Porcupine Tree - recommendations

overkill · 14-05-2006, 1:25 PM

Right, I have 'In Absentia' and Deadwing. Both of which I really like. What I want to do now is expand the PT collection. So, how do the earlier albums rate?

If Flooded could jump in here that would much appreciated (obviously) but some other opinions would be helpful. Not that I don't trust Floodeds views (he's not steered me wrong yet) but it helps to have other ratings as different people have different ideas on what they like in an album.

A potted overview and a rating out of 5 would help.

Cheers all.

Floodedstatue · 14-05-2006, 3:49 PM

Ok, well you can't go too far wrong working backwards through the collection, but there are a couple of stumbling points which I'll mention:

2001 Recordings (3.5/5) - B-sides collection from the Lightbulb Sun/Stupid Dream-era stuff. A good solid collection of material, slightly overrated by the PT fans, although does contain a couple of real gems (Buying New Soul being the main one). Ltd Edition of 20,000 and pretty hard to find. There has been talk of a possible re-issue in a different format, but no word on anything recently.

2000 Lightbulb Sun (4/5) - Indie/prog-style album, not as heavy as the latter albums already mentioned. Unfortunately out of print, and be wary of picking it up on Ebay as there are some counterfeits floating about. Set to be re-issued late 2006/early 2007.

1999 Stupid Dream (4.5/5) - One of my favourites, a definite acousticy/indie Bends-era Radiohead vibe. Some stunning songs! Has been out of print for a while, but just been made available at www.burningshed.co.uk as a CD/DVD-A set. To be issued more widely as a single-disc cd later in the year.

1996 Signify (4/5) - Dark, psychadelic feel to this album. Great moody record, contains some classics (Waiting, Dark Matter). Recently (2003/2004) remastered and sounds great.

1995 The Sky Moves Sideways (3/5) - Big Pink Floyd influence here, none moreso than the 2-part title track which takes more than a slight nudge from 'Shine On You Crazy Diamond'. Not bad, though I don't find myself going back to this one as certain others.

1994 Up The Downstair (4/5) - Often underrated, it was Steve Wilson on his own back in 1994 but was remixed and remastered with real drums last year I believe and it makes a real difference. Psychadelic with an electronic vibe, this is one of the jewels of the back catalogue for me.

There are some other albums which I don't care much for (Metanoia - a big jam-session, On The Sunday Of Life - first album, weird and not very cohesive, Voyage 34 - big experimental, psychadelic instrumental jams). There are a couple of good live albums aswell, but I'd familiarise yourself with the studio material before getting into those. However, if you struggle to find Lightbulb Sun, the live album Warszawa is fairly widely available and contains alot of material from that record.

Hope this helps.

PaulBoy · 14-05-2006, 5:58 PM

Another propaganda message from "FloodedPT"

Great answer - You're the man!

Paul

Miniholic · 14-05-2006, 6:08 PM

Also check out the Blackfield album, its what got me into PT in the first place after it was used for a demo at the Manchester HiFi show a couple of years ago.

Floodedstatue · 14-05-2006, 6:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miniholic

Also check out the Blackfield album, its what got me into PT in the first place after it was used for a demo at the Manchester HiFi show a couple of years ago.

Yep, good shout!

They've finished recording the 2nd Blackfield record, so that should be out in the next few months.

overkill · 14-05-2006, 7:24 PM

Cheers all, thanks in particular to flooded. That little run-down will probably help out a few others not just me.

I haven't dipped into Stupid Dream as yet, as it's advertised on Vinyl as well as DVD-A on burningshed. Not I think, 180 gram though. That's made it more difficult!

So, onwards with the PT collection!

eviljohn2 · 14-05-2006, 7:30 PM

I bought In Absentia a while ago but it sounds an awful lot like lift muzak to me and I just can't get into it...

PaulBoy · 14-05-2006, 8:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eviljohn2

I bought In Absentia a while ago but it sounds an awful lot like lift muzak to me and I just can't get into it...

What sort of lifts you got in Guildford

Paul

eviljohn2 · 14-05-2006, 8:18 PM

Hehe, I mainly use service lifts these days.

I originally heard the opening track from In Absentia on a B&W test DVD and thought it was really good but the rest of the album is remarkably half-hearted in comparison; there's just no energy to the songwriting or recording. Reminds me a lot of Vertical Horizon.

harvest1 · 14-05-2006, 8:31 PM

Flooded is the man, indeed. Great critique of the early stuff.

I would say that in the main, the pre-Absentia stuff is different in style to the last two albums. The band seem to reinvent themselves with each album, and it's great listening to the earlier albums to see how far someone can come in around 10 years.

They are all worth getting, with the exception of On The Sunday of Life and Metanoia which are really for die-hard fans IMO. If you can find a copy of XM2, I would also add that the list - a great example of a live studio recording.

karkus30 · 14-05-2006, 9:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eviljohn2

I bought In Absentia a while ago but it sounds an awful lot like lift muzak to me and I just can't get into it...

I feel bad enough liking Tool, but found this to be very tedious and lacking any soul. I refer to Absentia, not all PTs output as this is the only album I have given a good listen to, but I found it duller than ditchwater.

overkill · 14-05-2006, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by karkus30

I feel bad enough liking Tool, but found this to be very tedious and lacking any soul. I refer to Absentia, not all PTs output as this is the only album I have given a good listen to, but I found it duller than ditchwater.

Not heavy enough for the Karkus eh?

karkus30 · 15-05-2006, 7:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by overkill

Not heavy enough for the Karkus eh?

No its not that

as you know I like all sorts of stuff regardless of the heavy quotient. I borrowed this from a neighbour and kept it for a week and it was just so much Musak, there was nothing to engage with. I used to like bands like Yes and this was very much like that sort of music. I dont doubt the musicianship, but its like film music it just does not conclude. Anyway Ive said enough, I dont really enjoy it and many others do, its only that EvilJon has the same feeling that made me post, otherwise I would probably have ignored the subject. Well, other than it was you that was posting

eviljohn2 · 15-05-2006, 8:32 PM

And I thought it was just me amongst a whole forum of Porcupine Treeites.

I'd really like to like it if that's any help, and the surround tracks are technically very good.

overkill · 15-05-2006, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by karkus30

No its not that

as you know I like all sorts of stuff regardless of the heavy quotient. I borrowed this from a neighbour and kept it for a week and it was just so much Musak, there was nothing to engage with. I used to like bands like Yes and this was very much like that sort of music. I dont doubt the musicianship, but its like film music it just does not conclude. Anyway Ive said enough, I dont really enjoy it and many others do, its only that EvilJon has the same feeling that made me post, otherwise I would probably have ignored the subject. Well, other than it was you that was posting

Just kidding Karkus!

I can see why you wouldn't like it, I used to be into much more mellow stuff, like, as you say Yes, but wouldn't touch 90% of it with a barge pole now. Getting to like it a bit 'heavier' in my old age.

I like PT because there's still a bit of me that likes to chill once in a while. I can see you don't agree, which is fine, but PT does that for me.

Mind you I still like BJH, so there's no hope for me really is there?

karkus30 · 16-05-2006, 6:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by overkill

Just kidding Karkus!

I can see why you wouldn't like it, I used to be into much more mellow stuff, like, as you say Yes, but wouldn't touch 90% of it with a barge pole now. Getting to like it a bit 'heavier' in my old age.

I like PT because there's still a bit of me that likes to chill once in a while. I can see you don't agree, which is fine, but PT does that for me.

Mind you I still like BJH, so there's no hope for me really is there?

BJH were also quality musicians, not my cup of char, but I can see a thread leading to PT.

Im not sure I really chill to music at all

Well not in the sense of relaxing into oblivion, probably the nearest to that would be Adventures Beyond the Ultraworld by The ORB.

Usually you can find me relaxing by knocking 7 kinds of.....out of a practice pad, playing to the likes of Tool, much to the annoyance of my dear wife who eventually tries to damage my sacred hickory sticks, or use them to damage me........hey careful with that axe Eugene !

I dont even find music like Jeff Buckleys Grace relaxing in the true sense of the word, it sort of shuts me up in a claustrophobic space and then I have to start singing just for the relief of it. Its a great feeling.

Thats probably why I struggle with some music. As EJ said, it needs energy, not the bouncing up and down energy, it might be inertia or pent up emotion or simply a feeling of being transported somewhere, but it has to do something. If I just sit and admire the multiplicity of instrumentation or the skill of the player its like reading the Yellow Pages.

Anyway, why am I justifying myself, I just hate Porcupine Tree

harvest1 · 21-05-2006, 1:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by karkus30

I just hate Porcupine Tree

Have you heard Arriving Somewhere But Not Here, from Deadwing?

huwg · 21-05-2006, 1:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by harvest1

Have you heard Arriving Somewhere But Not Here, from Deadwing?

thats the only PT song I've heard (available as a stream on Progarchives.com

)

karkus30 · 21-05-2006, 2:52 PM

Had a listen to Arriving Somewhere.............awful ! sorry, I just dont like it. Also had a listen to some of the Dream Theatre tracks, oh god save me

I think I have now worked out why I actually enjoy Tool, its because they seem to have a slight punk edge to the music, its not just about huge, lengthy instrumental passages and phenomenal guitar noodling, there is a proper song within the context of the music. Thats not to say I am going to glorify Tool, I happen to like it and could certainly understand others hating it.

Back to PT - they are a modern Yes and DT are ELP all mixed with a bit of Floyd. I did that in the 70s and Im not going back there again. My Kaftan and Loons are permanently burned.

huwg · 21-05-2006, 5:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by karkus30

I think I have now worked out why I actually enjoy Tool, its because they seem to have a slight punk edge to the music

I take it you like the Opiate EP then

(sorry to take the thread off topic

)

karkus30 · 21-05-2006, 6:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by huwg

I take it you like the Opiate EP then

(sorry to take the thread off topic

)

Not heard it, I started with lateralus and worked forward not backwards. My understanding is that the old stuff is just 'OK'. Tool are just one of many bands and artists I listen to so I cant say I have studied any of their past releases in any great depth.