On the first few initial listens, Porcupine Tree's The Incident has both the look and feel of being the British progressive rock band's masterpiece.
Everything about this album — from its elegantly photographed cover art, to the fifty-five minute title track that takes up all of disc one — screams prog-rock epic. In these rather lofty aspirations, The Incident mostly succeeds. But there are a few bumps along the road to getting there.
The distribution of the songs for one thing, is, well a little weird. Clearly the epic track "The Incident," is intended to be the focal point. But in doing so, the four tracks on the second disc, which together comprise all of twenty minutes plus change, make them feel almost like afterthoughts. Compared to the sprawling fifty-five minutes of disc one, disc two comes off as something more like a bonus, Nil Recurring style E.P.
Which is really too bad, because these four songs contain some of the best music on the entire record. "Black Dahlia" is one of those haunting, melancholic sounding short songs that PT mastermind Steven Wilson seems to be able to come up with on a dime. A quiet keyboard intro soon gives way to a rising swell of mellotron voices here, as Wilson intones surreal-sounding lyrics like 'there's a cliche in your eye, file the edges down, soon be underground."
On "Remember Me Lover," Wilson kisses off a former flame with the words "It's so hard to get along, I always know what you're gonna say, and this too, I hated you, I wish you'd learn to keep your mouth shut." Ouch! Musically, this song goes from another one of those great little melodic hooks that Wilson makes seem so effortless, into the sort of bludgeoning metal crunch that dominated PT's last album, Fear Of A Blank Planet.
Speaking of which, there's far less of that — meaning skull-crushing metal — on The Incident than I expected to see on the followup to 2007's FOABP. In fact, Wilson seems to be favoring the proggier sounds of earlier records like In Absentia and Signify again here. No complaints from me.
The nicest thing about the title track, monster-length aside, is the fact that it is still broken up into fourteen parts, each of which carry their own unique title. So despite the length, it still feels more like a set of stand-alone songs. No Jethro Tull style Passion Play indulgence here.
.jpg?t=20120527181101)
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Christopher Rose
I'm really looking forwards to hearing this.
2 - Mark
(Happy birthday, Chris. I hope you have something fun planned.)
3 - Paul Roy
Excellent review Glen. I anxiously await the copy I pre-ordered from Amazon. I even more anxiously await the show I have tickets to in Baltimore at the end of the month. These guys are so good live.
4 - raymond brettman
The day Porcupine Tree, (some of whom I do like) can hold a candle to the overall imagination of Ian Anderson is the day such a comparison should be made. Having said that, unlike some Tullies who would mark A Passion Play as their pinnacle moment (usually the prog element of their crowd) I would mark it somewhere in the bottom 30 per cent, Thick As A Brick, Songs From The Wood, The Christmas Album and Stormwatch I think are Tull's best moments of many. Well written, I am hardly saying I am right, just another well meaning fool with an opinion, thank you.
5 - fan in pittsburgh
Howdy, hope I don't have to register here... knee surgery and its co-pays prohibit me from seeing PT this year, so I bought the deluxe version of The Incident which arrived today. Its big 'n heavy! Not a bundled jewel case-- almost the size of an LP box set. Haven't listened yet (that comes later tonight!), but have to agree with comments on Time Flies. Indeed,it is the exact thing I wrote to a friend. "It is Dogs: homage or rip off?" Still enjoyable. Big Tull fan. Sad it is no APP, but still so thrilled to have long-form music again. (Does that date my adolescence to the 70s??)I agree with Raymond, Steve Wilson isn't Ian Anderson, but I also don't think SW has yet to hit his peak. Time will tell! Everyone going to a PT concert think of me not being there and have a great time!
6 - Glen Boyd
Thanks Paul. Tuesday will be my first time seeing PT when they open the tour here in Seattle. I'm stoked for it. The new album is going to sound amazing live, although I hope they cherry-pick some stuff from their catalog too. Thanks to you (and all) for the comment.
-Glen
7 - Glen Boyd
The band just linked this review at their website. Sweet.
8 - Glen Boyd
Fan it Pittsburgh...exactly right about "Time Flies"...you almost expect Wilson to start singing the words "you gotta' be crazy" its so freaking close. Like you say though, still a great track. And I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt here largely because of the lyrical references to other bands in the song. I think they have to be paying tribute here.
-Glen
9 - fan in pittsburgh
Oh oh. its great on first listen. (Can't believe I'm not going to hear this live.) Time Flies seems homage to PF when in context of the rest-- electric guitar riff is from Sheep-- Animals was out when Narrator was what? about ten years old if born in '67? Reviewer forgot that. BORN with Sgt Pepper and Jimi....
Man! I'm not even through it all and already its totally messed with me. PT fans should REALLY dig this....
Gonna be playing this through for a while....
10 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
But what has always separated Steven Wilson and Porcupine Tree from many of their prog and metal peers, is the way PT focus on the songcraft first â€" even with that occasional fifty five minute long opus.
You had me with a great review up until you wrote this. Sure, I enjoy PT and they do write some great songs(it's not only Steve Wilson in this band)AND this latest effort is pretty damn good, but, I think they sometimes add too much pop. Is that what you meant? Because, there is no way you meant better song structure.PT can & does sound, from time to time, as pretentious as their peers. Honestly, that The Killers/Coldplay part in "Drawing the Line" is what has held me from getting past track 5. "FOABP" had the same problem in a few areas. I'm just saying that his ideas aren't flawless. Again, I do truly like Porcupine Tree as they are one of the few acts still producing great material but they just, sometimes, ruin the moment...IMHO.
Personally,(right now) I think O.S.I. Blood is a bit more solid of a musical statement(structure wise) but I'm torn whether or not its a better journey. I also wouldn't overlook Guilt Machine's debut[Arjen Lucassen - Ayreon] as that has a great sound & quite a bit of cohesive statements running a muck. And, I think it's the best stuff I have heard from Mr. Lucassen since Ayreon The Human Factor (funny enough, that album was about an accident as well).
Anyways, still a great review,but I'm just sayin...
11 - Paul Roy
Congrats on the PT website link. That is too cool. Enjoy the show tonight. King's X opening for them is the icing on the cake.
12 - Glen Boyd
We don't get Kings X, we get That One Guy. But I'm still stoked.
Brian, obviously I don't go as deeply into this genre as you do (metal), but I think Wilson is one of the most underrated songwriters today. And yes, he has a gift for a great pop hook -- both in his work with PT, as well as No-Man, Blackfield etc.
The fact that he achieves this feat within the usually more instrumentally focused -- and frankly often pretentious -- metal and prog genres just amazes me. Unlike other bands who work in this arena, with PT I'm not just dazzled by the virtuoso playing when its over -- I can also actually remember the songs I've just heard. In fact, they stick in my head for days, which to me is the mark of a great song.
And yes, I was probably remiss in not mentioning the other guys in the band, who are all amazing musicians --- especially Gavin who is just a monster drummer.
-Glen
13 - kimjo
I got the early release of the Incident and at first I didn't get it. But now after several listens it is sinking in and to me that is what makes a good music investment. My son and i are going from Denver to SF to see them this Friday night at the Warfield. Next summer they should play at Red Rock with Oceansized. Dark Matter Man go PT
14 - sonoflife
Im pretty sure "Black Dahlia" was written by the keyboardist, Richard Barbieri.
15 - Isorski
I just posted a review as well. I swear I didn't read your's first but I also made the Dogs comparison! At least we're not both hearing things! I can't wait to see the band tomorrow night in Portland, and will be sure to post a review of the show.
16 - Glen Boyd
I just got back from tonights tour opener in Seattle and if anyone has the setlist and can post it in comments here I'd be most appreciative. I already know that set one was The Incident. Mainly looking for set two details.
Thanx!
Great show by the way.
17 - Fred Wiersma
I think 'Time Flies' ows more to 'Sheep' than to 'Dogs'. Anyway, a great song, a great album, and a cool review. 'The Incident' is high in my PT list, close to 'In Absentia'.
18 - Glen Boyd
so read the review of the concert
19 - BaldySlaphead
Re: the Animals thing; in an interview with the Dutch Progressive Rock Pages (DPRP), Wilson states:
The whole album, the whole piece was composed in the sequence you're hearing. So Time Flies was composed immediately after Yellow Windows of the Evening Train, immediately before the next piece. The reason Time Flies is different is because it's supposed to be about me, my childhood, what formed me and also what formed me as a musician. The musical reference in it relate more to the music I grew up with. So you hear a very deliberate reference to Pink Floyd for example. The first album I ever bought was Animals. There's a riff in there that's very similar, just different enough to not get sued. There are also musical clues as well as lyrical clues to me growing up and to what created me as a musician, what created me as a person. That's one of the reasons why musically it does take you into a different area perhaps to some of the rest of the record.
20 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
Glen - I have to agree that Steven Wilson is a brilliant songwriter and I'm glad he doesn't get mixed up into the mainstream outlets in order to get rated in any certain way. But, that wasn't my point nor was I knocking his ability along with the rest of PT to produce great music. I cannot deny it. I totally get that he is fusing the elements of prog within his arena of pop because I loved In Absentia and I still think that was PTs strongest musical effort. However, I think when they try to roam with the prog elements, that's when they get a little lost. And, that's where I disagree with your statement. BUT, again, I do like their music and would pick them over 90% of the bands that are out there.
I just feel that because you don't go as deep as I do, which doesn't sound accurate because it's not that hard nowadays, it would be hard to make the statement that you made. I think you would totally dig Guilt Machine because that project has a kind of PT feel but it is still Ayreon with the epic album length shortened and it doesn't necessarily go "over the top" like The Human Factor
21 - Tom Johnson
Great album from my one time through so far - too overwhelmed to even make sense of what's going on yet, but I felt it was clear that disc 2's tracks really were completely separate, so much so that I almost wish they were sold later as an EP so they could be appreciated that way without the album overshadowing them. Maybe that sounds crazy, I don't know.
I have a weird fear that this big statement from Porcupine Tree may be their final one, and that Wilson will continue on as a solo artist after that. Does it technically make a difference as long as we get new music from the guy? Not sure - listen to Insurgentes and The Incident and tell me if they don't *feel* different. I hope I'm overreacting, but something feels final about this album . . .
22 - Glen Boyd
I'm not sure where you get the idea Tom. Maybew you can enlighten me here, because I don't get swansong from this record at all -- and I certainly hope that isn't the case. I liked Insurgentes, but I like The Incident a whole lot more.
Thanks for the comment as always (nice to see you around these parts again too -- maybe you can stay awhile...)
-Glen
23 - Tom Johnson
I too like The Incident more but something feels very "wrap up" ish about this one. I absolutely don't want it to be PT's finale, of course, but I am getting weird vibes off this one. It seems weird that disc 2 is included, they just don't feel "right" with the rest of the album, and I got to thinking, if I were putting an end to a band, I'd want that statement to be really powerful with a particularly fantastic album, not a little EP. The Incident is a particularly fantastic album, the best since In Absentia and easily among PT's best, and the four tracks being included as extras seems kind of like everything's being thrown in to finish it all at once. And the album's subject matter address "endings" as well as being somewhat autobiographical in places. It just feels like something's being finished here. I hope I'm wrong, and I have a lot more thinking to do about the album - I've only been through it a couple times as a whole.
24 - Glen Boyd
I agree with you about the extras. They are all great songs that stand on their own, but they also feel like afterthoughts after you've heard the masterful piece that is The Incident. I also think a separate E.P. for the disc two tracks would have made a bit more sense, and done the other songs more the justice they deserve.
But this still doesn't feel like PT's swansong to me -- I think for a guy like Wilson the idea of a split is almost too confining. Wilson's creative mind and energy is always going to demand the need for him to work in multiple arenas on multiple projects. PT is one of them -- and closing that out in a formal way simply limits one of his many options. It's not the way he operates.
-Glen
25 - Andy Sanderson
Forget the swansong thing... And stop worrying about the "afterthought" songs on the second disc.
With Blank Planet, the band wrote too many songs for the album, and had to prune some out, which they then released as Nil Recurring.In fact, they have done similar things on previous albums - not just the sweep-up of songs that was Recordings, but things like Staircase Infinities and so on.
I know that there were some discussions between the band and the record label about how to release the album - the two disc release that we got, or a follow-up EP in the style of Nil Recurring. The songs were all written at the same time, though, and whilst lyrically The Incident is one piece of work, musically the two discs belong together, as we have got them. In fact, if you listen to the 5.1 mix of the album, all the tracks are on one disc, and DO follow on musically, if not thematically.
And yes, just to pick up on a point someone else made, Black Dahlia, possibly one of the most hauntingly beautiful songs they've ever recorded, was written by Rich.
A.