Thanks Eric for a really thoughtful analysis, PT are often seen as musicians’ musicians and I hope that this does not limit the views you attract. I hope it encourages some of your listeners to explore deeper as their repertoire is deep and brilliantly consistent.
Back in 2010, I went to a Ford dealer to buy a used Ford Focus. Was going to trade in my old car to them, so they had a guy take my old car for a test drive. I happened to have the Porcupine Tree - Deadwing album in my cd player, and I had pulled into the dealership right when The Start Of Something Beautiful track started. So the guy takes my old car for the test drive, and comes back wanting to know who the band is in my cd player, "they sound just like Pink Floyd!" He kept going on about how he loved that song, I think I created another Porcupine Tree fan that day!
This is my favorite PT track. You made my day with this reaction/analysis. I found this band a few years ago while looking for Gavin Harrison content. He has become my favorite drummer. His combination of technical skill and musicality puts him in very rare company, IMO. In fact, Gavin Harrison has forced me to revisit John Bonham's work. They have a similar ability to make the difficult and technical sound both simple and melodic. Others have suggested Cheating the Polygraphn live from Tilburg and Anesthetize, from the same show. My favorite Gavin Harrison showcase piece is from that same show, Way out of Here.
Love the breakdown, Eric. Your analogy of "keeping in step" with the changing syncopated rhythmic patterns was spot on. Probably the best analysis I've seen to date of this stunning track. If you have time I'd be interested to see your reaction to their live version of "Arriving Somewhere But Not Here". PS: Drummer Gavin Harrison is a modern-day great. His dynamic range is incredible, even on the bass drum, and he plays with such clarity and precision.
Great analysis of this track! Anesthesize is another great selection from them. I discovered Porcupine Tree through a King Crimson concert. I was so impressed with one of the three drummers onstage, Gavin Harrison, that I looked him up and found he also played for Porcupine Tree. There are several videos of Gavin on RU-vid showing his great technical work and are worth watching. I had the pleasure of seeing Porcupine Tree on their reunion tour in 2022 when they went through DC and they are just as amazing live.
They have their own sound, but "psychedelic" (we often called it stoner music...LOL) is a good description. I love the way you likened it to a lava lamp more as a "breathing" rather than a marching to the beat. It does exactly as you say, carry you away into your own place/space. It's that thing really great music can do - pull people together (fun, poppy, in step, etc.) or help them escape like this does. I had a difficult time in both marching band and the army. My mom always said that I "marched to my own drummer." I suspect she is right, and you explained why. I don't have a regular heart rate. For much of my life, doctors have tried to medicate me to standardize my heart rate. That created serious health conditions for me. Now I just go with my normal. This kind of music works really well for me. I do have to be able to come back to reality at times just like you did as the song ended, though. Haha!!
Fantastic review! These guys are the pinacle musicianship. Keep exploring. I recommend Hate Song from this same concert and Cheating the Polygraph from the Tilburg show.
I'm a big fan of PT. Thank you ScifiMonkey for this suggestion. Loved it! Drummer Gavin Harrison is on my top ten list of favorite drummers. Wonderful analysis Eric, thank you 🤘🤘
Eric, that was an excellent analysis and commentary on this song, that I already know so well. You summed up perfectly all of the same sentiments that I already had about it. I just found your channel now, but I'm subscribing and I'll keep an eye out for more videos!
Discovered this channel a week ago. After watching all of your Nightwish reactions, and a lot more, I feel that the only one I really miss is Phantom of the opera from the End of an era tour. (With Tarja)
I love PT and have seen them 4 times live. They usually sound so good live that live versions are better than studio, but for this track, you should listen to the studio version. The part starting at 4:20 to me is one of the most sublime, achingly beautiful passages in all the music I've heard in my lifetime. The build up, the distortion in the keyboard and guitar sound that conveys a sort of hollow, vacant pain wrapping around the sadness while it builds and then the resolution and transition into that beautiful clean solo sound. Don't get me wrong, the live version is great, but to me it greatly misses that perfect contrast by blending the sections a bit too much with the keyboard too low in the mix.
I just stumbeled on this channel due to the Almighty Algorithm (all praise). What I got from this random encounter was a very good analysis and opinion that was enjoyable and fun to watch and listen. Steven Wilson is amazing songwriter. Mikael Åkerfeldt (from Opeth) is another amazing songwriter and these two had their collab side procect back in 2012, "Storm Corrosion". If you have not heard any of them, try "Drag Ropes". (Also
I don't use headphones because I don't need them. My rig is set to where I can control my mic and studio return separately. This studio was built as a broadcast studio and I'm using a Bose surround system hidden by the set. I am completely surrounded by sound, and my room is also a "dead" room. It is soundproofed including the ceiling. So the volume on the recording isn't the volume in my studio. My levels are controlled by a stand alone mixer/pre-amp, then into the PC. Cheers, Eric
@@TheWyldesidewithEricClark OK, thank you for the explanation! :) (i still would argue that good 7.1 headphones would get you even better experience) NO! BAD YUKI! Sorry.. I do understand your point, it is just that I have not personally experienced an speaker setup that would have been better than headphones and that is why I'm beeing this ... "snarky". :)
