Porcupine Tree-lack of fans

Well, they found one more in me.  I finally went out and bought some PT when I was in Paris.  Picked up FOABP.  It's good, very good.

The T wrote: But of course with me they CAN'T be the new DT....

MusicalSalmacis wrote: Simply put, they aren't this thread is the proof that most on this site find the band pretty average. I like PT, but I don't think they are that special. If you compare them to alternative rock bands though, they rock!

Phil�as wrote: Real Paradox wrote: I realy think Porcupine tree is more in the category of Alternative Rock , that of Prog...but of course thats my opinion.... My opinion too.

Which is a reason to find it rather surprising that it is such a popular band here at a site devoted to so-called prog for so-called progheads.

I find it rather more surprising that Porcupine Tree is so very popular amongst progressive music aficionados than it not being that popular amongst the general, more mainstream music community.  As has been noted, it's one of the most popular modern bands at this site and gets a great deal of attention.  Fear of a Blank Planet is the top-rated album of 2007 at this site, has a considerable lead in the non-collab top 2007 albums, and will probably be the top Collab album of 2007.  Deadwing was the collaborator's top album for 2005.

Perhaps they more obviously catered to a Prog audience before and people have remained loyal, or maybe it's acted as something of a gateway band for many (for people who don't know a lot of Prog and may have, after discovering this site, subsequently ventured into more adventurous and esoteric territory).

Why is PT as popular amongst die-hard progheads as it is?  Is it an easier band to get into for those into classic prog than most modern progressive bands?  OF course it's going to have more appeal to people into, say, Progressive Metal than a band such as Rational Diet or whatever, and while the guys from PT aren't that young, perhaps the music has more youthful appeal than, say, Robert Wyatt (whose latest is quite poppy, but in a mature way).

Real Paradox wrote: I realy think Porcupine tree is more in the category of Alternative Rock , that of Prog...but of course thats my opinion....

My opinion too.

I think it would be fairly safe to say they sit somewhere between the standard definitions of modern prog and alt rock.  It does surprise me that they haven't transformed their critical success into more of a commercial breakthrough, especially given the popularity of other kinda-prog-sorta-alt-rock bands like Muse.

I can't trash Porcupine Tree, But i cannot say they are something special...They have nice lyrics, it is also important, although, I realy think Porcupine tree is more in the category of Alternative Rock , that of Prog...but of course thats my opinion....

stonebeard wrote: Porcupine Tree's music from 1990-1998 is my favorite band. It's Pink Floyd but darker, more rhythmic, and more trance.

Of this band's music, this is the era that I dislike the least.

stonebeard wrote: Porcupine Tree's music from 1990-1998 is my favorite band. It's Pink Floyd but darker, more rhythmic, and more trance.

definitely my favorite era of the group...

I saw them two years ago at Town Hall in NYC...the place was fairly packed, but not sold-out, and everyone remained seated. Then I just saw them recently at much bigger Beacon Theater, and the place was MOBBED, with everyone in the orchestra section standing throughout the entire show.

I'd say they're the most successful of the new prog and prog-related bands out there.