FEAR OF A BLANK PLANET

So for my first review I've decided to go with "Fear of a Blank Planet" By the band Porcupine tree. To get things started I have to say that this is a great album. But it isn't the greatest album by them. Why? Well you notice in this album that the music has increased in quality. They've turned more progressive so we'll be noticing longer songs, different time signatures But as the lyrics go.... well it's the worst lyrics I've seen in any album by porcupine tree. It sounds like something linkin park, deftones, and KoRn would write on their albums. It's whiny, annoying and more importantly... It's about teens which the target audience is for teens.

Fear of a Blank Planet (B+)

My Ashes (D+)

Anesthetize (A-)

Sentimental (C+)

Way out of here (C+)

Sleep Together (B)

Overall Album (B) or 3.5 Stars

Fear of a blank planet will bring a lot of surprises to a porcupine tree fan because this album is much heavier than previous album "Deadwing". And quite frankly I enjoy the instrumentals, they bring a lot of life into the song but the lyrics draw me out and I have to constantly remind myself that I'm listening to porcupine tree.

Fear of a Blank planet is a great opener track. It's catchy, melodic, heavy and proggy in some parts. and it has that porcupine tree feel throughout the song, The lyrics are a problem like I've stated before but I enjoy this song very much and it's the second best song out of the album. My Ashes is a very weak song in the album and I tend to zone out while listening to the song so giving a review would be unfair so I'll skip it. Anesthetize.... The closest thing porcupine tree has come to a masterpiece. This 17 minute epic is one of the best progressive metal songs I've heard in a long time. The 3 parts to anesthetize are interesting because not only they sound different but the transition into each part fits prefectly so it maintains that flow throughout the song. And the last part is one of the most beautiful things I've heard in a while.

Sentimental... don't have much to say about this song. The soundscapes sound great but overall a decent song nothing special. Same applies to Way out of here, Steven's vocals are great in the song but otherwise I find myself skipping this song. Sleep together..... What a song. It's a different song but in a good way. It's their most experimental song in the album but they seemed to have nailed it. It's a nice song with a nice outro at the end closing off the album.

Overall I think this album is great but not their best for sure. While the album holds some amazing songs. The album holds some bad apples which I usually find myself skipping. But would I waste my 10 dollars to get this album? No. The album is good don't get me wrong but unless I was a diehard porcupine tree fan I would get this album. But as a casual prog rock listener. I would pass it and get something else. It's not that it's a terrible album and I would get it if was on sale. but if it wasn't for Anesthetize.... this album rating would go lower and I think we all know that....

3.5 Stars