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Topic ClosedPorcupine Tree vs Dream Theater
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Points: 15784 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 17 2009 at 18:50
Originally posted by Petrovsk Mizinski Petrovsk Mizinski wrote:

I can't really listen to PT anymore to be honest. Something about their sound just doesn't really affect me much anymore.
Dream Theater, on the other hand, have produced 2 of the what I consider to be some of the most remarkable works of prog metal of all time, Awake and Images and Words.
I like other DT albums but I can live without them, but I cannot imagine not having Awake and Images and Words in my collection, those 2 albums are very very special to me.

^ This


I have no idea how PT is similar in spirit to KC. 
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Points: 5 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 17 2009 at 22:02
While I enjoy Dream Theater and recognize their technical abilities, their playing and songwriting lack subtlety and nuance. Not quite as bad as "Dragonforce" but solos are technique for technique sake, and often leave me cold. 

Porcupine Tree are far superior, their music assimilates a much wider group of influences, solos and instrumental passages flow organically from the music, Wilson's playing has feeling, is never overworked or merely trying to impress. The songwriting is memorable and well constructed, lyrics are insightful and intelligent this is not always the case with Dream Theater. The vocals and vocal harmonies of Wilson and Wesley are far more enjoyable than LaBrie and Portnoy (ouch)
 
DT is the kind of band I would have loved in my teens, you can help but be impressed by the flash, but their music seems lack the maturity to be stimulating as the years go passing by. That said they are still worlds above most of the endless, faceless fields of neo-prog bands that have sprouted in the last two decades. 
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Points: 3 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 20 2009 at 11:21
Porcupine Tree, for the production, engineering, lyrics, songwriting, Gavin Harrison, themes, tones, experimentation, and finally Gavin Harrison
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Points: 3843 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 20 2009 at 12:04
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


Edited by Roland113 - December 20 2009 at 13:53
-------someone please tell him to delete this line, he looks like a noob-------

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Points: 192 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 20 2009 at 13:22
Nice story but it's Colin Edwin not Colin Edwards. ;)

Btw, Doktor Diamond - you summed it up better than I did. Thanks.


Edited by Citizen Erased - December 20 2009 at 13:22
And lo, the mighty riffage was played and it was good


<a href="www.last.fm/user/jonzo67" targe
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Points: 3843 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 20 2009 at 13:52
^ so close, thanks and corrected.
-------someone please tell him to delete this line, he looks like a noob-------

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Points: 220 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 24 2009 at 10:58
Originally posted by Roland113 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


LOL

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.
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Points: 530 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 24 2009 at 11:54
I'm not sure wich band I prefer and I recently got into Porcupine Tree, but so far it seems to me Porcupine Tree music is a bit more diverse than Dream Theater's

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Points: 9 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 03 2010 at 17:07
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! Wink
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Points: 6802 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 04 2010 at 08:34

There's nothing exciting about PT honestly... precisely the opposite... I mean, their music is depressive and flat and Steven Wilson voice is boirng as hell... while their music capabilities are good, the music do not give anything to move me in anyway... I know some people felt overwhelmed by the technical capabilities of DT in the other hand... but at the end... there's plenty music with soul in them... when you hear songs like "Hollow Years" or "Wither" or "Space Dye Vest" and there's no way PT can compite with that... and all their emo attitude don't help this guys... really...

And other thing... DT will be always remember as the band that brings prog into the 90's mainstream and with Progressive Nation they really are helping the movement, while PT will be just, another good band in prog...
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Points: 16130 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 04 2010 at 09:05
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.
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Points: 1029 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 05 2010 at 19:40
^I agree with you Blacksword that PT have better songwriting skills. I admire both bands for different reasons. DT because of the amazing musicianship (although as you say, its sometimes a vehicle for their technical chops rather than an emphasis on songwriting); PT for the great songwriting.
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Points: 16122 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 06 2010 at 09:36
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.
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Points: 2318 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 07 2010 at 02:29
love both bands ( and both are 2 of my tops) and I am not gonna waste my time saying what I think about them even  If I don't like them. I just won't bother.  opinions are  just opinion and are personal.
all I am just gonna say that both are great bands but totally different from each other. but i have to admit that I loved PT fom the first time i heard them and DT took awhile.


Edited by darksideof - February 07 2010 at 02:36
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Points: 1029 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 08 2010 at 01:41
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 love DT as well, but I've only seen them live on DVDs. I'd have to go and see DT as well to make a fair comparison of the two as far as live gigs go. 
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Points: 17847 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 09 2010 at 11:54
I cannot compare the two, they are too different in their styles, so for me to pick a preference I have to look at the whole catalog start to present.
 
PT to me has not done too much in the way of "progression". They started out as a band with excellent musicianship, dark dreary lyrics, very melodic rhythms. What I have noticed is with this type of recipe, the songs, albums tend to sound alike. My point is the theme seems to be the same over and over, dark.
There have been some divergence to the music from melodic at times to harder (more riffs, drumming attention). I will not name songs, albums, we all know which these would be. But then PT returns to the melodic form. It tells me this is where they are comfortable.......Some would say comfortable in music is boring music.
 
DT to me was a group of technically proficient players, who wanted to play harder rock than go the way of full out metal (Metallica, Megadeth...). Write more epic type songs musically, with lyrics to support a 10 minute song. Seems like in most cases this works out for DT, but I agree it can get lost in translation. To me DT has played more with different styles than PT has, they have risked more by doing this, hence in my mind this is more progressive than PT. Now DT lyrics can be dark, although I can handle them more than the PT dark style.
 
Most people think if you are trained at Juliard or in this case Berklee College of music, you should be playing jazz, classical or broadway.......The common listener would never guess a prog rock, metal artists has this background....rock prejudice??
 
Hopefully you can get my thinking pattern in all this. I enjoy both artists very much and I listen to them quite a lot. If I struggle with one of them it would be PT, only because I don't think they have ventured out of their original form very much.
To me DT has done more venturing, outside the box thinking throughout the current discography.
 
I see PT road still going down the path of dark lyrics, melodic rock.
I see DT road might be bending somewhat, I sense the next album will be very dramatic and may present some new thoughts.
 
Again I really like PT.......but I prefer DT for the reasons of being more progressive in their style of play, themes and preformance.


Edited by Catcher10 - February 09 2010 at 11:58
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Points: 2619 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 09 2010 at 13:54

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.
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Points: 32 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 10 2010 at 04:06
Dream Theater is great- one of the best ever!
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Points: 1818 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 10 2010 at 18:47
Suming up , this could be considered as the modern ELP vs Camel. I stick with ELP (DT)
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Points: 12294 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 10 2010 at 18:52
How have I not found this thread before?

PT.

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