FEAR OF A BLANK PLANET

I think that Porcupine Tree had made a mistake by choosing to make concept album. I am sure that this will get many good ratings, just for being thematic album, which makes us sure that this great band is part of progressive rock. Is this what we wanted?

First song, Fear of A Blank Planet, is like a clone to Deadwing song, from Deadwing album, only it is not so strong as Deadwing. In Deadwing song were those grinding guitars, beautiful solos of Adrian Belew and great guitar from Akerfeld of Opeth. But here, we have nothing of these. This is one of the weakest songs PT have ever made. Lyrics are too obvious, guitar is bit shy, and passages are week ant pointless.

Second one is My Ashes. This is the best song on album, because of great sinth riff of Barbieri, and nice strings, but it could have been better.

In Anestethize, drums sound so plastic and uninspired, we have one drum loop that does not change for few minutes. I believe that Chris Maitland is better drummer, more sophisticated than Harrison, who tends toward industrial rock. And guitars in this song sound so artificial, with these industrial loops... PT are just not good enough in industrial rock. Solo of Mr. Alexandar Zivojinovich (Alex Lifeson) is very cool, but Steven, who has one of the most beautiful voices on earth should not have played in processed voice. It sounds so dull and artificial. It does not show emotions. All in all, this is good song, but it could have been better, if more organic!

Sentimental is nice song, but bit too sad. I would not hear it many times. Guitars are in background.

Way Out of Here has disturbing soundscapes, and is very dark. Actually it has feeling of weakness and deep tragedy. It has some guitar solo, too, which is quite good.

Last song, Sleep Together has only interesting strings solo to remember, at the end of album, and effect of repeating voice which is present even in O.S.I debut album, where Wilson sings on one song.

This is good album, but it is just too industrial, after so many albums which were purely organic (Lightbulb Sun, Stupid Dream, Deadwing...) Bad thing is not the fact that Pt go toward industrial rock here. It is the feeling that their industrial attempts sound dull.

I think that theme of album is bit too hard to analize, and bit too hard to listen and to think of, and the band gives no progressive answer on the questions stated here.