IN ABSENTIA

It has happened to me several times, albums such as Rush' Moving Pictures or Focus' Moving Waves that are often categorized as the band's pinnacles are just average albums to me, with excellent songs and a great structure overall, but nothing outstanding. With Porcupine Tree's In Absentia happens the same to me, since the very first time I listened to it (at least five years ago) until today my love for it has not changed, I like it and enjoy it when I listen to it, and really love a couple of tracks, but as an album, as a whole, it is just one more in my collection.

The reasons are simple, this album did not click with me as others did (subjectivity) and also despite people use to call it as Porcupine Tree's best, I believe it does not even show an improvement to their previous works. Here we can find catchy tunes and commercially speaking successful tracks that people passionately love, such as "Blackest Eyes", "The Sound of Muzak" and "Trains" , songs that everyone know and want to sing, but that (objectivity) do not represent the band's best or finest compositions, not at all.

What I like here is that In Absentia offers a diverse amount of styles, because we can listen to progressive rock, alternative rock, spacey moments and even some heavy prog ones. All the tracks are good, well composed and performed as usual, but I believe the album as a whole is not that strong, it has highs and lows. Besides those previously mentioned "commercial" tracks (which I like but not love) I would highlight "Heartattack in a Layby" which is a wonderful soft song with amazing backing vocals and spacey hints; and the closer "Collapse the Light into Earth" which is one of the best ending tracks I've ever listened.

The 68 minutes that runs here are not that pleasant to me, in fact, there are moments when I get tired and bored, tracks such as the same "The Sound of Muzak" or "The Creator has a Mastertape" can be easily skipped. Honestly, this album does not even enter in my PT's top 3, I know it may have been a landmark, but it does not have that heavenly effect in me that albums such as "The Sky Moves Sideways" or "Lightbulb Sun" had in me, albums that I truly enjoy from start to end. So my final grade for this well-known album is three stars.

Enjoy it!

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