GRACE FOR DROWNING

I must begin by saying that I was NOT a fan of "Insurgentes" at all. I despised that album completely, it literally put me to sleep each time I tried to listen to it. Therefore I had very low expectations for this album although I had read that it would feature a different group of musicians and a different overall approach.

I've been a Porcupine Tree fan for many years, but I am not one of the flock of sheep who feel that every single scrap which falls from Steven Wilson's plate is studio gold. With this album he has exceeded my expectations - so much that, if this had been a Porcupine Tree release I would've been just as pleased. I'll go as far as to say this album is more truly "prog" than anything Porcupine Tree has done going back to the pre-In Absentia days....

The two monster tracks (in my opinion) are "Remainder The Black Dog" and "Raider II", although I do not regard any songs from this album to be throwaways. The album generally has a much more jazzy feel to it than one might expect, with some moments of electronica here and there.

I can't recommend this album enough - especially to those who, like me, did not care for "Insurgentes". Give this one a try and I doubt you'll be disappointed.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5