Now I Get It: It's Porky - And It's Also a Pine Tree; If Only I Could Visualize This Oddity.

I’ve been waiting for this. Fear Of A Blank Planet is not just a concept album, it is also a mind reading device that I feel completely justified in comparing to the one used in the video game Destroy All Humans; another possession of mine which is almost as “hip” and “jiving” as the subject of this review. Porcupine Tree's (PT's) newest release plays like a fifty-one minute composition comprised of six well transitioned movements, and I feel like anyone who has ever felt isolated can immediately relate to the first song (the title track).

The album’s title is inspired by Public Enemy’s album, Fear of a Black Planet. Instead of stressing bigotry and crackers and white cheddar cheesiness, the lyrics target all the most modern aspects of society including TV, MTV culture, prescription drugs, videogames and, of course, internet porno. These opiates numb the brains of the masses into inactivity and apathy, in a manner that is quite Marxian in nature. With their communist txt messaging and internet "BLOGS", the youth keep getting lazier and dumber, hence the “blank planet.” Like in the video game Destroy All Humans, assimilation is the current and primary goal, and while the future agenda is hidden, domination will probably transpire.

“Anaesthetize” is the strongest part of the album and features a guest solo from Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson. This eighteen minute epic builds in intensity until it peaks at about eleven minutes with double bass drumming and one of the crunchiest/most frenzied metal riffs on a PT song to date. It then dwindles back down into brooding vocals and sedative keyboard and guitar verses. Like when the credits are rolling in Destroy All Humans, this ending theme is totally “shweeet,” it just goes on too long, but not in a Brian Eno shoot-me-in-the-head-there's-nothing-happening kind of way, its really that i'm an anxious person, which makes the beginning of "Sentimental" that much more appreciated. It's not distasteful, it's tantric, like Destroy All Humans.

Although there are some great solos such as the aforementioned on “Anaesthetize,” and the one on “Way Out of Here” played by Robert Fripp of King Crimson, there could always be more. This is my only real criticism, that and I wish there had been some louder bass lines like they had in their last album, Deadwing. But this is still one of their best releases, and prog' greatness, indubitably; it takes at least 6+ times of thorough listening to fully absorb and notice everything. This is a creeper: it'll keep growin' on you.

The tone of this album is constantly depressing and dark. Upon first listen there are a few spots that don’t sound so dismal, like the slow down track “My Ashes,” but the lyrics prove otherwise. While this is not exactly uplifting it is appropriate for the theme of the album. In the last song “Sleep Together,” depraved mastermind Steve Wilson uses sex as a metaphor to describe the main character’s suicidal tendencies. The surreal rhythmic delay and wah effect on the guitar melody played throughout the whole song is well delivered and avoids redundancy; when in combination with just the drums and keyboard, it almost sounds like a fat slab of groove from a traditional but succulent techno dish. This song also contains the album’s best bass line, and the hypnotic violins are both powerful and calming.

Those who are just looking for the satisfaction obtained from loud distortion may be disappointed that they have to wait around for so long to reach that gratification. Ironically this idea fits in pretty well with the concept of the album: instant gratification; but I don’t think Wilson would object to responsible use of Destroy All Humans, or technical death metal, or the occasional pornographic masturbation session. I think its one of those moderation thingamajigs, which this album certainly is not; so in a way, its self-proclaimed catharsis. If forced by gunpoint or slingshot to compare this album to other band’s albums, I’d say its Lateralus meets Kid A. However PT has more studio albums than both Tool and Radiohead, and in my opinion has crossed more genres.

By the way, “dude,” if you’re a “hardcore” fan you might want to wait until they release this as a double disc, one of which will be a surround sound DVD most likely loaded with juicy bonus material. Wilson is notorious for his sound-mixing, guru-tripster "street creds," and the fact that my copy has not been truly crossfaded is somewhat depressing, not “Sleep Together” depressing; but still, I know it could be better, like Dark Side Of Oz at the Imax. I saw them in Raleigh recently, they put on a great show and the new music video’s are pretty "cool." If you’re throwing around mad bling like a true baller you might consider purchasing the PS2 video game Destroy All Humans while you are buying this double disc and pimping your way through Best Buy. Or you could purchase it all online while watching porn or Mtv.