I actually do prefer Mikael's guitar lead part in the studio version, I feel like his sound and licks he plays just hit home better compared to what John plays in the live vesion
I think that the song is about the moment of death, possibly in a car accident. You will not arrive at your intended destination (home, work, store, etc.). Instead, you arrive somewhere in the afterlife (heaven, hell, purgatory, etc.). While the first responders work to save your life, the car radio continues to play. At that moment you realize that your plans for the rest of your life will never happen. And, the afterlife (outside of time and space) seems familiar, like your existence before conception. Reacting to Fear of a Blank Planet is a great idea. Without giving away too much, it is a concept album based on a book. So, it is a good choice for a full album reaction. If you decide to watch it live, they begin the Anesthetize Blu Ray concert with the complete album. Finally, you did pronounce “contemplative” correctly. Thank you for your reaction in English. It was perfect.
@@proteusblack8913 The sound of a punctured tire or broken axel might be perceived as a gunshot. I know that it’s a bit of a stretch, but that’s my guess.
A valid interpretation. I kind of felt he was speculating about an unexpected incidence (car accident, gun violence) that would either kill you or change your life forever. (N.B. The Incident was the name of a later album)
This is the first album by Porcupine Tree that I got into, so it definitely holds a special place in my heart (though every PT album is a good PT album). I would also recommend Mellotron Scratch and The Start of Something Beautiful from the same album, as they are fantastic songs that often get overlooked on reaction channels in favor of the more iconic songs from their catalogue.
You should definitely do "Drive Home" and "Routine" by Steven Wilson (video for both of them) and of course "Anesthetize" (Live Version)... I think these 3 songs would just be perfect reactions for you guys!
After scanning comments, I don't see "hatesong"... its incredibly jazzy, technical, yet free feeling. It's a ton of fun, don't let it slip by. Love your reactions, keep the ride alive!
Some suggestions if I may... "A Smart Kid" - Stupid Dream ".3" & "Collapse the Light into Earth" - In Absentia "Open Car" & "The Start of Something Beautiful" (should be listened to back-to-back, IMHO) - Deadwing "Anesthetize" & "Way Out of Here" - Fear of a Blank Planet
I really enjoy Piano Lessons and Even Less from Stupid Dream, also Shesmovedon from Lightbulb Sun, Mellotron Scratch from Deadwing, Sleep Together and Fear of a Blank Planet from the eponymous, and Occam's Razor followed by Blind House off of The Incident!
I love that you waited until the song completely faded out before speaking. It was like you were reluctant to leave the experience. Nice to see someone getting so much especially from the first listen.
Amazing clarity - I had never noticed the sound of slurping coffee in the outro before, but now I've heard it this song will never be the same ever again without it.
I've always thought this song was about a car crash caused by a drunk driver. Examples: "drinking down the poison the way you were taught" means you grew up in an alcoholic family. The crash was so loud it sounded like a gun. Red mist is blood. Cut a way to your heart was the parametic cutting your shirt off to inspect the wounds. All of your plans compromised means you don't know if you'll survive. The last thing you hear while you're fading out is a song means the car radio is still playing.
Great reaction video. I'll certainly stay with you through your PT journey. I agree the live version of Anesthetize is a must, but as you enjoyed all of the subtle little sounds and layers in Arriving Somewhere I'd recommend the studio version of some of the other tracks. Wilson's work is always beautifully recorded and mixed. There are some absolute 'must listens' on several different PT albums. Wilson's solo work worth a listen too (Home Invasion/Regret #9, Drive Home, Routine - with tissue ;-))
For me this is squarely an afterlife song. Lending to there being a “somewhere” that isn’t “here”. Red mist is a blood spray. The causes of death: gun shot, car accident, poison, beaten by the sons, and death on the operating table (scissors) All while a song, maybe even this one, fades away - you die, but there is something more... the you he is singing to. All your designs, plans, and dreams gone with you - simplified.
I'm really glad that you want to delve deeper in Porcupine Tree, they're my favorite band and I've found your Tool reactions really enjoyable ! The thing is, I don't think the essence of what makes this band a legend is in the studio records. I think these albums are great because they show what a fantastic genius composer Steven Wilson is, but I also think they are more his work than the band's work so you don't really hear (and see) them shine. The live versions of the songs are a group effort, and believe me when I say that it adds something more. Every band member (post 2005, with Gavin Harrison) is a virtuoso and they have an "alchemy" that I never found anywhere else. The live versions have some great post-production (mixed by Wilson and directed by Lasse Hoile) so it doesn't sound messy. And it's in these versions that you'll see why Gavin Harrison is considered to be at the same level as Danny Carey !
I'm convinced (and if you look back at the lyrics again after reading this you might agree) that the song is about someone who has had an argument with someone - probably his mother - has gone out and driven off in his car in a rage and ended up getting into a serious car accident. Arriving somewhere, not here, is arriving at the emergency hospital ward (or maybe even death), not his intended destination. The lyrics about "red mist" - it is a euphemism for getting so angry that you cannot think or even see clearly - and "scissors cutting a way to your heart" - the attempt to try to restart his heart manually after it stopped. There's several more lines that hint strongly at the car accident motif but I think those two are ones that could easily be missed. There is definitely the sense of regretting actions - the driving away in a rage instead of trying to resolve the issues. The way Steven Wilson often writes songs is he reads something in a book or in the news and bases a song off it. Maybe he read about someone who died in a car crash, or someone he knew.
@@garanceadrosehn9691 I'm not sure that every song was written for the for the film or based on the script. But it would be interesting to see the script as we could perhaps more easily know what the song is about. 🙂
Time flies is a fantastic song (very reminescent of Pink Floyd's Dogs) but I hope she doesn't pick the shortened version that comes up first on RU-vid. The "harsh" part in the middle is so great !
Once again, a thorough and very informative and intelligent review. I really enjoy your reactions, as they give new insight into and appreciation of songs that I have heard many times.
I would really like to see your reaction to "Routine" by Steven Wilson - the official music video version particularly. It's the reaction video I've enjoyed most listening to people's interpretations of the lyrics. I think it's one of the most deep songs lyrically Steven has ever written. Very powerful. . . . Oh... and bring tissues! 😁
Watched a lot of reaction videos......love porcupine tree......your reaction is the most honest I have seen so far....impressive....will continue to watch..
I know it's not your MO but; when you get to "Anesthetize" you should do the "live (Tilburg, Netherlands)" version. It is superior to the studio version in every measure. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-iBfY86cktN0.html
I actually enjoy the studio version more. To each his own, but I like the polished sound, better stereo, and more precise feel of the studio version. PLUS Alex Lifeson isn’t in the live version, and damn he f’n rocks.
@@Jay.McCarty interesting. I disagree but sound is a matter of taste. I went to school for audio engineering (music focused) and I always felt a better low end in the studio environment, but I also don’t really like a lot of low end; it should fill the bottom register, but not overpower your mid-range melodies.
Yes, I like her interp: illustrating misplaced expectation for dependence on others. Naivete of youth being told that the system will carry you, but you end up where your dreams have been compromised by reality. Do not look for the truth in you mothers eyes...she will tend to coddle you; et al.
It's fascinating to hear someone else's reaction to songs like this. This song invokes very different thoughts for you than I've heard from others, and those thoughts are tied to your own life experiences so they have a lot of meaning to you. This is probably one reason why music-reaction channels are popular on youtube! When I listen to this song, I think of movie scene with two people: a "narrator" (the singer) and the "driver". The driver-character has learned something very upsetting to them, and they are driving to some destination where they will talk about what they've learned. Or maybe they'll going to a bar where they will drink and try to *forget* what they've learned. But on the way to that destination they get into a fatal car crash - perhaps because they're upset and weren't paying enough attention to the road. So... what happens to us when we die? Where do we go? Heaven? Hell? Some kind of reincarnation? The singer has no way to say for sure, so he's singing to the driver, "You're arriving *somewhere,* but not here!" (which is to say, not at your original destination). So I imagine a movie scene which keeps flipping back and forth between some desirable destination and the site of a very serious car crash. _"Did you imagine the final sound as a gun? Or the smashing windscreen of the car? Did you ever imagine the last thing you'd hear as you're fading out was a song?"_ I think of the "final sound" as the sound of the car crashing, and that "the last thing you'd hear" refers to whatever song was playing on the radio at the time of the crash. The car maybe be totally crushed and inoperative, but the radio keeps playing! Then, from the point of view of the driver-character: _"All my designs simplified And all of my plans compromised All of my dreams - sacrificed"_ All those plans the driver had? Well, we can cross those off the list now. None of them will ever happen, which simplifies the future quite a bit. All of those plans have been sacrificed to the car crash. For this character the story is over.
So you might wonder why I would I go with that interpretation? Well, before "Deadwing" was released, Steven talked about how this album was a soundtrack for a movie which had been written by a friend of his. So, it's literally a soundtrack for an actual movie - although they were still looking for funding to make that movie. And that movie was a described as some kind of ghost story. So I was already thinking "ghost story movie" before I heard any of the songs off the album!
Yes, Anesthetize! And please, for a change, you could do the live version along with the Studio. And you are correct that most good bands perform live better, but the production quality of PT's live is higher than those good bands. Hoping for more PT content in the years to come. Their discography is incredibly diverse and vast. And if you include Steven Wilson, it becomes endless. Thank you for the reaction. Cheers from India. 🇮🇳
if you like very emotional music you can try Marillion. Marillion has a lot of beautiful songs like: afraid of sunlight, beyond you, neverland, white paper, easter etc...! The last album of Marillion is a masterpeace, that you have to listen in one way (advice: lights off and enjoy). greetings Stefan
If you treasure good music, and wish to know Porcupine Tree, I'd have to say their absolute magnum opus is the 16 min long Anesthetize. I think you will absolutely love it, and it definitely is not short hehe but nice choice of band you're in for a treat. Steven Wilson is a genius. Best regards
Excellent lyrical analysis...I think the bridge gives you clues as to the song meaning...”All my designs simplified....” Lines that suggest expectations colliding with reality. Ps, Fear of a Blank Planet is a good album to start with.
Lovely song and great reaction. If you choose to react to Anesthetize next (what I highly recommend) please watch the live version of that song in Tilburg.
Others have suggested listening to live versions and although I prefer studio albums because the sound quality is out this world, watching the performance will help appreciate the execution of the pieces and the energy behind interpretation. I was disappointed when you did not enjoy Trains, but is good that you gave Porcupine Tree a second chance, as you get more into it you will get more and more details that were missed the first few times . But that is the whole point of this reactions I guess, to see how different people experience the song the first time .
What version of this song are you listening to? I feel like the bass drum sound is a lot more evident than in the spotify version. Or maybe I'm just going crazy
Try react to Dimash, widest range, very comfortable in all ranges from baritone to soprano up to perfection, top performer, sings all styles, pop. rock, opera and whatever. Is considered by many professionals as a best voice on the Earth. Traditionally first reaction is SOS, by the way sings in 12 languages. Should be not miss
Great reaction, but I think that like to pull out different songs, it is not possible, I would advise to proceed systematically from the beginning of the production of No - Man, Porcupine Tree, Blackfield, and solo Steven Wilson ....
For the love of humankind, please stop reacting to their studio versions and start to react to the live dvd versions. It's not because the record in the studio is weak, but the live dvd versions is top notch the best versions of their songs.
