#37: Porcupine Tree - In AbsentiaWhat's this band, I'm sure nobody here has ever heard of Porcupine Tree, or Steven Wilson, or -
Yeah. Something people actually know for once, who'd have thought?
For me, this album starts of really strong. Blackest Eyes and Trains are two of the best Porcupine Tree songs, in my opinion, and Lips of Ashes is a very nice softer piece. I've always really liked Gravity Eyelids, too, good quiet bits and a good heavy instrumental in the middle. But it all comes to a screeching halt with Wedding Nails, which, at this point, I can't stand anymore, I actively skip it and I -hate- skipping songs on albums, even if I'm not a huge fan of them. Prodigal is alright, and then .3 is another of my favorites, that bass groove is stellar. Creator is another song I'm not so keen on but it's still listenable. Heartattack In A Layby is probably the darkest and most emotional Porcupine Tree song for me, period, another favorite. And Collapse The Light Into Earth as well, that piano line and the build up and the singing and everything.
This album would be way higher if not for Wedding Nails and Creator. Over half the album is fantastic, with most of the rest being pretty good, but the presence of a song I can't stand and another I'm not very fond of bumps it down a fair bit, unfortunately.