Porcupine Tree - The Incident [2009]

Wow, I've got to admit it, I'm less than two minutes into the second track and I'm THOUROUGHLY impressed by the heavy sections. The chorus is a bit worrying, though, with it's influence heavily taken from the more popular side of alternative rock. However, there are a lot of other elements at play in this song, so I'll just wait and see how the rest of the album plays out. I'm at track 5 and I'm quite happy. The effects usage is great and the album that started off with such heaviness and an odd sound has settled down to the more contemplative and sedate style that I'm used to with PT. However, it's small sections like the chorus of track 5 that throw me off a bit. It doesn't really fit well. And then, without any warning, the next song kicks off with a cool trip-hop beat and ominous effects. Porcupine Tree is really trying to put it all under one roof with this album. Overall, it's a very conflicting feeling I get from this album. It's not very catchy through and through. There are a few songs where sections feel like they dive TOO deeply into pop and very little of the album stays with me after listening. This certainly isn't one of PT's greats, but it is a bit creative and the heavy parts don't dominate the album like on previous efforts.

Rating: 7.5

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Porcupine Tree - Nil Recurring [2007]

Well, this is odd... PT seem to have actually put out quite a good EP for once. The first track doesn't feel that inspired, but things immediately pick up with "Normal". It's a nice and calm EP with significant bouts of the more aggressive and heavy sections they have recently become so fond of. It's a decent length for an EP as well.

Rating: 8

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Porcupine Tree - Fear of a Blank Planet [2007]

Off to a very promising start. "Fear of a Blank Planet" starts off with more psychedelia and verve than before until the heavier guitars come in. It's a little darker as well. Pretty catchy chorus. "My Ashes" is much more like a slightly more modern version of the more subdued era of PT. Time really seems to fly when listening to this album. "Anesthetize" is too large of a song to explain, but it's quite a journey. "Sentimental" REALLY feels like the PT of old. Overall, I'm much happier with this album than the previous couple. The metal influence doesn't dominate the experience, and, most importantly, the songwriting isn't as dumbed down and mainstream-oriented. This feels much more like a modern progressive rock album. The first two tracks had me a bit worried, but by the end of the album it really felt like a Porcupine Tree effort. I'll need to listen to it a few more times before I start to think that it's their best yet, but for now, it's equal to any of their other releases.

Rating: 8.5

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Porcupine Tree - Deadwing [2005]

Starts off even deeper into the more Metal territory until the verse starts. It's a much more active side of PT that I'm not used to hearing. If the whole album is in this new style, then it may take some getting used to. The production definitely feels a bit more "in-your-face" than previous albums. "Shallow" feels more like a straight forward Hard Rock song. "Lazarus" feels much more like the classic PT that I know. "Halo" continues on with the more calm and sedate songwriting. It's still a significant departure from the older style, but I'm slowly warming up to it. In the end, I do enjoy the new style, but I also pine for the days where the focus was more on the Progressive and Psychedelic moods. None of the songs really fall flat, but there is a certain quality and depth that seems to have gone missing from them overall.

Rating: 8

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Porcupine Tree - Futile [2003]

Skipping the edited version of "Strip the Soul", Orchidia is a much more Hard Rock inspired song with no vocals. It's a little repetitive, but certainly catchy. "Futile" continues with the heaviness, but with more of the progressive rock elements from days of old. I have to bare in mind that this is a PT EP, which usually doesn't fair well with me. I like that they use their EPs to experiment and play around with new directions, but they usually lose my interest because they are such a departure from the classic PT sound of progressive/psychedelic/experimental rock.

Rating: 6.5

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Porcupine Tree - In Absentia [2002]

First thing I notice in "Blackest Eyes" is that there is a much more forward and brazen element of heaviness. It's actually properly heavy at parts. The songwriting is pretty catchy all the way through. The heavy parts are quite exciting and have a lot of punch. I especially like the fact that they didn't rely on the newfound heaviness, instead keeping it to a minimum and usually balanced them out with very introspective sections. It's not as off-the-wall quirky as TSMS, but it has a similar feel of creativity. That said, this is quite a two-faced album... quiet and serene one moment, active and energetic the next. I quite like it. This is what "Lightbulb Sun" should have been.

Rating: 8.5

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Porcupine Tree - Lightbulb Sun [2000]

Like Stupid Dream, this album is more accessible to new listeners with every song having vocals to it. The songwriting doesn't feel quite as solid as SD, though, and a decent amount of psychedelia have disappeared into the black void. It is still a fairly catchy and relaxing album to behold.

Rating: 7.5

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Porcupine Tree - Stupid Dream [1999]

This feels significantly more active than previous albums. A little less in the way of creativity and variation. However, the songwriting has taken a leap forward. The album is extremely catchy and the songwriting feels infinitely more mature and proficient. I still can't shake the feeling of loss because of the reduced creativity when comparing it to Signify and The Sky Moves Sideways... maybe I just need to warm up to this new direction a bit more and come to terms with the fact that PT has changed their style a bit.

Rating: 8.5

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Porcupine Tree - Signify [1996]

There are times where this is a great chill album, but then there's also a fairly large amount of variation that is reminiscent of TSMS. There's some very good creativity as well. The rare vocals are a treat to listen to and the production is clear and soothing. This album makes great use of effects. Spacey, progressive, and psychedelic rock all in one album. I do believe that this is every bit as good as TSMS for all the same reasons.

Rating: 8.5

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Porcupine Tree - Staircase Infinities [1995]

A good chill album. Some of the spacey feeling is still there. It's not quite as catchy as TSMS, but it definitely is a mellow album that creates good atmosphere. Very little vocals on this EP. There isn't as much creativity as TSMS, though.

Rating: 6

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Porcupine Tree - The Sky Moves Sideways [1995]

Holy crap, the first track on the first CD is quite an experience. It starts off with a space-atmosphere feeling eventually giving way to a calm prog-rock section. The middle of the song is dominated by a really cool electronic beat with synth rhythm and flutes. What's truly awesome is that each style of the songs is extremely well-done and it all fits together very nicely thanks to the main melodies being carried over from one section to the next. "Dislocated Day" is a more up-tempo, straightforward, and catchy song with extremely well-written keyboards. "The Moon Touches Your Shoulder" is good, but it lacks the intensity of the first two tracks. I do love how it blends seamlessly into "Prepare Yourself", which helps to bring the intensity back. I have to say that CD1 as a whole is quite fucking awesome. Unfortunately, the extra CD is not all that great despite being aptly suited for atmospheric moods. If I had just listened to the first CD, this would've gotten a 9 for sure, but the second CD lacks the intensity in the mood that the first had.

Rating: 8.5

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Porcupine Tree - Up the Downstair [1993]

The songwriting hasn't changed much at all. It's still psychedelic and progressive. The production is a little better. Still not all that catchy, either. There's also less variation between songs. Overall, I prefer OtSoL, but this is still a good, inspired, and relaxing album.

Rating: 7

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Porcupine Tree - On the Sunday of Life [1991]

I can definitely hear the Psychedelic influence, but it isn't the most prevalent style. This is a very interesting and soothing Progressive Rock album. Some songs are whimsical, some are beautiful, some are catchy (i.e. "Radioactive Toy"), and some are downright creepy (i.e. "Message From A Self-Destructing Turnip"). There's not an abundance of catchiness, though, and the production is not all that great. However, it's a great "chill" album and, unlike many other albums, holds my interest until the end.

Rating: 7

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