DEADWING

"Deadwing" is an album that becomes sweeter with every taste. My first impression was not as favorable as the lasting effect delivered. My favorite tracks are "Arriving Somewhere but not Here" and "Halo." The music's affect was also supplemented by seeing the band perform live in Las Vegas.

I can feel the power in "Arriving Somewhere but not Here" every time I listen to "Deadwing." It is the brace that holds the entire album together, combining the components of all the tracks to culminate in a 12-minute journey. Steven Wilson remarked in Las Vegas how important this song was to the chemistry of the album. This could possibly be my favorite Porcupine Tree track of all time...

Sometimes when you hear such a wonderful album, the words to describe how you feel are hard to come by. That is just the case with "Deadwing." I feel as if I go on a rollercoaster of emotion and that Steven Wilson is conducting and controlling every turn. It is truly amazing and indescribable.

If I wrote this review after hearing the CD once, I would give it four stars because of "Shallow." After listening for months to the entire album as a whole, "Shallow" fits perfectly and adds to the experience. "Shallow" is a perfect example of how this album can kick you in the teeth and then calm you down to where you do not care about anything (once again, the roller coaster effect). This album really solidified Wilson as a musical genius.

In my opinion, the best way to listen to "Deadwing" is in 5.1 DTS surround sound. There are subtle details that come to the front and really add to the experience. I look forward to future albums and more of a presence in the United States and, hopefully, in Texas, where I am from. I hope to hear a new sound from the band, possibly one that would mix Stupid Dream with various styles heard in the last two or three years. Honestly, though, I have heard Porcupine Tree do no wrong.