Porcupine Tree vs Dream Theater
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Forum Name: Prog Bands, Artists and Genres Appreciation
Forum Description: Discuss specific prog bands and their members or a specific sub-genre
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=63353
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Topic: Porcupine Tree vs Dream Theater
Posted By: Kashmir75
Subject: Porcupine Tree vs Dream Theater
Date Posted: December 04 2009 at 22:43
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Two of the more popular prog bands these days, and two of my current favourite bands. But which takes the top slot? They take prog in such wildly different directions. DT is very influenced by Rush and by heavy metal bands like Maiden, Sabbath, etc; whilst PT are more spiritually akin to King Crimson or Pink Floyd or Tool. What do you think? ------------- Hello, mirror. So glad to see you, my friend. It's been a while... |
Replies:
Posted By: progkidjoel
Date Posted: December 05 2009 at 00:12
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Porcupine Tree.
PT is so much more diverse than DT stylistically. The one thing I can't stand about Dream Theater is that I can't stand about 95% of their songwriting, which jumps up to 99% after Kevin Moore left. Porcupine Tree are brilliant as technical musicians, and I love nearly everything they've written and released. That is obviously just personal taste though; I'm not straight up saying PT is better, I'm saying they're what I'm looking for in a prog band. ------------- 
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Posted By: jampa17
Date Posted: December 05 2009 at 08:34
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Dream Theater cannot be compared with PT... they are not bad, but an Alternative band with couple of proggy riffs cannot stand over Dream Theater... In the quality of music, Technic and capacity, DT overrun PT easily... now, if some people like more Steven Wilson voice more than James Labrie, that's other story. I have been saying all this time that this bands are not similar in any way... and of course, DT is the Icon and the reference of Prog Metal... PT is just a heavy prog band, and even their heavy side is quite soft actually... agree with Joel... Kevin Moore era was the top of Dream Theater, but I like their metal extreme side they have reach over the years... ------------- |
Posted By: Petrovsk Mizinski
Date Posted: December 05 2009 at 08:52
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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. |
Posted By: J-Man
Date Posted: December 05 2009 at 08:54
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I think Porcupine Tree is incredibly overrated. I enjoy many of their albums (Lightbulb Sun, Deadwing, In Absentia, The Sky Moves Sideways, etc.), but I don't think any of them are worth more than a 3 star rating. Most of their music seems uninspired and leaves me cold. Dream Theater on the other hand is one of the most consistent bands in the prog world, and are some of the most talented musicians out there. Porcupine Tree just can't compete with that. -Jeff ------------- 
Check out my YouTube channel! http://www.youtube.com/user/demiseoftime" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/user/demiseoftime |
Posted By: Citizen Erased
Date Posted: December 05 2009 at 08:57
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Porcupine Tree by about a million miles. Dream Theater are good musicians but the quality of their songwriting is painfully awful, the vocals are cringeworthy and songs needlessly long for the sake of it. Porcupine Tree make extensive, psychadelic songs that slot in perfectly to an album; Dream Theater's best songs tend to be their shorter riffier ones but even many of them are overdone e.g. Constant Motion. ------------- And lo, the mighty riffage was played and it was good 
<a href="www.last.fm/user/jonzo67" targe |
Posted By: RoeDent
Date Posted: December 05 2009 at 09:03
| I love both of these bands, but on the basis that I'm not familiar with the entire PT catalogue, I'll go for Dream Theater this time. |
Posted By: Elderflower Man
Date Posted: December 05 2009 at 10:41
| Can't say I've listened to much Porcupine Tree- although The Incident is one of the best CDs I've heard all year- but I've liked what I've heard. However, Dream Theater are my overall favourite band, so I think I'll have to go with them. |
Posted By: The Sleepwalker
Date Posted: December 05 2009 at 11:58
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Both are terribly overrated, but I'd pick Porcupine Tree by far. Porcupine Tree created some very interesting albums. FOABP and Nil Recurring are very good releases and I enjoy The Incident as well, but most of their other stuff is nothing more than decent IMO. Dream Theater is unlistenable to me. ------------- 
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Posted By: hirszu
Date Posted: December 05 2009 at 18:54
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Why confront them? There is no sense in comparing them - ... ... -DT is much better  |
Posted By: MikEZzZZ
Date Posted: December 05 2009 at 19:23
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can't compare them.... PT is Prog Psychedelic Rock and DT is Prog Metal.... but so far i still choose Dream Theater....
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Posted By: CPicard
Date Posted: December 05 2009 at 19:51
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..... King Crimson. |
Posted By: NecroManiac
Date Posted: December 05 2009 at 20:05
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Porcupine Tree. The only reason Dream Theater isn't simply categorized as a power metal group is because of their concept albums and their overbearing (at times) instrumental w**kery. Don't get me wrong though, I kind of like Dream Theater. I just get easily tired of all the cheese. ------------- 
What's yer faovrite album? =^_^= |
Posted By: harmonium.ro
Date Posted: December 05 2009 at 20:16
| Porcupine Tree for me. |
Posted By: MovingPictures07
Date Posted: December 05 2009 at 20:31
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Dream Theater.
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Posted By: The Truth
Date Posted: December 05 2009 at 20:45
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The first word that came to my mind is ugh. I think I'll stick with that as my vote
Haven't we had a poll like this before? ------------- http://blindpoetrecords.bandcamp.com/" rel="nofollow">  
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Posted By: Kashmir75
Date Posted: December 07 2009 at 01:01
Although I am a fan of both, I agree with you that PT focus more on songwriting than on shredding and showing off. DT can write good songs, but sometimes they do need to edit themselves a bit more. ------------- Hello, mirror. So glad to see you, my friend. It's been a while... |
progkidjoel wrote:Posted By: Hypongle
Date Posted: December 09 2009 at 05:13
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Joined this forum a moment ago to say something totally different. But, after reading this topic, I have to ask.... Do people perhaps think that Dream Theater's vocals are just a little bit too 'cock-rock-post-glam' to fill out the otherwise interesting musicianship & compositions presented by the band ? And in saying that, aren't the compositions largely a little bit clinical & labourious in their unfolding ? To clarify, I have heard (by way of owning the CD's) about five releases by DT, so I may have missed their finest gems that have propelled them towards the pedestal and stand as as "Prog Rock Super-Gods" in the eyes of many. |
Posted By: jampa17
Date Posted: December 09 2009 at 09:06
Yes, maybe you missed Awake, Images&Words and Scenes from a Memory... look as this is an Appreciation thread, people should take more than a minute and makes arguments, like saying that DT members are better than the PT musicians, technically and for the range of capacities, DT members are way ahead PT, Even Labrie has a wider vocal range, more strengh in his voice and a vocal training better than Wilson... yes, you can like it or not, but DT is most qualify to make better songs, and in a matter of fact they are... but at the moment people is just saying who they like more, not arguing why or what they don't like from the other band... Which album you have heard about them and about PT...??? ------------- |
Posted By: infandous
Date Posted: December 09 2009 at 09:32
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I'm not sure how you compare these groups, as they are nothing alike. However, it is worth pointing out that Mike Portnoy loves PTree, but Steven Wilson doesn't much care for Dream Theater. Of course, my impression is that I'd much rather hang out with Portnoy than Wilson, as Wilson strikes me as an arrogant sort. If we are comparing lyrics, PTree by an incredibly wide margin. If we are comparing music, I'd say I prefer PTree, though DT certainly have the edge in terms of technique and instrumental skill. But PTree just write better songs, better melodies, and have much more palatable vocals for my taste. Though to be fair, neither bands vocals are all that great to my ears. |
Posted By: AgentSpork
Date Posted: December 09 2009 at 19:07
| Well, Porcupine Tree and Dream Theater do have similarities in that their lyrical content often ranges from silly to downright terrible, but for completely different reasons. Other than that, I don't think either band's music is really all that comparable. You have one band that prefers layered guitar and vocals to make songs with a lot of depth and emotion, and pit that against another band that relies entirely on technical skill and fast playing as its primary songwriting mechanism. In addition, one band creates their music in a vacuum and doesn't really take into consideration much what the fans want, whereas the other band has spent the last decade providing fan service. Just saying. |
Posted By: Repner
Date Posted: December 09 2009 at 22:39
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I could spend hours trying to think of an answer, and still not get anywhere. I love them both
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Posted By: JLocke
Date Posted: December 09 2009 at 23:46
| Porcupine Tree |
Posted By: Kashmir75
Date Posted: December 10 2009 at 00:40
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I'm the OP, and I started this thread not because I think the bands are all that similar, but because they are two of the more popular prog bands these days. The 'poster boys', if you will. DT comes in for a lot of flak around this site. I like them, personally. And PT are one of my favourite bands ever. ------------- Hello, mirror. So glad to see you, my friend. It's been a while... |
Posted By: Kashmir75
Date Posted: December 10 2009 at 00:42
I'm curious. Which of these has offered 'fan service' over the last decade, I wonder? PT don't seem to care much what people's expectations are. They just make the music they want to. And I applaud them for that. DT polarise their fans more and more with each release, so I don't think they listen too much to the fans either. And they shouldn't. Listening to the fans: big mistake. ------------- Hello, mirror. So glad to see you, my friend. It's been a while... |
Posted By: Kashmir75
Date Posted: December 10 2009 at 01:05
SW can't dislike DT all that much, because he agreed to do a guest spot on 2007's Systematic Chaos album, and PT have toured with DT before. I think he's on good terms with Portnoy. I agree that PT have better lyrics and melodies. DT obviously outdo them in technical virtuosity, but they need to know when to cut it back sometimes. ------------- Hello, mirror. So glad to see you, my friend. It's been a while... |
Posted By: SaltyJon
Date Posted: December 10 2009 at 01:09
Essentially this, except I don't love nearly everything they've written/released, I think it's pretty good though. Neither band is quite what I'm looking for, but PT gets closer. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Salty_Jon" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: AgentSpork
Date Posted: December 10 2009 at 13:23
Well, I could certainly be wrong, but that's just from my own personal observation. Dream Theater doesn't seem to have done much in regards to advancing their sound in the last few years (aside from perhaps making their influences more and more evident with each album). Not to mention Train of Thought, an album designed almost entirely around fan response to their heavier songs during live performances. |
Posted By: jampa17
Date Posted: December 10 2009 at 14:39
Well... DT members have always estated that they don't want to betray their fan base by doing something too different as most of the 70's prog bands did, so they stick with their trademark, which is technically sofisticated skill but changing the sound and style.. the funny thing is that for some, if they sound too electronic or soft as in Octavarium, then people start saying they are stealing or some stupid thing like that... They have evolve a lot, and I think "Panic Attack", "I Walk beside You", "Prophets of War", "These Walls" and "Forsaken" are great, as well as the whole Six Degrees, in which the experiment a lot and that's what people are complaining in those albums...
For what I've heard from PT, they have been doing the same... their only evolution is using a heavier sound in the last like 4 albums right...??? what evolution is there...??? really...
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Posted By: Anthony
Date Posted: December 10 2009 at 19:11
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Of course Dream Theater is the better band. Porcupine Tree is just boring crap. ------------- Future prosperity lies in the way you heal the world with love (Introitus - The hand that feeds you) |
Posted By: AgentSpork
Date Posted: December 10 2009 at 19:41
Well, it's divided into segments really. There's the earlier psychedelic period (Up the Downstair, The Sky Moves Sideways, and Signify), the more straightforward pop-friendly *gasp* approach midway (Stupid Dream, Lightbulb Sun), the heavier period where they started incorporating metal into their music (In Absentia, Deadwing, Fear of a Blank Planet). As for The Incident... well, I haven't really got much to say about this album. Dream Theater, to me, has been going downhill ever since Jordan Rudess joined the band. Personally I feel like Scenes From a Memory was just some kind of magical fluke, as there's not a whole lot of his little keyboard cheesefests present on that album. It just kind of exploded when Six Degrees came out and Rudess decided that keyboards would make a perfect replacement (not) for orchestral arrangements. Not trying to be a complete troll, there are quite a few enjoyable songs on DT's newer albums, but personally I haven't found a whole lot of evolution going on. What I have found, however, is an almost endless supply of keyboard and guitar battles going on between Rudess and Petrucci. I've grown tired of it. At the same time though I'm worried that Porcupine Tree's going down the same road in that they'll be doomed to making melancholic dreary music (as evidenced by The Incident) for the remainder of their career. Luckily Steven Wilson's solo work has shown quite a bit of promise as far as new directions go. |
Posted By: infandous
Date Posted: December 11 2009 at 09:54
Well, I didn't say he disliked them personally. Just their music. He has stated this in interviews. He respects them as skilled musicians, but their music doesn't do anything for him (I'm paraphrasing here, as I don't remember his exact words, but that was the gist of it). I think he and Portnoy get along fine, as Portnoy loves PTree music. I agree about DT. But that is what they do. I can enjoy it for what it is, when I'm in the mood. Though I must admit that the consistency of modern prog bands does make me think that the early prog bands and their attempts to change their sound and stay relevant, were far more progressive (even if the results didn't appeal to me). |
Posted By: Nightshine
Date Posted: December 11 2009 at 10:26
| I detest Dream Theater post-Moore with every last bit of my being. Thus, I say Porcupine Tree. |
Posted By: Kashmir75
Date Posted: December 11 2009 at 18:58
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PT have tonnes of evolution in their sound. There is a big difference between even On The Sunday of Life and the second disc. SW dropped the little pop ditties (Jupiter Island, Linton Samuel Dawson) by the time of Up The Downstair. Signify was the start of the song-based, rather than soundscape, approach, arguably. Stupid Dream and Lightbulb Sun were more pop-inflected (with hints of the metal that was to come, on Tinto Brass and Russia on Ice). Yeah, there maybe isn't much difference between the sound of In Absentia, Deadwing, and FOABP. But I think they did try some new things in The Incident (electronica influences on some tracks, like the title track). How can anyone say FOABP and The Incident have the same sound? To me, they went in a totally different direction on the new album. I think PT continue to evolve with each album, like Radiohead. PT probably haven't even finished evolving yet. Their next one could be something totally different, for all we know. Remember the shock when we went from Signify to Stupid Dream in a couple of years? ------------- Hello, mirror. So glad to see you, my friend. It's been a while... |
Posted By: Black Dahlia
Date Posted: December 12 2009 at 15:35
DT's been lacking creativity for a while now, even though they have better technical-virtuosos-musicians, PT's music take me somewhere DT's never will..so, go Porcupine!
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Posted By: domizia
Date Posted: December 14 2009 at 02:10
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Just for precision's sake, SW did appear of Systematic Chaos, but his contribution consisted of apologizing for disliking DT's music (every guest had to apologize for something, that was the concept). Which is quite a clear message about: a) SW's opinion of DT's music; b) the fact that DT and SW are friends; c) both being able to be iroinc about one's opinion of each other's. Besides, SW has absurdly personal taste in music, quite completely distant from the average prog listener, see Meshuggah, so it's not that meaningful if he likes or dislikes DT. ------------- RPI=> http://www.camelotclubprog.net" rel="nofollow - Camelot Club Prog ...but also> http://www.maracash.com" rel="nofollow - MaRaCash records. |
Posted By: tintedweed
Date Posted: December 14 2009 at 14:23
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Interesting comparison cause there isn't anything related between the 2. You would either get a DT fan bashing on PT or vice-versa..haha.
Technically DT are superior but musically its PT. For my tastes its PT all the way, DT never inspired me and gets exhausting to my ears unfortunately.
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Posted By: The Accolade
Date Posted: December 14 2009 at 14:33
| Porcupine Tree have a great groove, Dream Theater however do not. You've gotta have a groove in my opinion. |
Posted By: Bonnek
Date Posted: December 17 2009 at 17:53
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Two bands that couldn't be on more opposite sides of progressive rock. Porcupine Tree is all about substance, ideas and song writing ; Dream Theatre is about form, style and musicianship. That doesn't mean one can't like both bands of course, but PT is the one that makes my heart beat faster. DT only rarely. |
Posted By: Moatilliatta
Date Posted: December 17 2009 at 18:47
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Both have made their own respective big impact on prog music. Dream Theater is the more important band and their best albums are better than Porcupine Tree's best albums. Porcupine Tree has definitely been the better band since the turn of the century, and I don't think any of Dream Theater's songs have matched the power of "Trains" and a handful of other songs. Plus Porcupine Tree do a better job in the production department. So I guess they're about equal overall.
These days, though, I don't find either of them to be doing anything that really warrants a lot of hype or praise. ------------- www.last.fm/user/ThisCenotaph  
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Posted By: Equality 7-2521
Date Posted: December 17 2009 at 18:50
^ This I have no idea how PT is similar in spirit to KC. ------------- "One had to be a Newton to notice that the moon is falling, when everyone sees that it doesn't fall. " |
Posted By: doKCtor Diamond
Date Posted: December 17 2009 at 22:02
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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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Posted By: pinketh floydeth
Date Posted: December 20 2009 at 11:21
| Porcupine Tree, for the production, engineering, lyrics, songwriting, Gavin Harrison, themes, tones, experimentation, and finally Gavin Harrison |
Posted By: Roland113
Date Posted: December 20 2009 at 12:04
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Here's how I see it: Fresh off of their stomping of The Flower Kings ( http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=58116&KW=&PID=3251820#3251820 - 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 ------------- -------someone please tell him to delete this line, he looks like a noob------- I don't have an unnatural obsession with Disney Princesses, I have a fourteen year old daughter and coping mechanisms. |
Posted By: Citizen Erased
Date Posted: December 20 2009 at 13:22
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Nice story but it's Colin Edwin not Colin Edwards. ;) Btw, Doktor Diamond - you summed it up better than I did. Thanks. ------------- And lo, the mighty riffage was played and it was good
<a href="www.last.fm/user/jonzo67" targe |
Posted By: Roland113
Date Posted: December 20 2009 at 13:52
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^ so close, thanks and corrected.
------------- -------someone please tell him to delete this line, he looks like a noob------- I don't have an unnatural obsession with Disney Princesses, I have a fourteen year old daughter and coping mechanisms. |
Posted By: Fieldofsorrow
Date Posted: December 24 2009 at 10:58
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. ------------- Groovy teenage rock with mild prog tendencies: http://www.myspace.com/omniabsenceband |
Posted By: SgtPepper67
Date Posted: December 24 2009 at 11:54
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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
------------- 
In the end the love you take is equal to the love you made... |
Posted By: fadeaway68
Date Posted: February 03 2010 at 17:07
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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!  |
Posted By: jampa17
Date Posted: February 04 2010 at 08:34
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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...------------- |
Posted By: Blacksword
Date Posted: February 04 2010 at 09:05
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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. ------------- Ultimately bored by endless ecstasy! |
Posted By: Kashmir75
Date Posted: February 05 2010 at 19:40
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^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. ------------- Hello, mirror. So glad to see you, my friend. It's been a while... |
Posted By: NecronCommander
Date 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. |
Posted By: darksideof
Date Posted: February 07 2010 at 02:29
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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.
------------- http://darksideofcollages.blogspot.com/ http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/ https://www.facebook.com/pages/Darksideof-Collages/ |
Posted By: Kashmir75
Date Posted: February 08 2010 at 01:41
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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. ------------- Hello, mirror. So glad to see you, my friend. It's been a while... |
Posted By: Catcher10
Date Posted: February 09 2010 at 11:54
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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.
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Posted By: O666
Date Posted: February 09 2010 at 13:54
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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. |
Posted By: kis-ka
Date Posted: February 10 2010 at 04:06
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Dream Theater is great- one of the best ever!
------------- most men think they are Gods-most women are atheists |
Posted By: crimson87
Date Posted: February 10 2010 at 18:47
| Suming up , this could be considered as the modern ELP vs Camel. I stick with ELP (DT) |
Posted By: Any Colour You Like
Date Posted: February 10 2010 at 18:52
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How have I not found this thread before? PT. By a long way. If you don't beleive me, check my sig. That is all. |
Posted By: Sliver Lord
Date Posted: February 16 2010 at 14:25
| IŽll have to go with Dream Theater. Both made damn good albums, but Count of Tuscany from their new album just took my breath away. |
Posted By: JLocke
Date Posted: February 16 2010 at 14:38
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Steve Wilson is a musical genius despite his lack of technical ability, and he can move me in ways few other musicians have. Everybody in Dream Theater are technically superior to pretty much everybody else in rock music, yet in spite of that, they have a horrible time writing anything emotional without going over-the-top musically. So really, it's apple and oranges. Do you prefer music that does more with less? Or is doing more with more the type of stuff you gravitate towards? For me, it's WAY the former, although nothing is wrong with DT's style. I just listen to Wilson and crew much more often.
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Posted By: Kashmir75
Date Posted: February 17 2010 at 21:31
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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. ------------- Hello, mirror. So glad to see you, my friend. It's been a while... |
Posted By: Man Overboard
Date Posted: February 17 2010 at 22:25
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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. ------------- https://soundcloud.com/erin-susan-jennings" rel="nofollow - Bedroom guitarist". Composer, Arranger, Producer. Perfection may not exist, but I may still choose to serve Perfection. Commissions considered. |
Posted By: JLocke
Date Posted: February 17 2010 at 22:39
It's a shame you can't tell the difference between Wilson speaking for himself and Wilson speaking for the modern teenager in one instance that has never been repeated.
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Posted By: Kashmir75
Date Posted: February 17 2010 at 22:54
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Yeah, I agree with JLocke. I don't think Fear of A Blank Planet is saying its a good thing to get stoned in shopping malls, and spend hours playing Xboxes. Wilson's commenting on the downfall of today's youth. When I went to see PT live last week, there were plenty of people over the age of 18 there. In fact, it was an 18+ only gig. There were middle aged guys wearing Floyd t shirts there with their wives. Many people here come down on the FOABP lyrics. I think they're great, personally. I love all eras of PTs sound, from the space rock era, to the modern era. But if they'd never made In Absentia, and the heavier albums that followed, they'd probably still be playing small clubs. Metal sells, like it or not. And I happen to really enjoy PTs new, heavier direction. It's made them a lot of new fans. ------------- Hello, mirror. So glad to see you, my friend. It's been a while... |
Posted By: Man Overboard
Date Posted: February 17 2010 at 22:58
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People have been commenting on the downfall of the younger generation for as long as there has been written history. How many times must we continue down that self-indulgent path?
------------- https://soundcloud.com/erin-susan-jennings" rel="nofollow - Bedroom guitarist". Composer, Arranger, Producer. Perfection may not exist, but I may still choose to serve Perfection. Commissions considered. |
Posted By: SergiUriah
Date Posted: February 18 2010 at 00:04
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Porcupine Theater, no doubt. ------------- http://img229.imageshack.us/i/bonfirma.jpg/"> 
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Posted By: JLocke
Date Posted: February 18 2010 at 00:10
Forever. Deal with it. So, Dark Side of the Moon must also be pointless, since its lyrics are observations about others rather than the typical introspective lyrics rock music is more well-known for. I don't see any difference at all between Waters talking about careless living & useless spending and Wilson singing about vicarious, cyber-living and getting stoned. Look, if you don't like FoABP, fine, but don't blame it on Wilson's lyrics. The music itself is is what should matter, and many people think PT has gotten too 'Alt. Rock' in their more recent years. That's a more valid complaint, in my opinion.
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Posted By: Man Overboard
Date Posted: February 18 2010 at 00:16
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I can dislike music about being young and stupid if I want. Especially when it's written by millionaires who are really twice my age
Edit: To clarify, the music itself I don't care for that much either, but it's really the juxtaposition of music and word that puts my back up. ------------- https://soundcloud.com/erin-susan-jennings" rel="nofollow - Bedroom guitarist". Composer, Arranger, Producer. Perfection may not exist, but I may still choose to serve Perfection. Commissions considered. |
Posted By: JLocke
Date Posted: February 18 2010 at 00:18
You can also eat food out of a leper's palm, though I wouldn't find it particularly logical. |
Posted By: progkidjoel
Date Posted: February 18 2010 at 00:36
People just need to keep stuff in context; its ridiculous that someone would say Steven Wilson is writing the lyrics from a personal, first person point of view. If that were true, Strip The Soul would tell me Steven Wilson is a perverted murderer who beats his kids. -------------
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Posted By: Harry Hood
Date Posted: February 18 2010 at 02:27
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This is a really tough call. If I were forced to only listen to Dream Theater or Porcupine Tree, I'm really not sure which one I'd pick. Images & Words is one of my favorite albums ever, but I imagine it would get annoying after a while and the further I ventured into their discography the more annoyed I would get. I consider Porcupine Tree's later material to be more actively obnoxious, but their earlier material I could at least space out and not pay much attention to. So I guess in that scenario I'd have to go with PT. Then again, if you took it a step further and I could only listen to their latest output, hmmm, I'd probably go with Dream Theater, as their latest release is a bit more diverse and has some cool covers. Bah, I'll just pick neither and listen to Yasunori Mitsuda. ------------- 
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Posted By: Hopix
Date Posted: February 19 2010 at 15:52
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Porcupine Tree infinitely. I've heard several DT tracks. And I find them boring, repetitive and long for the sake of being long. There's also no soul and feel to them. I did like their cover of DSoTM though. Pretty impressive.
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Posted By: juanvalverde
Date Posted: April 21 2010 at 20:10
I totally agree with your assessment regarding DT. Jordan Rudess seemed, at first, to refresh DT, but at the long run he has stalled them. I always tell my friends that Dream Theater doesn't need to get rid of LaBrie, they need to get rid of Rudess. Have you guys heard what Kevin Moore is doing these days? What he did with OSI is truly the direction Dream Theater should have been going... but hey, i still like them just not as much as before. ------------- Dream Theater made me listen to Rush,Yes, ELP, Genesis.. That must count for something! |
Posted By: EatThatPhonebook
Date Posted: April 26 2010 at 13:24
PT, I guess. I also really like DT.
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Posted By: elder08
Date Posted: April 26 2010 at 14:05
 ------------- "There are people who say we [Pink Floyd] should make room for younger bands. That's not the way it works. They can make their own room."- David Gilmour |
Posted By: elder08
Date Posted: April 26 2010 at 14:06
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FU OP this is a hard desicion ive listened to both equally (not alot of either) and i'd say PT ------------- "There are people who say we [Pink Floyd] should make room for younger bands. That's not the way it works. They can make their own room."- David Gilmour |
Posted By: progpositivity
Date Posted: April 29 2010 at 19:38
I cannot find the words to express the extent to which I agree with you!
Maybe I need to add that as my tagline for the next few weeks!  ------------- Positively the best Prog and Fusion 24/7! http://www.progpositivity.com |
Posted By: thechrisl
Date Posted: April 30 2010 at 13:18
Someone ask Mr. Daltrey if he has decided to die before getting old yet.... |
Posted By: thechrisl
Date Posted: April 30 2010 at 13:19
| I likes me some Liquid Tension Experiment. Does that count? |
Posted By: Conor Fynes
Date Posted: April 30 2010 at 13:57
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I love both... but Porcupine Tree. As much as Dream Theater is great to me (they basically got me into prog and metal) they have released alot of material I find really horrible in the past... and unlike Dream Theater, Porcupine Tree is at the heat of their creativity! |
Posted By: Kashmir75
Date Posted: May 02 2010 at 19:05
Yes. i suppose it does count. LTE is mostly DT anyway, without LaBrie; and Levin on bass instead of Myung. Yeah, Rudess hadn't joined yet by that point, but he still counts. ------------- Hello, mirror. So glad to see you, my friend. It's been a while... |
Posted By: steve j
Date Posted: May 03 2010 at 10:27
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I love both bands!
So, why does one band have to be better than another, its all subjective anyway!
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Posted By: The Monodrone
Date Posted: May 04 2010 at 17:42
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I personally LOVE Porcupine Tree and everything they have done. I wouldn't call myself a fanboy... I don't buy their albums for the fact it says "Porcupine Tree" on the album, I buy them because they are truly music to my ears and, IMO, one of the greatest bands in the last 15 years.
On the other hand, although I used to really be into DT, I can't really stand them anymore. Everything seems forced and non-flowing, unlike PTree (IMO). Oh, and James Labrie.....
 But who is better? There is no "better", there is only what you as an individual favor.
I can't wait for Anesthetize.... -------------  
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Posted By: Brendan
Date Posted: May 17 2010 at 04:26
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Ha Ha!! The nil all soccer match!
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