PDA

View Full Version : (Progressive Rock)Porcupine Tree - In Absentia


IvortheEngineDriver
04-11-2004, 01:55 AM
Ok...people need to give this album a chance...its in the top 5 of all time for me and I'm gonna review the album...

1. Blackest Eyes -- Probably one of the best opening to an album in the history of rock...starts off hard edge metal, it leads you on to think the whole song is metal-esque. It slows down and sings great lyrics, my personal favorite is "It's so erotic when your makeup runs" The soft part then goes back into the metal part and makes you bang your head! Great song!!! 5/5

2. Trains -- Arguably, the best song on the record. The closest thing I can think of to the beauty of this song is probably APC's 3 Libras. A complete change from the hard edge of Blackest Eyes. Listening to Steven sing on this, you can tell he poured his soul into it...a painfully torturing song that pulls you in (everyone I have ever played this for says this song is great, even people who don't like PT) My favorite line in this "When I hear the Engine Pass, I'm kissing you wide, the hissing subsides, I'm in luck...when the evening reaches here youre tying me up, i'm dying in love, it's ok" ****ing incredible song! 7/5!!!!! GO DOWNLOAD IT NOW!

3. Lips of Ashes -- Mainly just an Acoustic Guitar playing the same hook over and over with some chimes or other kind of string instruments. Very pretty and melodic, you can find yourself relaxing after the emotional overload from Trains :) I give this song a 3/5 Not a bad song, but not a great one

4. The Sound of Muzak -- PT being political on this one. All about the fakeness of Music today...I love the line "Music of Rebellion makes you wanna rage, but its made my millionaires who are nearly twice your age" Good political song with solid guitar. I give this a 4/5

5. Gravity Eyelids -- Very beautiful song that starts off slow with some haunting vocals and very little guitar. Mostly a mellotron in the beginning...Steven gets 4 vocal parts going to create kind of a harmony...very nice. Favorite Line "I've been waiting for hours, lets the salt flow and feel my coil unwind" I like this song...gets kinda harder at the end, but still, a very beautiful song 4/5

6. Wedding Nails -- An instrumental track that kinda sounds like a Zeppelin song in the beginning (or at least I think so) Rockish and kinda fun...though, I think it goes on too long and probably could have been shortened, but it is a rockin' instrumental...for this I give a 4/5

7. Prodigal -- Another one of my favorites on this record. Kinda slow and a guitar part of it sounds like the heavy part in Face of Melinda by Opeth. The song is about being depressed and trying to get over it, but it's failure (or at least I think) It's a sad song, but it's still pretty good. I love the chorus "Rain keeps falling down the glass, the good times never seem to last, close your eyes and let the thought pass" I like it, though, it is a little depressing. 4/5

8. .3 -- Not one of my favorites...has a simple cool bass line in the beginning but Steven says like 3 sentences in the song, but nothing really special about this song, it is filler basically. But, its not a bad song if you want to chill out... I give it a 2/5

9. The Creator Has a Masterpiece -- vocals sound a lot like Beck, kinda strange song, but some bad *** drumming and guitar on this one. Very face paced, but pretty cool song, but I think it is still kinda lacking. I give this song a 3/5

10. Heartattack in a Layby -- VERY sad song, but great imagery in the song and great lyrics. Mostly piano and light guitar...the vocals echo and have some harmony towards the end...the backround vocals at the end sing "She waits for me, Home waits for me" and he sings about how he needs to get back to his woman and he lived his life too fast. So, basically, he's dying, yet he still sings "We'll grow old together"...very moving song, it's hard to describe, but I think its really beautiful. 5/5

11. Strip the Soul -- They actually made a video for this song for MTV. Probably has one of the coolest bass lines ever!! Makes you nod your head to it...starts off with just bass and drums and then goes into some heavy guitar...very cynical and hard song, I love the line "I can use, I abuse my muse I made them all". Good rock song!! I give this a 5/5! Though, I think it goes on a little too long though.

12. Collapse the Light into Earth -- VERY beautiful, kinda Coldplay-ish. Just a piano and some effects later on, sounds like an orchestra comes in. The Vocals echo when he sings, giving the song more depth IMO. Very beautiful way to end the record. 5/5

This is my first review, I know its not perfect, but I hope I have convinced some of you to get this great CD!!! I give In Absentia a 5/5...great combination of soft and hard, gives you a very ecclectic blend of great music. Steven Wilson deserves a pat on the back for this CD, it has changed my life!

GO BUY IT!! :thumb:

sr800bkAGAIN!
04-11-2004, 02:35 AM
what kind of bands would you say are similar to them?

Phunphone
04-11-2004, 04:55 AM
I bought this one a couple of days ago. Some songs didn't grow on me yet, but I can say I'm impressed. Trains is an awesome song, so is The Sound of Muzak.

I can say this band is an odd mixture of porgressive metal (In "thanks" part, I saw names of Jordan Rudess and Mike Portnoy from DT) and Radiohead-ish art rock.

Nice review, I agree with you in ratings except ".3", which I think is a great song and doesn't seem like a filler track at all.

Distorted Vision
04-11-2004, 05:21 AM
It's a good album, some parts are hard to get into but eventually you realise how great this band is. Trains has become one of my favourite songs.

This is actually one of Mikael Akerfeldt's (Opeth) favourite albums, and they toured wit Opeth last year. I guess you could say some parts are like ****ation but it's more mainstream sounding and further ranging - can be very mellow (Heartattack In A Layby) or out-and-out prog metal (Wedding Nails).

I'd give it 4/5, I think you have to be in a certain mood to enjoy every song.

Per Ardua Ad Astra
04-11-2004, 06:05 PM
what kind of bands would you say are similar to them?

Opeth
Pain of Salvation
Radiohead
All of those come to mind, they basically a combination of all those bands.
Nice review, it is indeed a one of a kind album.

Kaden
04-11-2004, 06:20 PM
What are you on about? Strip the Soul is the best song on that album! Creator has a Mastertape is amazing too. Trains is pretty great, but I think it's somewhat overrated. And .3 rules too.

All in all, the whole album has to be a 4/5. Not Porcupine Tree's best work, but definitely not their worst.

sweboy
04-12-2004, 07:54 AM
Hmm... this sounds interesting... On a scale from 1 to 10, with 10 being the most, how metal would you say they are?

mister metle
04-12-2004, 08:56 AM
They aren't very metal...They're a lot more in the vein of Radiohead and Pink Floyd. Maybe a 4 on the metal scale.

Kaden
04-12-2004, 03:05 PM
Hmm... this sounds interesting... On a scale from 1 to 10, with 10 being the most, how metal would you say they are?
They're not metal. They have some heavy riffs sprinkled here and there, but they are far from metal.

iliketoplaydrums10111
04-12-2004, 05:04 PM
They're not metal. They have some heavy riffs sprinkled here and there, but they are far from metal.

Whats your screen name, sorry for not being apart of this convo, I don't know where to find him...

Kaden
04-12-2004, 05:06 PM
Whats your screen name, sorry for not being apart of this convo, I don't know where to find him...
Dude, I started a thread in the pit asking you that same question! I bumped it forever, but it eventually got closed.

My AIM is crazedinsomniac7
Msn: page_petrucci@hotmail.com (that's an underscore, not a space)

What's yours?

iliketoplaydrums10111
04-12-2004, 05:07 PM
Dude, I started a thread in the pit asking you that same question! I bumped it forever, but it eventually got closed.

My AIM is crazedinsomniac7
Msn: page_petrucci@hotmail.com (that's an underscore, not a space)

What's yours?

aim: minimojojoe I'm online right now

I saw the thread, but it was closed before I could post in it...

Back to the topic now..

ledfloyd_fan
04-12-2004, 07:48 PM
Nice good review, even better album. I'd suggest that anyone who hasnt heard Porcupine Tree before pick this up.

sweboy
04-13-2004, 08:05 AM
Hmm, this sounds very interesting. I downloaded the song Trains, and I've got to say that I like it. Maybe I'll pick this album up.

IvortheEngineDriver
04-13-2004, 09:45 PM
It's a good album, some parts are hard to get into but eventually you realise how great this band is. Trains has become one of my favourite songs.

This is actually one of Mikael Akerfeldt's (Opeth) favourite albums, and they toured wit Opeth last year. I guess you could say some parts are like ****ation but it's more mainstream sounding and further ranging - can be very mellow (Heartattack In A Layby) or out-and-out prog metal (Wedding Nails).

I'd give it 4/5, I think you have to be in a certain mood to enjoy every song.
Steven Wilson has produced the last 3 Opeth albums, that's why you hear the influence, but great ear! :thumb:

zlbracken
07-03-2004, 12:57 AM
great album go bye it
great review to

Wanker
07-06-2004, 02:35 PM
2. Trains -- Arguably, the best song on the record. The closest thing I can think of to the beauty of this song is probably APC's 3 Libras. A complete change from the hard edge of Blackest Eyes. Listening to Steven sing on this, you can tell he poured his soul into it...a painfully torturing song that pulls you in (everyone I have ever played this for says this song is great, even people who don't like PT) My favorite line in this "When I hear the Engine Pass, I'm kissing you wide, the hissing subsides, I'm in luck...when the evening reaches here youre tying me up, i'm dying in love, it's ok" ****ing incredible song! 7/5!!!!! GO DOWNLOAD IT NOW!

i love this freaking song. and the part where you said that every person you played the song for liked it, its the honest truth. everyone I played the song for loved it.

loved the review. this is one of my top 5 favorites too. every song is great stuff. the only iffy song for mewould be gravity eyelids. but yeah, good review. i'd give it a 5/5 (the album, not your review)

SadStairway
07-06-2004, 03:27 PM
Ive been listening to some porcupine tree and im not impressed. They have good ideas and some very progressive areas in their songs but i find that most songs end up being bland soft acoustic rock. I did like Opeth's ****ation though.

bucket
08-01-2004, 11:44 PM
I bought this album a couple weeks ago and at first I was embarassed. The only reason I picked it up was because of Opeth. On their site some of the guys said it was one of their favorite albums. I read the review AFTER I got it. The reviewer was saying how he didn't like it at first, but later it grew on him.

I gave the CD a chance and I admit, it's not so bad. I'd give it a 3/5. But it has some of the WORST lead guitar parts I've ever heard. And near the end of Trains, what Radiohead song does that remind you of? It sounds too familiar.

BirdsOfFires
08-02-2004, 02:17 AM
For some reason I really couldn't get into this CD...

Comparing them to Radiohead is weird..

This CD just tries a little too hard for me I think.

Wanker
08-02-2004, 10:52 AM
even though it might make sense, i still wouldnt compare PT to radiohead. to me (at least), each band has a very distinct sound and style. and its strange; i think that out of all my favorite albums, this is the most upbeat. it just has this great feel to it. [/losery rant]

seveas
09-23-2004, 04:13 PM
i agree with most of the review except for The Creator Has A Mastertape...that song is awesome!my fav on this album..i give the album a 4/5. for me their best work is Stupid Dream

Zappa
09-23-2004, 04:24 PM
When I had this CD, I found it be a snooze start to finish.

Smackers
09-24-2004, 09:32 AM
One of my favorite albums, .3 is awesome though dude!

Wanker
09-24-2004, 09:39 AM
When I had this CD, I found it be a snooze start to finish.

meh.

i've just been seeing a rash of negative comments in cd reviews from you with hardly any legitimate reasoning, so I'm just going disregard that statement.

Zappa
09-24-2004, 03:04 PM
It's just my opinion.

Zappa
09-24-2004, 03:08 PM
This is like the long-winded person's forum. No one who types to the point allowed!

Knifeboy
09-24-2004, 03:15 PM
Absolutely amazing cd. I have no idea why I haven't responded to this yet.

This is a clear 5/5 for me.. But then again, I have 10 Porcupine Tree albums.. and I'd give them all 5/5 except for 3 wich I'd give 4/5.. hehe

I'm getting the dvd audio version of this album very soon! I can't wait!.. Imagine Trains in real surround? mmmm eargasms

robnathanson
11-08-2004, 08:28 PM
To me this band has a very Pink FLoyd-esque feel to them.....what I've heard anyway.


the Msuci World near me never has any of their cds, so I'll porbably end up getting them to prder one for me:)

Wanker
11-08-2004, 08:42 PM
Absolutely amazing cd. I have no idea why I haven't responded to this yet.

This is a clear 5/5 for me.. But then again, I have 10 Porcupine Tree albums.. and I'd give them all 5/5 except for 3 wich I'd give 4/5.. hehe

I'm getting the dvd audio version of this album very soon! I can't wait!.. Imagine Trains in real surround? mmmm eargasms

I think I love you.

Knifeboy
11-08-2004, 08:47 PM
I think I love you.

That's nice :)

.. But.. Why? hehe

themoor666
11-08-2004, 08:57 PM
PT rawks... that's all I have to say

Mekkalayakay
11-20-2004, 12:28 PM
I've been meaning to buy a PT album for a couple years now.


Is Signify very accessable? I know In Absentia is, and if that's the only album I can find, then I shall get it.

Phunphone
11-20-2004, 01:19 PM
Is Signify very accessable? I know In Absentia is, and if that's the only album I can find, then I shall get it.

Signify is MUCH less accessable. It took me a long time for me to get into it.. it's more.... experimental and all... In Absentia, on the other hand, is more straightforward. And I must admit that I find the songwriting on In Absentia much more improved. In fact, I think Steven Wilson writes better with every single release he puts out.

In Absentia contains Trains [that rhymed awkwardly] in the first place, that can be the reason for you to kill the person that's about to get the last copy of In Absentia left in the nearest record store.

Mekkalayakay
11-20-2004, 01:43 PM
Thanks for the info. :)

Kafkastolemyslippers
11-20-2004, 01:50 PM
All these reviews make me want to listen to the bands. Then I go on Soulseek and cant find anything. These guys are fairly big though, so would their stuff be at Tower Records or something like that?

Wanker
11-20-2004, 06:03 PM
That's nice :)

.. But.. Why? hehe

Because it's all true :cool:

Dancin' Man
01-03-2005, 11:41 AM
Dredg, Porcupine Tree, Radiohead and any other abnds like that need a real genre for themselves.

P.S. I have Signify if any wants it from soulseek.

Knifeboy
01-09-2005, 06:10 AM
I'm sharing 11 porcupine tree cd's over soulseek if anyone wants them

br3ad_man
01-09-2005, 06:20 AM
I like this album but I don't think it's brilliant or anything. I'd agree with Kaden, a 4/5. I haven't heard any other PT albums though.