FEAR OF A BLANK PLANET

I have to say that all of the Porcupine Tree material (which isn't that much) I've heard thus far has sounded great on the surface but it doesn't seem to have any depth or soul. This album is no exception. The album is very well produced (perhaps over-produced) and sounds great but for me it doesn't go past that and I can find no emotional connection. There's nothing overly wrong with the music at all but there lacks any kind of passion and sounds sterile and lifeless. The metal riffing seems quite out of place and hinders any sense of coherence to this uninspired derivative mess. Admittedly I've only heard Stars Die which seemed to get worse as it went along. I wonder if I'd think differently about some of PT's middle period releases. It's a shame because there are some moments of potential here which never quite seem to go anywhere. This porcupine Tree album reminds me of latter day Pink Floyd (ie post Waters); a thin veneer or at best a second rate impersonation. You think your getting the real thing for you hard earned but you only have to scratch the surface a little to realise you've been sold a piece of junk.