aerosiphon

Lovelorn, damn it, there's room for everyone here!! .. don't break it!

The album comes across as "cold and distant"... because it strongly mirrors the concept (that's how I've interpreted it), but you're almost spot on... I really agree that 90% of this work goes somewhat unnoticed... this might be the best-played album, but the most "weak" of Porcupine Tree.
Anyway, Anesthetize remains a good composition, and I have no issue with the thrash metal introductions at all, just as I didn’t mind them in Deadwing.
I have always been passionate about Porcupine because their sound is constantly evolving; if this is a bit of a misstep, I'm sure the next album will have a different sound... we’ll see!

The most interesting, captivating, and "colorful" piece is Anesthetize, the longest one... the rest of the album is quite disappointing... the opening track in Deadwing style unfolds on the same template and feels rather bare (except for the delightful ending!!) ... the other tracks go unnoticed, and the last one is truly uninteresting (a real drop in quality from Mr. Wilson)... I loved Porcupine Tree so much in their previous albums, which is why I expected something better... however, the concept is all there, and the songs reflect it almost perfectly. "In Absentia" still remains unbeaten for its spontaneity and its old-new sound, melodic-powerful, which makes it a gem.

This is a really great album... I don't think Dream Theater, no matter how hard they try, will ever be able to match it again... especially now that they've become fixated on Thrash Metal and Nu Metal (from Train of Thought onwards...). In June, the new "Systematic Chaos" is coming out, I really hope it’s not another bullshit; Octavarium disappointed me quite a bit.

Can you explain to me the philosophy of Brutal? ... what's it for? ... don't tell me you get excited imagining gutted bodies? ... and there's already way too much of that around!! ... today, April 18, 2007, the news talked about the latest attacks (in Baghdad), counting over 400 dead in different areas of the country ... among them, many women and children!! ... to be honest, when I listen to music, I'd like to forget about violence and suffering! ... screw this Brutal! ... have some chamomile!

Kiss, not to start a debate, but do you know how to play an instrument? ... anyone capable of playing an instrument at a good level understands that there isn't much genius in this album, neither technically nor in terms of composition.
That the NIN have an aesthetic taste that is appreciated and worth appreciating, well, that's another matter...
Fortunately, I didn't say that all NIN music is bad, just that I didn't like this album.
On the other hand, even the Beatles weren’t much of anything at first, as musicians... and yet they did what they did!
I don't consider Reznor a particularly genius composer; it would be like spitting on the true composers: take away the electricity and I want to see what he’s able to do... eh, eh... I believe, not much! ... anyway, I only say this for the sake of contradiction; it’s clear that today electronics are used by everyone (but really everyone!), some more, some less... anyway... de gustibus!

uhmmm ...

Honestly, I don't like those who try to be alternative at all costs. This album doesn't come across as interesting in terms of composition: anyone can be a MULTI-INSTRUMENTALIST with a POWERFUL PC!!

Fuck! fuck! fuck! ... I'll listen to them ... fuck!

Bleeee!!! ... what a vomit!