RAISING THE STONES

Very mixed reviews here I see. Well, I must say that this is my favorite Citizen Cain album. It is progressive in every sense of the word, while still retaining ties to their PG Genesis styled previous album. I for one quite enjoy the dark, menacing quality of the album. Other reviewers have commented on a lack of emotion, but I find that the album as whole is soaked in emotion, even though certain parts of songs may not seem that way by themselves. Sure, the emotion is forboding and menace, but just because they are dark emotions makes them no less valid. Still, I sympathise with the negative reviews in that this is a pretty difficult album musically, lyrically and rythmicly. But I have found it quite rewarding. I can't quite give it 5 stars, and I don't think this band has done a 5 star album yet (hopefully they will, but they have been silent for quite a while now). Due to a large part of the final long track being somewhat annoying to me, I must subtract a half star. Also, I find Bad Karma to be a somewhat weak song that for me actually does lack feeling and doesn't really seem to go anywhere. So a solid 4 stars for this one, but all proggers should approach with caution. This is not an album that will appeal to everyone.