Hi, man! Found your reviews very competent and interesting to read.

Pain of Salvation was one of my favourite bands in high school. I gues they still are in a way, although their Road Salt material does as little for me as the newest Opeth, which is another way of saying I don't like it. :P BE has a pretty special place in my heart honestly. It stands in a league of its own even now.

The vocalist you reference in your review of the recent Dinosaur Jr album belongs to J Mascis. I like his voice, but it certainly isn't for everyone. I also like Bob Dylan's voice and those of Dick Lucas (Subhumans) & Doc Dart (Crucif*cks), so what do I know ;@)
Just thought I'd clear that up before you went and bought and J Mascis solo albums

"My favourites remain Ride the Lightning and Master of Puppets (wow, so surprising), but even them I would only rate a four out of five."

4 stars is not a low rating.

OK, as long as we agree that ratings should never be devalued by giving "average" or "solid" albums 3.5 or 4 stars. Some people do that, but I believe people need to develop a rational, numerically logical ratings system that doesn't stray too much from the average user.

Some people rate a lot of albums highly, and that's fine PROVIDED they really like all these albums. Others rate most albums low, which is also fine, provided they really did listen to these albums and hate them. As long as 2 stars is never given to solid albums (as some people do), and as long as 4 stars are never given to "average" albums, I have no issue with people going to one extreme or another.

Hello Memor, fine reviews you've written. Keep up the good work.

Thanks for the friend add. :-)

yo you gotta check out do make say think's & Yet & Yet or Winter Hymn, Country Hymn, Secret Hymn!