), find a happy place, or better yet just pack up your instruments and call it a day because there is no coming back from this. The critics are being easy on these guys. I won't be listening to them for a long time.… Expand

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     0 of 1 users said yes

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