Gender: Male Location: Dreaming...Or am I living...
REVIEW Porcupine Tree-In Absentia
Review: In absentia-Porcupine Tree
This was recommended to me by Sam a.k.a. Deathbow. Now this band is a little tricky, but what really blew me away about them is their diversity .They are truly an alternative group. They sound like Tool on one track, then A perfect Circle, then Pink Floyd., then even Jack Johnson (Whom I hate, but they are a WAY better version of him).Gravity Eyelids is my personal favorite. But it so hard to say I like one over the other, its just so different. And it’s a good thing I think, simply because I like all of the styles that they reflect. The guitar licks are done well, the changing from electric to acoustic is very nice. It’s a break from the heavy distortion and such. I feel purified at times when I hear it. The solo on Sound of Muzak was great. The bass needs work., its very hidden, and when it does come out its repetitive and well, nothing to write home about. The vocalist is fitting, not up to the quality of Maynard James Keenan, but for what they are doing he is impressive, he has some range and sounds a lot like the vocalist of Pink Floyd. All in all this album is very well done, they pull of a relaxing, yet interesting sound. Its not something you would listen to, in order to get pumped up for something, but to wind down. But unlike other albums that attempt to achieve the same effect, they keep you interested. Meditative is the only word I can think to describe it. What also is nice is that they aren’t afraid to use strings, and a piano to get the impression across. They aren’t Tool though. They are very good, but they simply didn’t blow me away, but that might not have been the effect. I liked it though, very nice change from what I’ve been listening to.
Overall 87/100
Go buy it.
Glad you liked it, but it's a shame it didn't have the same effect on you as it did me (I think it's on a par with Lateralus). I loved the way it based itself on a very interesting and disturbing recurring theme, but never got bogged down into becoming a pretentious concept album. You got the diversity thing right though, Blackest Eyes sounds like Rage Against The Machine jamming with Radiohead and Gravity Eyelids sounds like A Perfect Circle meets The Flaming Lips, in fact all the tracks have elements of Tool, Pink Floyd, Failure, Incubus and probably tons of other things I can't put my finger on. And some of them like Lips Of Ashes and .3 are beyond comparisons. I like the vocalist, he may not be spectacular but his voice never sounds out of place amongst all the weird and wacky instruments. He sounds halfway between Brandon Boyd and Jonathan Donahue. And my favorite track is Trains. Probably the best acoustic guitar work I've ever heard.
And yeah get El Cielo by Dredg if you like this, same kind of arty/prog rock with a Tool-ish edge, but slightly simpler. Also check out Deserter's Songs by Mercury Rev, very much the same kind of aura as PT.
Gender: Male Location: Dreaming...Or am I living...
Well I don't think it was that kind of album,
Tool is just like an all out assault, This is more layed back. but Great album. Its so crazy how you can say, yea they sound like this band,one one part, and a completly different band on another song, its awesome
I was also blown away. This is one of those rare albums where you could sit down and just listen to it all the way through without being bored for a second.
KMC Community Forums
Mar 26th, 2005 01:17 AM
. I'll have to check them out in the future.
B!tch!! lets kick him 
