FEAR OF A BLANK PLANET

I have known PT a long time, so I figured I would review an album, and where better to start than the most recent. First off I have to say that I have experienced the emptyness that PT describes first hand. I have spent far too much of my life popping ritallin and adderall, people need to realize that this is a real issue. However the CD falls short because of my experience, the CD almost portrays the emptyness that can only be found in perscription drugs TV and pornography. But they dont quite reach that level of feeling or understanding, that said the music rocks.

Fear of a Blank Planet: Good song, but really weak opening for an album, probably one of the weaker tracks on the disk, it feels contrived, Steven Wilson cant seem to pull off the child character in this song, he feels like a condecending adult trying to fit into a role that he could never understand. The musicianship however is strong enough to save the song, especially the spacy ending.

My Ashes: The closest that PT get to their consept throughout the whole album, really feels hopless. The beautiful melody doesn't hurt either. This song seems to be picking up where In Abstentia left off, verry ambient keys and nice acustic guitar backing. Oh Yea this is a good one.

Anesthetize: the epic of the disc, the opening is particurally good, this is the tipe of song that slowly builds up your emotions, and then lets them drop again. This song is probably THE defining PT epic, the heavy on this song is heavy and the soft is soft. The song isn't particurally memorable, but it takes you on a journy, and no one can deny that it is awsome.

Sentimental: The piano ballad. It sounds like a PT piano ballad, not particurally interesting. This song is particurally condesending, I can understand that PT has a mesage but I dont think this is the best way they could express it. Weakest song on the disc hands down.

Sentimental: Great dramatic song, it is so angsty without needing to be heavy or overbearing, really good, perfectly atmospheric and minimalistic without being boring. "I try to forget you and I know that I will in a million years, or mabe a week" perfect. The song only clocks in at 5:26 but it has an epic feel, pulling you through sevral moods, and even a heavy inerlude that to me seems to be the kids suicidal decision. The absolute best song on the album, perfect feeling and musistianship.

Sleep Together: creepy and powerfull, strangelly reminicent of Brian Eno and at the same time Sigur Ros. Mabe its just the minimal ambiance (thanks Fripp). To me this song feels like a good old fasioned rocker, only played through a haze, it goes great with the theme. My complaint with this song is that it ends and then feels the need to ruin the mood by throwing in an extra drum fill, stupid stupid stupid.

in conclusion a good album with some good and bad songs, the bad songs however the way it was put together it is only able to convey mood, in small spots, usually mood is PT's strength and when compared to other PT releases this one is weak: 3 stars Good, but not essential