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

http://www.porcupinetree.com/

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Septic Flesh - Communion [2008]

It's clear from the first 40 seconds of "Lovecraft's Death" that the orchestra writing and integration has hit a new level of greatness. Possibly the best use of orchestra in metal thus far. "Babel's Gate" reinforces the epic songwriting and new-found variability in the music, even if the flow is sacrificed in the process. The dynamics are interesting since they use a lot of empty "middle-space" during high-energy moments to create suspense... it's very effective. Sure a decent amount of the guitar riffs are really just backing for the epic orchestra, but shit, I really don't care about that with the rest of the material being so great. This is the same leap from Sumerian Daemons that SD was from Revolution DNA.

Rating: 8.5

http://www.myspace.com/septicfleshband

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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

http://www.porcupinetree.com/

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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

http://www.porcupinetree.com/

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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

http://www.porcupinetree.com/

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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

http://www.porcupinetree.com/

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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

http://www.porcupinetree.com/

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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

http://www.porcupinetree.com/

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Kenji Kawai - Innocence O.S.T. [2004]

Similar, yet different. There's still plenty of atmosphere and percussion, but there is also much more variation between the tracks and some tracks (like "Attack the Wakabayashi") are just downright explosive. Maybe I'm just a little crazy, but the insane vibrato choir is a bit more grating this time around. However, I can't take any points off from the album because everything else is just so much more proficient and well-written. Plus, there is more variation in the choir.

Rating: 9

http://www.kenjikawai.com/

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Yoko Kanno - Escaflowne Original Soundtrack 3 [1996]

Crappy first track, but then things take a leap into an amazing world of perfection. If things keep going like "Arcadia" and "Epistle", this OST will easily outshine the first two. Well, the unfortunate reality is that, in the middle of this OST, the tone and style changes drastically. There are more songs that are based on more modern band-style music with some instruments added. I can almost see the animé go by as I listen. This OST is at a point in the animé when things are getting ever-more epic and the series is beginning to wrap itself up. The problem is that there is a section towards the second third of the animé when there is a last push for the status quo before all hell breaks loose, and that is reflected in the use of more pop singers and a slightly more upbeat tone in the middle of this album. Songs like "Perfect World" and "I Recommend Instincts", while not BAD, are mostly throwaways. The end of the album feels a little better, but the absolute darkness and epic feel that I loved about the beginning is predictably replaced by songs that mark the end of the animé. Overall, it's still a damn good album, but it really got my hopes up for something even more amazing in the beginning.

Rating: 8

http://www.kannoyoko.net/

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Yoko Kanno - Escaflowne Original Soundtrack 2 [1996]

I have pretty high expectations after the first soundtrack... hope this wont disappoint. I'm halfway through and this is shaping up to be equally as good as the first soundtrack. Plenty of variation between the songs; Gregorian, fantasy, orchestra, and whimsical cuteness. I had forgotten how many great songs were in the animé that weren't included in the first OST. This one is certainly as good as the previous OST.

Rating: 8.5

http://www.kannoyoko.net/

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Yoko Kanno - Escaflowne: Over the Sky [1996]

First impression is GREAT. I've gone from a wonderful fantasy song ("Flying Dragon") to the epic chorus-filled god-sized masterpiece of "Dance of Curse". Now, let's hope she keeps it up... it's a long way to the end of this album. God damn, she really did it; the album is fucking great all the way through. When there is a drop-off in excitement, melancholy and beauty take over. When the excitement comes back, it slams you in the face with grand writing. There are probably only two tracks that were iffy, but that's hardly a distraction. Also, the chorus in multiple songs sings the same phrase over and over again, making it feel a bit contrived by the end.

Rating: 8.5

http://www.kannoyoko.net/

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Yoko Kanno - Sharon Apple: The Cream P-U-F [1995]

Only two new songs, with the two others being from MPOS I and II.

Rating: 6

http://www.kannoyoko.net/

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Yoko Kanno - Macross Plus Original Soundtrack II [1995]

A bit of an abrupt change from the first one. There's a much different sound to this album. More non-classical songs and Pop. There's much more variation in this album as well. It's not quite as powerful as the first one, but still good in its own right.

Rating: 7.5

http://www.kannoyoko.net/

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Yoko Kanno - Macross Plus Original Soundtrack [1990]

There's no point to this review. Flawless soundtrack from start to finish. So much emotion is conveyed in the arrangements that the Animé doesn't even need to exist for this to be amazing. Beautiful, energetic, tense, and extremely organic. While it may not be the most ground-breaking songwriting in the world, there are more than enough blends to satisfy me.

Rating: 9

http://www.kannoyoko.net/

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Elliot Goldenthal - Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within [2001]

The first three tracks are pretty stock movie music. Things finally get interesting with "Code Red". Some of the songs have a distinct video game feel to them (like "The Kiss" and "A Child Recalled"). However, while this soundtrack works very well in the setting of the movie, it doesn't do much to hold it's own when taken out of context. I do like that the soundtrack has a heavy dose of fantasy elements to it. "The Dream Within" is definitely a standout track.

Rating: 6.5

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Final_Fantasy:_The_Spirits_Within_(soundtrack)

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Myrkskog - Superior Massacre [2002]

Vocals are way cooler. It's definitely more Death Metal than DM. The production is definitely more clear, but it seems to have lost a bit of that chaotic feel. So far, I'm inclined to completely pardon that small lacking part of the production because it's so fucking brutal.

Rating: 8.5

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myrkskog

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Myrkskog - Deathmachine [2000]

Very nice. I'm loving it so far. It's like slamming into a wall of death and black. Cool use of industrial effects and some (rare, but) creative use of guitar effects. Death Metal sensibility in a Black Metal context and they pull it off way better than Behemoth ever did. Last song was completely unexpected but damn fucking cool. Production is great. It's not the clearest in the world, but it's fucking heavy as hell and is not lacking in brutality at all. Brutally pleasant surprise.

Rating: 8.5

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myrkskog

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Eminenz - Exorial [1994]

Definitely a promising intro… but it goes into a pretty weak first song. Production quality is weak overall. The guitars are low in the mix, so it doesn't feel like a heavy albums. It's a damn flat and boring album with bouts of cool keyboard parts.

Rating: 5

http://www.eminenz-germany.de/

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Akercocke - Antichrist [2007]

Interesting production quality… I'll have to get used to it. Not a fan of the fact that the drums are much lower in the mix, but now it's a bit heavier. Definitely a stronger start to the album than WTGUDTGU had. All the elements I love are still there with slightly more refined songwriting. This is a great album from start to finish. The production could have definitely been better, though. I'm not a fan of the guitar's distortion; it sounds very weak when palm muting. Also, the drums should have really been turned up a bit.

Rating: 9

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akercocke

All ratings are out of 10. Rating may not be a whole number.