DEADWING

Definitely a great album, with some masterpieces and other interesting songs, some really great and a few that only pass the mark. Maybe this one could be the best ever published by this band, and surely it has to be in the top 3.

Deadwing presents the characteristic sound of Porcupine Tree given by mellow sounds of instruments, by the great vocals of Steven Wilson and by the effects which always fit at perfection and improve the quality of the songs. The effects in this album are fundamental and contribute, along with guitar, vocals and the cover of the disk, to give a special mood to the music, which helps the outcome of the less original songs.

Deadwing and Arriving Somewhere But Not Here, the longest songs of the record, are the highlights of the album. I would give them respectively 9\10 and 9.3\10.

Deadwing has an innovative structure, and while it doesn't peak levels of great emotion, it's one of the best compositions of Porcupine Tree. Arriving Somewhere But Not Here could be a bit repetitive but it's certainly a brilliant song. This song starts with two minutes of introduction which lead to the main theme of the song; then there's a metal section in the central part, which is disliked by some people because it didn't fit perfectly with the song, but I think that PT has done the right choose here. Finally, there is the reprise of the main theme and an intelligent final, because the chorus is cut out in favour of a great instrumental section. If this song would have finish with the chorus I think that it would have been ruined.

Then, following my preferences, I would place Glass Arm Shattering; this is a song of pure emotion, simple while dreamy and alienating, which could impress extremely positively some listeners at the first listen (I am one of them). For example I would recommend this song to the fans of We're Because We're Here of Anathema. Even if it's more simple than the other two songs before mentioned, I want to give this song 9.5\10

Shallow is the most energic song of the album, and I think his chorus has the best instrumental work, considering only the metal sections of this record. 8\10

Lazarus is a standard pop-rock song, nothing special for me, but could be liked by some people for his particular romantic tune. I believe that Glass Arm Shattering is a lot better and much more intense. 6.5\10

The other weaker songs of the album are Halo and Open Car; they have sufficient vocals and instrumental sections, standard structures; they are enjoyable if you like this band, but not essential in their discography. However the fantastic sound of Porcupine Tree could hide the lack of originality certain times. 6\10 for Open Car and 6.5\10 for Halo

Mellotron Scratch has some of the best soft rock moments of the record, in both of his two parts in which this song could be ideally divided. For me it's much better than Lazarus but maybe inferior to Glass Arm Shattering. 8.75\10

The Start Of Something Beautiful is a song which had never strike me, maybe because I the chorus didn't impress me very much, and sincerely I don't know how to value it. I think that 7.5\10 is a right mark.

However, apart from Deadwing and Arriving Somewhere But Not Here which I believe that are objectively more complex compositions, I think it's impossible to give an exact rate to the other songs, because they are more or less on the same level. The rate of these songs could change from person to person, according to their tastes.

I would give a 4.5\5, rounded to 4, because I believe that Porcupine Tree could have invent at least one or two more masterpieces instead of only simple and honest rock songs.