I'm not a complete stickler for production, I like Punk and funk to sound as raw as possible with an almost 'jamming' quality but when you have high calibre musicians and a history of great production then i like a continuation of that and feel that it is lacking unfortunately.

I was disappointed with it too. Like jackhammer said, it feels more like a collection of songs that sometimes fit together, but never enough to be called a cohesive 55 minute piece of music. And most of the songs on the first side are just dull IMO. You do have a few good ones but I was bored halfway through.

Although the album wasn't up to my expectations it was still very good (hence vote)

I've been giving it a spin lately but I've yet to listen with undivided attention. At this stage I think it's pretty good if a bit protracted in places, so I'd agree with the sentiment that it's not quite the sum of its parts. I have a feeling it'll grow more on me though.

There are some great motifs/sections throughout including Great Expectations with its bouncy bass and the glorious "I want to be loved" part at the end of the Incident. Drawing the Line is killer... that and Time Flies are the standout songs of the first disc. Disc 2 is tops - Flicker reminds me of Robin Trower, Bonnie the Cat is interesting and Remember Me Lover is pleasantly melancholy if a bit disjoint.

Anyone notice how Meshuggah'ish the Circle Of Manias is? It's written all over it.

Around 15 minutes through Flicker it reminds me of The Grand Conjuration by Opeth.


To be honest I found this album to be a bit weak. It wasn't horrible and there are good moments, but I found myself a bit bored while listening to the album in its entirety. I would personally like to see Porcupine Tree end and see Steven Wilson go and do some other things with his creativity. His solo album was amazing. Porcupine Tree has pretty much perfected their sound and I am tired of hearing it over every album.

I have only listened to the album twice since I bought it but have played Lightbulb Sun twice in that time. I genuinely think that I could live without this album in my collection.

One thing I can praise the album is for its lyrics/theme. Wilson's lyrics are simple, but that is why I like them a lot. The Blind House is not only a good track, but it also has some pretty good lyrics.

The Blind House
If you wanna stay
Always here
All these years
The last frontier
It's no concern of theirs
The world outside
Corrupts my child
So trust these eyes

Faith is in your soul
But in these walls
Hormones stall
Dogs will crawl
The vices and the doubt
We resist
All this ****
So kneel submit

Free love
Free love
Feel love in all my sisters
Breathe out
Blind house
You don't need to know their secrets
Believe me

Pray and violate
Abuse your trust
False gods must
Purge their lust
A family that lies
To seal your fate
To take the weight
Of their self-hate

Free love
Free love
Bring love to all my sisters
Breathe out
Blind house
You don't need to know their secrets
Believe me

Breathe out
Blind house
Free love
Feel loved

I disagree. Having given this album a hell of a lot of listens, and REALLY, REALLY liking it, FOABP is by far the superior album.

That said, this album is STILL a fantastic album. Those of you saying 2 listens through and so on, its one of those albums that really does grow on you with time. Its fantastic, though not quite as unbelievable as FOABP

Haha you're right, I just compared them and it's pretty much the same riff. I wonder if Wilson intends it as a tribute?

I agree with that 100% - FOABP is absolutely stunning from beginning to end. I still haven't given The Incident a chance yet, I mean I like it but it's sort of so-so to me right now. I'll give it a couple more spins.