This is a FULL track-by-track review

This album I would say would appeal to a lot of different people. Initially I first heard this band when I watched the video for the title track a fear of a black planet. This was the radio edit, but it still impressed me. Now, however, I feel this is an unfair representation of the album version. That aside Porcupine tree is now one of my favourite bands. The best way to describe this album to you would probably be to break it down track by track.

Fear of a blank planet:

I really enjoy listening to this track, I think its one of the more mainstream songs on the album, with an upbeat feel, nice melodies and a very catchy chorus this is defiantly a song you should check out if you haven't heard any P.T before. Look out for the middle 8 (more mellow section at about the 4 min mark) some very nice drum work and then a really crushing riff. This again just shows how varied the music on this album is. This song I think also sums up… more »

This is a FULL track-by-track review

This album I would say would appeal to a lot of different people. Initially I first heard this band when I watched the video for the title track a fear of a black planet. This was the radio edit, but it still impressed me. Now, however, I feel this is an unfair representation of the album version. That aside Porcupine tree is now one of my favourite bands. The best way to describe this album to you would probably be to break it down track by track.

Fear of a blank planet:

I really enjoy listening to this track, I think its one of the more mainstream songs on the album, with an upbeat feel, nice melodies and a very catchy chorus this is defiantly a song you should check out if you haven't heard any P.T before. Look out for the middle 8 (more mellow section at about the 4 min mark) some very nice drum work and then a really crushing riff. This again just shows how varied the music on this album is. This song I think also sums up the theme of this album nicely, which is basically the consumerism, drugs and terminal boredom that the younger generation of today experience.

My ashes:

This intro to this track really reminds me of No quarter by Led zeppelin. It's a really mellow song with nice melodic movements and some nice use of strings. This song really shows the diversity of the bands writing capabilities. Its one of the shorter tracks on the album. But it need not be long. There are also, I believe a lot of pink Floyd influences here.

Anesthetize:

Here it is... the 17-minute epic. First time I listened to this it blew me away it is a truly fantastic musical journey. It's very hard to talk about the song as a whole because it's so long; the song builds so seamlessly from slow moving melodic verses, to an absolute all out musical attack. At about 4: 56 there's a really cool section where Steve plays a sort of Polyrhythm riff around 4/4 drums. The chorus in this song is extremely catchy and you will find you singing it for the rest of the day after one listen. I can't do this song justice so just buy this album and listen PLEASE! : D

Sentimental:

This track features some of my favourite melodies from Wilson. The drums in the intro sound really cool with the low and high eq cut. This track also shares a chorus with the track "normal" off of Nill Recurring. (Follow up ep) this is a beautifully written song

Way out of here:

This songs minor chord changes give it a really sad feel. But nether the less it is a true epic with a chorus that is just pure sonic brilliance its like a flood of sound that is upon you so suddenly. this song also has some quite heavy parts adding to the texture of the song.

Sleep together:

At first I wasn't so keen but after a few listens I began to really like this track, mostly due to the fantastic orchestration mostly towards the end its an epic end to the album... ruined by a pointless drum fill about 5 seconds after the track has finished. Well I say ruined but these tracks are so good I'm grabbing at straws trying to fault them

Conclusion:

Off course this is all just my opinion but the diversity of this album is really one off its best features. I cant fault it musically and I strongly recommend that you check out a track or two and see what you think, then buy the album because every song works very well within the album and I have found I enjoy it more when I sit and listen to the whole album through. The only reason Fear of a blank planet didn't get 5 stars is that it is just to short, in some respects I wish they had just waited and added the tracks on "Nil Recurring" (also REALY WORTH BUYING) to fear of a blank planet.

Hope yo enjoy it as much as me
Oli Littlefair