The Incident
by Porcupine Tree

Porcupine Tree weakest album in recent times. The biggest issue I have with the album is not necessarily the songs but the way they have been put together. It starts off well but into tracks 3 and 4 - it sounds like Steven Wilson is singing live to an audience a medley of his past hits that he doesn't have time to play the full length version. The medley is definitely more cohesive after Time Flies. I Drive The Hearse is also a highlight. The second disc to me is a much better effort although Flickr sounds a lot like a part in Anaesthetise. Steven is obviously starting to run out of ideas and I support him in his decision to retire Porcupine Tree.

Although Porcupine Tree is top-notch and features hooky melodies anyone can bob their head to, they aren’t afraid to embark on the grandiose compositions that can turn off mainstream listeners – the centerpiece of …Blank Planet was a 17-minute song called “Anesthetize” (very inspires in Radiohead, but improved. It would be my Radiohead's favourite song. And now they brought us a piece of 55 minutes divided in 15 parts, making their best job, inspired on Pink Floyd King Crimson and Radiohead. Their music is much better now in my point of view. I love this album. It's comforting Porcupine Tree has never dumbed down its sound in order to appeal to the masses. They didn't stop in the beautiful melodies of "in absentia", they went over just good but easier music. If anything, they’ve become more esoteric, and yet the masses keeping jumping on the bandwagon. Good thing, too – PT deserves every bit of success it gets, and it gets every time even better!

From Omid 09/17/2010 02:11 | #15171 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

This album deserves credit for some of its artistic and powerful songs such as Black Dahlia and Octane Twisted,though the numerousness of the tracks may cause some songs to be overlooked.i suggest to hear them at least more than 2times!

From sageamagoo TOP 100 COMMENTER 01/20/2014 13:57 | #101045 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

It doesn't hold a candle to any of the 6 classic albums that came before it. Personally, I think the ep at the end is the best part (although Time Flies is pretty great)

Due to the fact that Porcupine Tree has output so many fantastic albums prior to this, many refer to this as a weak offering. I don't necessarily agree. If you listen to this album in it's own right it is still a very progressive album and quite different from earlier works. Time Flies is equally up there with Lazarus and Arriving Somewhere but Not Here. I think the album has a generally harder and perhaps colder edge, not surprising by the title and inner cover art. For those who find it weaker, maybe give it a few more spins.