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Porcupine Tree makes a triumphant return to experimental, non-linear style with 2007's Fear of a Blank Planet.
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Spectacular the music may be, but it’s the reflective lyrics that keep the album firmly on Earth.
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MojoBest of all is Sleep Together: like Radiohead playing Kashmir, and brilliantly led by former Japan keyboard player Richard Barbieri. Yes, prog lives--and Porcupine Tree are its leading players. [July 2007]
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Q MagazineA dramatic, wide-screen, expertly executed, even genuinely executed thrilling rock record worthy of an audience way beyond nu-prog’s regular constituency. [Apr 2007]
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This is a taut, epic and well-rounded piece, dripping in atmosphere.
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The result is an often crushingly heavy masterpiece that has true meaning with or without the music. It’s a rare thing these days but Porcupine Tree seem able to do it time and again. This album is no exception.
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These six songs offer moments as heavy as P-Tree have ever been, but are wistfully, sprawlingly melodic as well-sometimes in the same tune.
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Fear of a Blank Planet is not only their most vintage-sounding album, it’s also their best.
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For elder listeners Fear probably won't serve as the powerful statement it wants to be--its themes have been explored to more exacting impact before and, musically, it's fairly standard progressive fare--but it is a strong and intelligent album and for a generation that's grown numb from three-minute ditties about life at the end of the country club cul-de-sac that embrace rather than rage against the dying of the light, it may serve as a wake up call and provide hope for a brighter and more color-infused tomorrow.
Awards & Rankings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 101 out of 113
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Mixed: 1 out of 113
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Negative: 11 out of 113
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Aug 6, 2014This review contains spoilers, click full review link to view.
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Nov 25, 2010
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Feb 22, 2023One of the greatest albums ever, Anesthetize is a masterpiece, every progressive fan should listen to this.