Opeth are great, but they aren't perfect.
Who is?
Thinking that a band or musician consistently puts out excellent music doesn't make a person an ass-kisser, if the music is really in line with their idea of what good music is.
And loving an album doesn't mean you have to appreciate every single note. Like in life, if every single second inspires you to fits of ecstacy, before long you'll no longer be able to appreciate it. Sometimes the "weaker" songs on an album, or even the "weaker" sections of songs, serve more like the background of a painting, creating a setting or a backdrop for moments of brilliance.
We all have slightly different tastes and ideals, and the musical moments that make me feel like it's worth being alive may "blow" to someone else's ears. But if they can move me, and others like me, what right does anyone have to say their worthless or should have been scrapped? We can choose what we listen to (most of the time), so as listeners and fans it's our responsibility to find the music that moves us and not expect musicians to hand it out to us, perfectly tailored to our deepest desires. Even a band can't produce musical that fulfills each member with every single note, because they each have their individual vision of fulfillment.
On top of all that, every moment of my life adds new experiences and new ideas and perceptions. What fails to move me today may suddenly make the most wonderful sense tomorrow, so I am not quick to throw any music away as boring or unfulfilling.
I recently wrote a column about how much wonderful music is being produced all the time, and that it almost makes me anxious thinking about what I could be missing. To me, music is a wonderful and inspiring thing and sometimes I find it hard to understand how others can be so quick to dismiss.
