The official Prog Archives Porcupine Tree Thread!

Slartibartfast wrote: Proggernaut wrote: Time for me to post in this thread. I'm a Steven Wilson tragic, first listening to Porcupine Tree about 3 years ago and absolutely devouring their entire catalog very quickly. I then moved on to Blackfield, No-Man and Steve's solo stuff and now have gone all 'completionist' and gotten hold of IEM, Bass Communion and the cover versions stuff.   I'm adoring Grace for Drowning lately, I agree that Postcard and Deform to Form a Star are excellent tracks. I really think he has come a long way from Insurgentes as the album feels more coherent and seems to have the meticulous crafting and production that SW is famous for. I'm hoping there will be a DVD of a solo concert/session available one day. I am a member of the same club.  PT got my attention with In Absentia.  Then it was on to all the all the other SW projects.  I even managed to get my hands on Bass Communion vs Muslim Gauze.

StyLaZyn wrote: Hopefully PT doesn't break up.

Slartibartfast wrote: Proggernaut wrote: Time for me to post in this thread. I'm a Steven Wilson tragic, first listening to Porcupine Tree about 3 years ago and absolutely devouring their entire catalog very quickly. I then moved on to Blackfield, No-Man and Steve's solo stuff and now have gone all 'completionist' and gotten hold of IEM, Bass Communion and the cover versions stuff.   I'm adoring Grace for Drowning lately, I agree that Postcard and Deform to Form a Star are excellent tracks. I really think he has come a long way from Insurgentes as the album feels more coherent and seems to have the meticulous crafting and production that SW is famous for. I'm hoping there will be a DVD of a solo concert/session available one day. I am a member of the same club.  PT got my attention with In Absentia.  Then it was on to all the all the other SW projects.  I even managed to get my hands on Bass Communion vs Muslim Gauze.

Sigh, yeah me too, pathetic addict I am.  Although it was Insurgentes that hooked me.  FoaBP is utterly transcendent, I strongly suspect that PT will never surpass it.  That said I think GfD is a better album than Insurgentes, in terms of maturity (which seems a strange thing to say about SW somehow) and sophistication.  I like the occasional Blackfield piece, decent pop songs, and Bass Communion's Ghosts on Magnetic Tape is excellent.  Cenotaph is pretty good too, very different. 

I'm no completionist though, gave that game up years ago.  I'm happy enough with enough of SW's output to be able to admit there is some of it I just don't care for.  I have never been able to sit through the entirety of Lightbulb Sun for example, but that's okay. 

-Radioswim- wrote: The only real thing I'm not looking forward to, is Steven Wilson losing his touch... which even the greatest song writers do. Let's hope that's far away

In my opinion, he already has. I used to be a huge fan of PT (and still am, of the early works) but to me he hasn't done anything particularly worthwhile since Lightbulb Sun. In Absentia was okay-ish I guess although quite poppy, Deadwing and FoaBP were boring and uninspired while The Incident was downright dreadful. Insurgentes was okay(I think. Haven't listened to it for ages) and I haven't checked out Grace for Drowning yet.

It all boils down to me not being particularly keen on the progmetal sound they've adopted since Gavin Harrison took over on drums from Chris Maitland, and the majority of their newer songs sounding alike. As an example, I cannot remember a single track from The Incident.

When I put on a PT album these days, it's usually Signify, Sky Moves Sideways, Lightbulb Sun or Up the Downstair. To me, those albums are Steven Wilson at his peak.

ColonelClaypool wrote: In my opinion, he already has. I used to be a huge fan of PT (and still am, of the early works) but to me he hasn't done anything particularly worthwhile since Lightbulb Sun. In Absentia was okay-ish I guess although quite poppy, Deadwing and FoaBP were boring and uninspired while The Incident was downright dreadful. Insurgentes was okay(I think. Haven't listened to it for ages) and I haven't checked out Grace for Drowning yet. It all boils down to me not being particularly keen on the progmetal sound they've adopted since Gavin Harrison took over on drums from Chris Maitland, and the majority of their newer songs sounding alike. As an example, I cannot remember a single track from The Incident. When I put on a PT album these days, it's usually Signify, Sky Moves Sideways, Lightbulb Sun or Up the Downstair. To me, those albums are Steven Wilson at his peak.

I rather like the all of the albums since Lightbulb Sun.  Earlier albums are fantastic as well.

I doubt the progmetal sound they adopted with In Absentia was due to Gavin.  The band will go primarily in the direction that Steven Wilson wants it to go.  Gavin is a fantastic drummer with all kinds of interests - go listen to his 2 albums that he collaborated with 05ric on - good stuff - very jazzy.

Steven Wilson has stated that he is bored with the metal sound.  Given the direction of the fabulous Grace for Drowning, I believe that Porcupine Tree has left the metal sound and that their next album together will have a much different sound to it.

Oddly enough, I didn't like Porcupine Tree very much initially.  The first thing I heard was Sky Moves Sidesways, which I really liked.  Then I saw them at Nearfest, and wasn't impressed (I was in a highly symphonic prog phase then, and their sound just didn't appeal to me at all).  A friend lent me Lightbulb Sun, Stupid Dream, and Recordings.  I liked some of Recordings, but didn't care for the other two.  When I heard In Absentia was "heavy", I wrote them off.

Fast forward a few years, and I decided to put Lightbulb Sun and Stupid Dream on my MP3 player.  It was the middle of winter, and something just clicked as I listened to them, they were perfect for that time of year.  Suddenly, I was a fan.  Picked up the most recent albums and loved them.......well, not Fear Of A Blank Planet, which is still my least favorite album of theirs (have not heard On the Sunday Of Life yet, but everything else).  I've really grown to like The Incident, which didn't do much for me on the first few spins.  Anyway, love this band now and look forward to hearing something new.  My favorite of theirs has to be In Absentia, followed by the earlier stuff (Sky, Lightbulb, Up The Downstair).

The new Wilson album is, to my ears, the best thing he has ever done.  Absolutely love the album, as you don't often hear a Lizard/Islands influence on prog albums these days.  It's pretty obvious his mastering of those albums got his creative juices flowing and I think the results are outstanding.  Interestingly enough, Insurgentes is easily the least interesting thing I've heard from him, I really can't stand that album.

Anyway, that's my story.  Great band, great band leader.

harmonium.ro wrote: rushaholic wrote: I doubt the progmetal sound they adopted with In Absentia was due to Gavin.  True that, the metal direction is already present on Lightbulb Sun.

I'd say on Sky Moves Sideways and Signify, though admittedly not as prominently.

I'd say his association with Opeth was definitely a very big part of the heavier side of their sound, but I swear, I heard a Meshuggah moment or two on The Incident, if I recall... 

Arrested Decay wrote: I'd say his association with Opeth was definitely a very big part of the heavier side of their sound, but I swear, I heard a Meshuggah moment or two on The Incident, if I recall...

Horizons wrote: infandous wrote: harmonium.ro wrote: rushaholic wrote: I doubt the progmetal sound they adopted with In Absentia was due to Gavin.  True that, the metal direction is already present on Lightbulb Sun. I'd say on Sky Moves Sideways and Signify, though admittedly not as prominently. I'd disagree with the albums mentioned above. Also Gavin is one of the reasons why In Absentia is so good. Chris just couldn't pull off drumming on an album like that.