Angel Falls ++

In these last few hours of November I'd like to draw attention to a beautiful debut EP released last month by This Is My Normal State. I don't normally do this, mainly because I don't have enough time, but these three songs really impressed me. They're a beautiful combination of post-rock and dream pop accompanied by unmistakably some of the most stunning vocals I have ever heard. Honestly, this left me speechless on my first listen (and continues to amaze me), so I encourage you to download!

[currently listening to: Monster - Lady Gaga]

The Incident

The Incident
Porcupine Tree

O-kay, this album came out September 15 I think, but I needed time to first actually buy it, and take it in... slowly... which is why I'm writing this in November.

My first reaction to this album was similar to what the large majority of people have been saying about it: it's not that good. After listening to it more my opinion has changed, but let's first lay down some basics as to why people might get that first impression:

1. There aren't really any "pop songs" here to catch your attention the first time around, like in most of their previous albums. Proggg On!!!!!!!! \m/

2. More metal, less rock. For lovers of "In Absentia", it might be harder to get into.

3. It's looooooooo)))ng. One hour and 15 minutes. I don't mind long albums too much, but when that time is split up into lots of short tracks like here, it does kind of irritates me. I like how the tracklist FoaBP ran better.

It opens with a dramatic "dunn dunn duhhhnn" Funeral Diner-esque guitar riff in "Occam's Razor", that I later found is also repeated in "Degree Zero of Liberty" (sneaky!). I guess you could say that the first bit of the album is heavier than the rest. It does balance out a little bit with quiet songs and louder songs... kind of... There's some cultural references in this first part as well, since I guess PT is trying to pull a Tool and be deeeeeeeep or something, IDK.

O-kay, so I lied earlier. "Drawing the Line" is actually quite pop-y, or maybe just the catchiest song on the album. And coincidentally, it's one of my favourites (predictable listener is predictable!).

The title track— no... we're talking The Incident, not Ænema, has some weird whispering going on, but it progresses on to be a p. good song. There's lots of nice guitar solos; also in "Your Unpleasant Family".

"The Yellow Windows Of The Evening Train" is kind of out of place, but awesome. It sounds a lot like Parachutes, that cool Icelandic group that has nothing to do with the monotone, sleep-inducing mess that is a Coldplay album.

David Gilmour's guitar work in the next song, "Time Flies", is amazing— oh wait! ...Am I mixing up songs? Hmm... this sure sounds an awful lot like "Dogs"! I know Steven Wilson takes lots and lots and lots of influence from Pink Floyd, but this sounds just a little too familiar... ;)

"Octane Twisted" is when you start getting into the better section of the album (not to say that the stuff before wasn't good). They incorporate such a wide variety of sounds here, it's impossible to just call it "prog rock", let alone to describe it at all. All I can say is THE GUITAR WORK IS BEAUTIFUL. "I Drive The Hearse" might just be the loveliest song on the album, along with "Flicker" and "Remember Me Lover" (I can't decide, obv). It's so light and atmospheric.

The four "bonus" tracks are nearly better than the entire rest of the album. The instrumental work is simple and gorgeous and the vocals very distant and dream-like.

I'd like to say something cool like 2nd half > 1st half, but this album is sooooooo long it'll end up being 4th fourth > 1st, 2nd, and 3rd fourths or something. Long, but good. Rating...? 7.1/10

TL;DR: This album is good, so stop whining about it and listen.

[currently listening to: Black Dahlia - Porcupine Tree]