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Y'all...

I'm still processing hearing this album for the first time. I had heard Anesthetize previously, but it was a live version. And I haven't heard any of the other songs yet. I've had the album for about a month, and I've not listened to it yet.

Well...now I have...

And, I have to say that this is a really powerful and expertly crafted album. I think it exemplifies the best of the spirit of progressive music...topical and important song meanings, intricate arrangements, expanded musical forms, and giving expert attention to their projects.

***Trigger Warning*** - We'll deal with some heavy issues, including aspects of mental health, drug addiction, and suicide.

Although the subject matter is heavy, this is already one of my personal favorite episodes. This is another episode where I was moved to speak for an extended time during the wrap-up. I hope y'all enjoy. Thanks for the support!

Unlisted Vimeo Link: https://vimeo.com/818912281/d0284ef34f?share=copy

Files

Fear of a Blank Planet (Porcupine Tree) - Extended Play Lounge (Episode 42)

This is "Fear of a Blank Planet (Porcupine Tree) - Extended Play Lounge (Episode 42)" by Doug Helvering on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and...

Comments

doughelvering

Also, y'all...I put the unlisted vimeo link in the video description. Use that if you need to. Enjoy!

Anonymous

Great video Doug. This album is very special to me for reasons that I won't go into here. And yeah, Steven doesn't do many happy endings. This slab of bleak may only be topped in despair and impending doom by his solo album Grace for Drowning. I'd love an EPL with that one.

Anonymous

This has to be one of my favorite albums of all time. Steven has put himself up there with the rest of the prog and audio masters. I hope you do more from porcupine tree/ SW solo soon. Like you said, everything he touches comes out perfect. Lightbulb sun is a great contrast to fear of a blank planet, and "on the Sunday of life" is just a whacky ride, but was made when many skills were still in the beginning of development. I love it none the less, wish you the best. Thank you so much for this listen

Blinky

Every time I hear Sentimental, I keep expecting it to go into that outro from Normal, which I always assumed was sort of an early, working version of that song. As a high school teacher, I have several students who are living various parts of this album, and it really does feel kind of hopeless watching them listlessly bounce through their adolescents. "Don't try engaging me" in the title track is probably the lyric that breaks me in half.

Jean-Michel LaFontaine

After all these years, FOABP is still my favorite PT album. But their discography is so great.. In Absentia, Deadwing and The Sky Moves Sideways are close behind. FOABP just hit me a little more because of its conciseness. Not one single second is wasted. And it reminds me great moments with my girlfriend I met in 2008. She's also a PT fan and we had such memorable moments together listening to this album. And a bit like PT, we broke up and are now back together :)

Carlos Regidor Iglesias

Hi Doug, what a great album that was, my favourite Porcupine Tree album.Please consider to include Marillion’s Brave (Steven Wilson remix) in some of your polls. Thank you

Jean-Michel LaFontaine

Oh, and by the way Doug, I have fear of flying too, so I can relate. I love travelling but boarding a plane is an ordeal to me. Trying to get over it with. I need to travel more before I'm done!

Bill Brinkmoeller

Thanks so much for doing this one, Doug. It's a brilliant (if dark) album that shines a harsh spotlight on the problems, dilemmas, and contradictions faced by disaffected youth. When one experiences the world through screens, turning inward, one finds nothing, and thus begins the spiral. I don't envy anyone who is taking on the role of parent in the 21st Century. I believe that "Only MTV, cod philosophy" refers to a codpiece, or rather what a codpiece is supposed to cover up. I think the reference is to all the programming and videos on MTV that exploit or dehumanize women. And I think the very end of the album can be taken two ways. One way is as a final flourish--the final result of a plunge. The couple have fulfilled their promise and gone together. The other interpretation is that it's a rimshot, what the drummer plays after the comic has made a joke. The kid would talk about ending his life, act sullen and withdrawn. Then when the overwrought parents burst into the room to find the two motionless in the bed, the kid stirs and says, "Aw, it was just talk. Everybody does it. Leave me alone."

Nick

I'm not sure if the origin ultimately relates to codpieces, but my understanding of "cod" in this context is that it means 'fake', 'shallow', 'contrived', 'made up' or 'without supporting evidence' - something like that. There's a lot of stuff like this on the Internet these days. Anyone can create a video proclaiming themselves an expert, that they have some profound understanding of the meaning of life, or that they know the true secret to happiness, etc - but do we really know whether they've discovered something significant or whether they are just grifters out to make a quick buck?

Anonymous

With an appearance by Alex Lifeson (from Rush, of course) on Anesthetize.

Anonymous

Re: the drum fill at the very end. This is more morbid than my usual thought process (I am MrSunshine for a reason), but if the song is about suicide could the drum full be the sound of a body hitting the floor?

Ray Sincere

"Trainers" just means sneakers. And yes, PRADA does make sneakers. So "Burn my designer-brand shoes."

Anonymous

Damn…. This one hit hard. I’ve been a high school band teacher for 10 years and I have had so many students that this album represents perfectly. There are a couple who stand out in my mind in particular and I feel such deep sense of sadness for them. I saw them totally disregarded and alienated by their peers and they just dove into the virtual world. They are shells of themselves and I worry about them ever recovering. It’s so incredibly sad

grnmntl

In Absentia and Deadwing are needed

Ralph Darvill

Wow! I'm really enjoying catching up with some new music on here Doug...New to me anyhow. How has all this Steven Wilson music passed me by? I suppose its not played on the radio, and my friends group these days is not so much into "Prog". I have some catching up to do. Stunning musicianship from Gavin Harrison- well from everyone tbh. I see posts on SM about a reformed Rush, and debate as to who might be able to replace The Professor. There's only one choice for me.