Porcupine Tree vs Dream Theater

Man Overboard wrote: This is pretty much the most difficult decision I've ever had to make.   Porcupine Tree had some good songs and LPs before they decided to put out overproduced teen-angst-dark-and-edgy music.  I mean wtf, didn't Wilson warn of this in Sound of Muzak, despite the course already being set? The same could be said about Dream Theater in a broad sense. I'm sorry, but I doubt that most listeners really care to indulge in teenage hate-fantasy once they've reached adulthood.  Popular movies, television, and videogames are all aimed at children as well.  It sucks.

I think you put it best, JLocke. PT has a 'less is more' approach, whereas DT go the other way. Completely different ways of doing music, but both prog. Apples and oranges. PT are kind of the Pink Floyd or King Crimson of our age, whereas DT are more the Yes or Rush of our age. I am a fan of both. There's a time when I want to hear great songwriting, and for that I'll usually go to Wilson and co. And there's times when I want to rock out to some crazy, technically amazing stuff, as only DT can do. 

I´ll have to go with  Dream Theater.  Both made damn good albums, but  Count of Tuscany from their new album just took my breath away.

Suming up , this could be considered as the modern ELP vs Camel. I stick with ELP (DT)

DT is a big prog metal band with great  technical musicians like Petrucci, rudess and portnoy. BUT if you note to last 2 albums, you can see they move around closed circle. after " octavarium" i cant see any new idea in DT. this is important reason for me to choose PT. You can see wide range of styles in PT and they play that very good. PT is deeper than DT. when i encounter to new DT song or album, i can guess what they play before listen to it. I dont want to say this is a bad point. I have both versions of "Systematic chaos" and i love instrumental version. this is not good for a band like DT with graet vocalist and good lyrics. In post-moore era, portnoy's role deeper day by day and band go to portnoy direction. Now i want  to talk about PT. If you talk about technics , i dont think PT is not good. Harrison is god and wilson play professional. Songwriting in high level and lyrics is great. they make dark atmospher with top arrangment and choosing excellent color of instruments to make both modern and post-modern music. Wilson is one of prog icons. he have several experiences with other prog gods and use these experiences in his first and favor band PT. Wilson have talent and ability for release new albums with new styles and i waiting for that BUT i dont think DT can do that. if DT want to continue like last year i cant see good future for them.

Wow. I saw PT live last night. Freaking awesome. They completely blew me away. If you get the chance, go and see 'em live. 

I think I'd have to say Dream Theater.  I do like both bands a ton, but I'd say more of Dream Theater's works appeal to me.  I'm really only a fan of PT's most recent four or five albums.

Porcupine Tree by a very long way.

I simply prefer the songs. They are more in tune with what I want to hear from a modern prog band.

I've warmed to DT over the last year, and really enjoyed seeing them live, but I think they lack the songwriting skills of PT. There are a few classics in their catalogue, but a lot of the time their music really just seems like a vehecle to show off what great musicians they are. Of course, it all down to personal taste, but it seems that songwriting is less important than musical heroics in the DT camp.

PORCUPINE TREE RULES!!!!
BY FAR!!!!!!!
(I DONT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT DREAM THEATER, BUT I WILL SOON)
IF THEY WERE(ARE) SOOOO GOOD I SHOULD SEARCH ABOUT THEM MORE,BUT...........

HERE IN THIS FORUM I RED ABOUT 2 GREAT ALBUMS OF DT AND I WILL "MELT" THEM(AS WE SAY IN GREECE)
ABOUT PT, I KNOW EVERY SONG,EVERY SOLO , EVERY ALBUM, I WAS IN EVERY GIG THAT THEY DID IN ATHENS(MORE THAN 5) SO............................. SEE 1ST LINE!

Roland113 wrote: Here's how I see it: Fresh off of their stomping of The Flower Kings (link) The Dream Theater gang continue their strut down the alley of Progressive Bad Assness cocky and still full of themselves.  They don't notice that they're walking into a trap. Out of nowhere, Colin Edwin leaps from a second story building, hurtling towards John Myung.  Unfortunately, Myung's years of martial arts training serve him well allowing him to gingerly step to the side, avoiding Edwin completely.  Unfortunately, Edwin doesn't do nearly as good of a job avoiding the ground, effectively taking himself out of the fight. With the element of surprise gone, Steven Wilson takes on the daunting trio of Charlie Dominici, James Labrie and John Petrucci.  Steven would hold his own at first, using a broken guitar string as a garrote against James LaBrie, though little did anyone know, LaBrie's surgically reconstructed throat was apparently surrounded by a sheath of surgical steel rendering Wilson's attack ineffective at best.  This serves to only piss off John Petrucci who promptly eats Steven Wilson and Charlie Dominici. Mike Portnoy sizes up the pair of Harrison and Maitland and starts posturing by hitting as many things as he possibly can with his sticks.  In a move, vaguely reminiscent of the first Indiana Jones movie, Gavin Harrison wails a stick at Portnoy in the midst of the flourish, hitting him square between the eyes and removing him from combat. As the keyboardists were getting ready to duke it out, Kevin Moore gets a call from his girlfriend breaking up with him.  He promptly storms off angrily into obscurity, singing about his hurt in a flat and uninteresting voice.  Derek Sherenin watches with a certain amount of amusement as Moore leaves then turns towards Richard Barbieri sizing up the opponent.  As Sherenin studies the situation, Jordan goes into a series of convulsions, with his beard quivering menacingly Rudess begins to scream at Barberi, advancing towards the man.  As he gets closer and closer, Barberi first looses the ability to stand then the ability to hold his bladder.  Winner - Dream Theater

I think Porcupine Tree are at a far more creative stage at the moment, but Dream Theater aren't really focused on progressing anymore, so much as gaining awareness, and they're doing a good job.

On the other hand, Dream Theater have released more important material, and I feel they will always be more of a reference to the style of progressive rock. Porcupine Tree are a really cool, interesting band, but they just strike me as brilliant songwriters rather than ever being true innovators.