DISC ONE: "The Incident"1. "Occam's Razor" (1:55)
2. "The Blind House" (5:47)
3. "Great Expectations" (1:26)
4. "Kneel and Disconnect" (2:03)
5. "Drawing the Line" (4:43)
6. "The Incident" (5:20)
7. "Your Unpleasant Family" (1:48)
8. "The Yellow Windows of the Evening Train" (2:00)
9. "Time Flies" (11:40)
10. "Degree Zero of Liberty" (1:45)
11. "Octane Twisted" (5:03)
12. "The Séance" (2:39)
13. "Circle of Manias" (2:18)
14. "I Drive the Hearse" (6:41)
DISC TWO1. "Flicker" (3:42)
2. "Bonnie the Cat" (5:45)
3. "Black Dahlia" (3:40)
4. "Remember Me Lover" (7:28)
So, Porcupine Tree's latest came out a couple of weeks back, and they seem to be having a bit more mainstream success this time (as is the case with each successive album). Of course, of all the albums to be their breakout, this one seemed the least likely, being a double album, the first disc of which is a continuous 50 minute suite of interlinked songs. There was a special edition (which I have obviously, being the obsessive collector I am) of a 12"x12"x1" hardback book, 2CD, 1DVD and a special art book of weird scribblings. Main man Steven Wilson posits that the album is having a bit of a resurgence, as evidenced by the likes of Radiohead and Nine Inch Nails producing special luxurious limited editions that easily sell out their short print runs to really justify the effort of recording in today's climate of filesharing.
Conceptually, the main suite is supposed to be about a series of specific "Incidents" that occur in life, or the world, or whatever, that all stand out in the memory as moments of importance, for good reasons or bad. It all kind of flows together, like a strange photo album of important events - although it probably feels like that because that's exactly what the special edition book contains.
But hey, all that wouldn't mean shit if it wasn't a great album. It is pretty great - says I, the long-time Porcupine Tree fan. The first disc, containing the title suite, goes through enough twists and turns and styles to justify it as an album in itself, while the companion disc is more like a mid album-cycle EP release, bundled with the album (I'm pretty sure they did it this way because last time they did an album and then a companion EP, but the songs got less exposure because of that).
The Incident has all the metal influences of recent Porcupine Tree albums, as well as a lot of the older psychedelic elements from the mid 90s stuff, all distilled down by the expert production. A lot has been made in the press of the classification of modern prog rock, but this is probably the most overtly classic prog Porcupine Tree have been in recent years. Also, a whole lot of acoustic guitar on it. Oh, and guitar solos. The single
Time Flies is something of a look back to that late 60s early 70s period of albums really meaning something, and of course, childhood in general. The title track has a sinister slightly sexual electronic groove, considering it describes a fatal car accident. And
Remember Me Lover, is a short (7:34) quiet epic in that Porcupine Tree tradition.
Anyway, figured I'd make a thread about it. Anyone else get it? Or steal it? Or hear it? Or know who Porcupine Tree even are? Or even care?
