IN ABSENTIA

"Blackest Eyes" opens up the album quite perfectly, and the best thing about this song is the chorus. I love the lyrics, and I am not one who normally cares for lyrics (although I do a lot with Porcupine Tree). Some fantastic drumming by Gavin Harrison can be found on this track, and you can even hear his jazz influences.

"Trains" is one of the band's more known songs, and it's understandable why. The song isn't too complicated for today's average music listener, and there is no gigantic guitar solo. However, my favorite moment in the song is the short acoustic guitar solo a few minutes in. It's a great song, and very accessible.

"Lips of Ashes" drops the ball for a few minutes. Some love it, but I have never liked it. I consider it the weakest point of the album.

"Sound of Muzak" picks up again. I also love the lyrics in this song. There's a great guitar solo, and some very cool jazzy drumming from Gavin Harrison. What else could you need? Highly recommended song.

"Gravity Eyelids" has a great first half, but the second half is the part that I love. It begins like one of the softer songs, but ends like an awesome heavy prog song. Very cool feel to the heavy part, as well.

"Wedding Nails" was one of the first Porcupine Tree songs that I heard, and I fell in love. It's not even the best song on the album, though. I love Gavin Harrison's ride cymbal on this song. The only not-so-great part is the dragging middle. The guitar solo is just "eh" as well.

"Prodigal" is a very cheery song. Some great guitar work that sounds a lot like it was recorded during the Lightbulb Sun era can be found here. Overall, it's a great track.

".3" has a great bassline. It gets a little old after a while, personally, but it's still a pretty good song. Great vocals, though. Doesn't drop the ball, although it has the potential to.

Nobody seems to like "The Creator Has a Mastertape", however, I really love the song. I love it mainly because of the bassline and the drumming, and how they give the song such an upbeat rhythm. Very cool song, and very underrated in my opinion.

"Heartattack in a Layby" is a very depressing song, but very good. I think you could compare it to something like Radiohead during the OK Computer era. I love the guitar work here, and the chords really hit the soft spot.

"Strip the Soul". How can you dislike it? I especially love the acoustic middle section, and the wah guitar. Great track that never gets old.

"Collapse the Light Into Earth" has got to be one of the greatest endings to an album that has even been conceived. As a standalone song, it may seem very repetitive, but as an ending to the album, it is perfect. When the orchestra comes in at full blast, it gives me chills. An ending as perfect as "I get up, I get down!" in CTTE and Thick as a Brick's reprise ending, this really sends chills down my spine.

Fantastic album, and I highly recommend it as a starter album to Porcupine Tree.

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