Porcupine Tree - The Incident
List Price:
Our Price: $10.21
You Save: $8.77 (46%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $4.75 (click here)
Category: Music CD
See more new music releases
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store
Canadian Music Store
Music CD Cover
Artist: Porcupine TreeEdition: Music CD
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language)
CD Release Date: 2009-09-15
Music Label: Roadrunner Records
Product features:
- PORCUPINE TREE THE INCIDENT (2CD)
Free Music Notes for The Incident
Free Music Review: Stunning Landmark Album From Modern Prog's Finest
Hit: 5 Stars
My copy of the limited edition box set just came in this afternoon... and after having it on repeat for the past 3 hours, I can only describe the whole package in one word: beautiful. For anyone who also got the same thing, you'll know what I mean - the photography and artwork accompany the music perfectly. The music is already incredible enough, but having the visuals to go along with it enhances the experience so much more.
Listening through the album the first time round, I had to force myself to remember at times that this was the 10th studio LP to be released by a band that's been around for almost 22 years with a largely unchanged lineup, which by itself is a remarkable achievement; most bands these days don't even survive 4 albums, let alone ten. And that depth in consistency just may be exactly why Porcupine Tree always seem to grow from strength to strength from each album; just when you think they recorded an album that couldn't possibly be topped, Steven Wilson and co fire back with another masterpiece - and what a masterpiece this 10th effort is.
The biggest similarity between 'The Incident' and it's immediate predecessor, Fear of a Blank Planet is probably that both are concept albums. FoaBP placed a much bigger emphasis on lyrics than usual, and while a good record by all means, it had a pretty dark theme that left the listener emotionally exhausted by the time it ends. The Incident's approach is rather different and by Steven Wilson's admission, the focus this time is more on the music instead. Written by Wilson to be listened to from beginning to end as one long track, it's meant to be a musical journey one could never experience with your standard 3-minute pop song. The idea is even more poignant now that we're in an age where the 'jukebox' mentality is more prevalent than ever; I'm sure all of us know a good number of people who download albums just for their favorite singles and delete the rest of the songs without even bothering to give them a chance.
On paper, the concept of the album seems rather simple, almost like an an excuse for a lack of inspiration on SW's part, yet it's tastefully executed. The whole album is chained by a series of vignettes inspired by various 'Incidents', seemingly everyday accidents, crimes, or murders we see on the evening news that might be of no emotional value to us, but extremely destructive and traumatic for the persons or people involved in them. The Incident is Steve Wilson's attempt to put a more personal spin on things, writing most if not all of the lyrics from a first-person narrative, and even his own POV, such as in 'Time Flies', the centerpiece of the album as well as the most personal, nostalgic song he's written yet. The album also includes a 2nd CD consisting of 4 songs that have no relation to the main album's concept, but are probably surviving tracks that made it through the writing sessions that the band felt were too good to be discarded. Either way, it's a good idea so fans won't have to wait a few months before hearing it as an EP, as was what happened with Nil Recurring which to my understanding didn't get as much attention as FoaBP.
Musically, The Incident recalls nearly every ingredient that make up the Porcupine Tree broth; the dream-pop aesthetics of the 90s era Stupid Dream and Lightbulb Sun albums, the trippy psychedelic rock from the early days of Sky Moves Sideways and Up the Downstair, to the heavy riffs and wacky experimentation present in their 3 albums that followed after the turn of the millennium (In Absentia, Deadwing, and the aforementioned FoaBP). Yet every PT release manages to retain that Steven Wilson touch, and the way that the multitude of genres and styles manage to flow together from song to song in this record is just amazing. Long-time 'Tree fans will find this album a refreshing mix of old and new, yet for the uninitiated this album is a good way to start if you're feeling curious. In my opinion it's pretty much impossible to be a casual Porcupine Tree fan, because the average fickle listener from the street will never have the understanding nor the patience to listen to the album the way it's meant to be listened - from start to end on a loud hi-fi set at home along with the artwork and visuals (and preferably a nice hot drink), and if you have a surround sound system then all the power to you, I'm not that rich though!
Summing things up... even though the tracks can stand their own individually, The Incident is much, much more than the sum of its parts, and a magnificent achievement from a band that has always placed aesthetics and taste over mindless technicality, yet always maintaining that solid balance of musicianship and songwriting that made them stand out from their peers since the beginning. If you're already a fan of Porcupine Tree, you won't need this review since like me, you probably have been salivating over this album since February! If you're a new listener and on the lookout for ambitious, album-based music by a band that isn't afraid to progress and tear down the boundaries of genres as we know them, then don't look any further. Porcupine Tree belong to an inspiring and exceptional breed of bands still out there today that only get better with age.
The Incident Poster
2009 two CD release from the Grammy-nominated modern Progressive Rock band. Porcupine Tree is fronted by Steven Wilson, who also is well-known for his work producing other artists, from Swedish Progressive Metal group Opeth, to Norwegian chanteuse Anja Garbarek. One of the only constants in Porcupine Tree's music is how it continues to evolve and confront the expectations of the band's fans from album to album. The Incident is their 10th studio album and takes the listener on a thrilling audio journey. In turns haunting, desolate, hypnotic and euphoric, its centre-piece is the title track: a stunning 55-minute musical statement that breaks down into 14 separate and often diverse (though interlinked) vignettes.Alternative Rock Music CDs
Music Genres
Top music charts in Alternative Rock Music CDs
Bouncing Souls - Maniacal LaughterRelease date: 1996-01-26; Music CD
Best price: $30.00
Blondie - Parallel LinesRelease date: 1994-07-29; Music CD
Best price: $397.77
Doors - L.A. WomanRelease date: 1993-04-09; Music CD
Best price: $199.99
Amon Duul - Phallus DeiRelease date: 1997-04-08; Music CD
Price in other shops:
Tangerine Dream - MelroseRelease date: 1990-10-02; Music CD
Best price: $74.98
Tangerine Dream - Private Music of Tangerine DreamRelease date: 1992-11-10; Music CD
Best price: $8.00
Price in other shops:
![Ska Explosion [VHS] Image](/images/Ska-Explosion-VHS-6303381014-X.jpg){kind=small}
Ska Explosion [VHS]Cleopatra; Release date: 1995-02-28; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $14.99
Price in other shops:
![Little Earthquakes [VHS] Image](/images/Little-Earthquakes-VHS-6302488664-X.jpg){kind=small}
Little Earthquakes [VHS]Atlantic / Wea; Release date: 1992-11-10; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $7.00
Price in other shops:
Exileby Geoffrey Oryema
Music CD
Best price: $4.95
![Louder Than Live [VHS] Image](/images/Louder-Than-Live-VHS-6301627865-X.jpg){kind=small}
Soundgarden - Louder Than Live [VHS]A&M Video; Release date: 1991-07-01; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops:
Top Rated Albums
Anesthetize (DVD + Blu-ray)Koch International; Release date: 2010-06-29; DVD
Best price: $17.07
Price in other shops:
Porcupine Tree - Sky Moves SidewaysRelease date: 2009-11-10; Music CD
Best price: $11.42
Price in other shops:
Porcupine Tree - RecordingsRelease date: 2010-09-14; Published: 2010-10-02; Music CD
Best price: $10.40
Price in other shops:
Porcupine Tree - Signify (Spec)Release date: 2009-04-21; Music CD
Best price: $12.59
Price in other shops:
Porcupine Tree - Lightbulb SunRelease date: 2008-05-27; Music CD
Best price: $11.98
Price in other shops:
Porcupine Tree - Stupid DreamRelease date: 2009-11-10; Music CD
Best price: $11.78
Price in other shops:
Porcupine Tree - DeadwingPORCUPINE TREE; Release date: 2005-04-26; Music CD
Best price: $7.60
Price in other shops:
Steven Wilson - Grace for DrowningRelease date: 2011-09-27; Music CD
Best price: $7.55
Price in other shops:
Porcupine Tree - Fear of a Blank PlanetPORCUPINE TREE; Release date: 2007-04-24; Music CD
Best price: $10.90
Price in other shops:
Porcupine Tree - In AbsentiaPORCUPINE TREE; Release date: 2002-09-24; Music CD
Best price: $6.64
Price in other shops: