Artist: Porcupine Tree

Album: “Fear of a Blank Planet”

Release Date: April 24, 2007

Label: Atlantic

Availability: CD, iTunes

Drawn in by those ominous blue eyes on the album cover, Porcupine Tree piques the interest of listeners even before hearing a single song.

Seemingly new to the music scene, despite releasing numerous albums prior to “Fear of a Blank Planet,” their albums have something most albums today lack – song length. Unlike most bands today, Porcupine Tree boasts an average song length of more than five minutes.

The best way to define Porcupine Tree would have to be rock opera, mixed with a creativity reminiscent of Pink Floyd and comparable to Idiot Pilot. Each and every song on the album carries an extremely full sound, filled with a multitude of timbres and tones.

From sound effects and synthesized strings to crisp vocals which ooze with almost unsettling calming effects round out this impressive, unique album.

One of the more interesting tracks of the album would be the song “Anesthetize,” with lyrics addressing everything from MTV, pill consumption, wandering through malls and many other topics.

However, it is not the song you could listen to on the way to your next class – the song is longer than your walk, at 17 minutes and 42 seconds. In all, the album is a breath of creative fresh air, and a perfect choice for listeners trying to unwind, relax or even study for finals.