Please do yourself a favor (and me) and check out the song Cheating the Polygraph LIVE at Tilburg. In my opinion one of their best song and live performances of it. More oumph and they are one of those bands that are even better live. The drummer especially is fantastic. Other people will ask for Arriving Somewhere and for Anesthetize, but I genuinely believe you woud enjoy Cheating the Polygraph more.
Very glad to see you returning to Porcupine Tree! 'In Absentia' is definitely the album that solidified the "Porcupine Tree" sound, but 'Deadwing' and 'Fear of a Blank Planet' definitely solidified it. Not to say their other albums are not worthwhile checking out, but as a new listener I would recommend to venture towards them first. As ever, their live stuff is AMAZING! Truly incredible to see them perform what they do. Or if you want to go for a curve ball, try something off of their latest album. It released last year after a 12 year hiatus, and rocks as hard as ever.
Yeah, Trains is a ballad type song haha, though the band never bellows into screaming death metal, they can give you a good rocking section when tbey decide to cook =) I'd love to now point out that this album follows a serial killler, which gives a lot of uneasiness, yet understanding to some of the quirks of perspective from this individual :P
Looking forward to more of this band, maybe Arriving Somewhere but Not Here or Russia on Ice. Do you know the prog band Haken? I would love to see you react to their song The Architect (off their Affinity album)and for a second glimpse try Pareidolia; actually Pareidolia might be a better choice at 10 minutes cause The Architect is at least 15 minutes and does go on a bit! Honestly one of my personal faves by Haken is a shorter song called Earthrise, it is between 4-5 minutes long I think. But it might be more mainstream sounding than the other 2.
This is the first full PT song I ever heard. On my way from work in '03 I heard the 2nd half of an acoustic version of Pure Narcotic, and drove straight to Best Buy to buy this CD. Hooked instantly. Saw them live in Seattle a few months later and the band signed a CD for me after the show. Can't love these guys more.
I know what you mean about Robbie Williams. Especially the chorus is produced in a very "pop" kind of way. It could play on the radio. It's because Steven Wilson also likes pop music and doesn't see it as a swear word. He's an ABBA fan as well (there he loses me a little...) I mean, I still think that "Angels" by Robbie is a very beautiful song!
Steven Wilson started PT around 1995 as a joke. It mocked prog bands - except it came out really well. So the early works very Pink Floyd + other prog bands influenced. Great original works too (eg The Sky Moves Sideways). Also SW has a major side job remastering groups from the 70s (Yes, Gentle Jiant, Jethro Tull, Hawkwind and more) and is sought after by big name bands. Heavier sound from c. 2003 with arrival of drummer Gavin Harrison. Lots of awesome albums from PT. Also check out The Pineapple Thief... sort of PT lite - with the same drummer, Gavin Harrison :) PS if like something heavier, check out Steven Wilson / Opeth colab ablum "Blackwater Park"
Steven as a songwriter was always a master of dichotomy and I think he got a kick out of writing a somg about a serial killer (for that is what it is) with some Robbie Williams love song vibes.
Howdy BDBD. Great reaction! If your liking the album InAbsentia and the heavier side of PT - you gotta react to Strip The Soul. But a heads up which I am surprised noone else appears to have passed on to you yet. For anything Porcupine Tree, you gotta go to their LIVE clips. Studio versions are tops, but LIVE they are unsurpassed. So with that in mind, if you go looking in RU-vid you will find a live track called Strip the Soul / Dot Three Live in Tilburg. Plug it in, crank it up and be gobsmacked. Looking forward to more PT (Live) reactions!
Okay.. I do get the reference to Robbie and I have to say that it did make me smile. And you know there's going to be a... but: Sweet singing does not a Robbie make. If you can read the lyrics as you listen to the song again and realise just how dark they are (No pun intended I promise). I have read a few of the comments and most definitely agree that they are, believe it or not, just that little bit better live. Theri sound is amazing. Steven Wilson is a sonic master which is why everyone wants him to re-mix their albums for them. Keep on Rocking young sir.
They can and do go heavy but their range is a large as the massive catalogue of music. The only thing that ties it all together is Steven Wilsons brilliant writing and the musical prowess of Gavin, Colin and Richard. For the full Porcupine Tree experience it is SO worth investing a bit of time in their longer songs like Anesthetize’, ‘Arriving somewhere but not here’, and ‘Time flies’. They are all available LIVE and that will hopefully remove the dreadful image of Robbie Williams from your brain!!!! Blackest Eyes was about a serial killer btw….. not a Robbie love song for sure.
