FEAR OF A BLANK PLANET

This is an odd record for me to try and review. On the surface, I like it a lot, as all six songs are really good, but for whatever reason, it is a struggle for me to listen to from start to finish. It just doesn't flow as well as the rest of the CDs the band has done. Steven Wilson is a master of crafting a well-flowing album, so it almost seems a bit weird that he missed the mark so much with this one, at least in regards to its flow.

Getting back to the songs, "Way Out of Here" and "Anesthetize" are the clear-cut standouts, while "My Ashes" and "Sentimental" are not far behind. The title cut and "Sleep Together" are both good, but for a band that usually delivers knockouts in the form of great openers and closers, both are a bit underwhelming.

Overall, it is a good CD, but not essential. I find everything the band has done since the mid 90s to be far superior to it. But most bands should be so luck as to have one of their two or three least best studio albums be this enjoyable!