FEAR OF A BLANK PLANET

With Fear of a blank planet, Porcupine tree have fulfilled all the potential that they showed in previous releases. Although the track lengths are longer, the composition is for the most part far tighter, and there is a far greater density of ideas presented here. The absolute highlight is the three part, 18 minute Anesthetize, which moves through three distinct styles, showing off Porcupine tree's great versatility, as does the whole album. Even in it's softer, more major moments, however, FOABP is still very dark: the whole thing is dark, as is shown by the final track, Sleep together. The decision to end the album on a downer has recieved much criticism from fans, but this is not an album about happy endings. A happy ending would spoil the overall emotional pitch of the record, and would seem somewhat cheesy or naive. From beginning to end, the production is of an extremely high standard, and FOABP ranks among the best albums of the year.