The Offfiial Porcupine Tree Thread (lyrics, techno, metal, favorite songs)

[boo boo]

Yep.

[jackhammer]

It's shameful that until just over a year ago, I had never heard of them and I'm British. It just goes to show the state of music in this country. If it's not RnB or Indie, nothing get's a mention. Considering that they have been going for a long time-over 15 years just proves that Rock really is the greatest music in the world, very few artists outside of this genre achieve longevity.

My introduction was DEADWING, and the track ARRIVING SOMEWHERE BUT NOT HERE is one brilliant track.

[MHDTV]

Originally Posted by Seltzer

I always thought Steven Wilson had a bit of a sterile voice... I like it though.

His voice works wonder on tracks like Lazarus.

[Rainard Jalen]

My view is that this is one of the very worst bands to come out of British music over the past 18 years. They were originally a COMPLETE Pink Floyd rip off, and there is virtually nothing interesting, new or original in the majority of their catalogue at all - it just sounds like bog standard 70s prog: the turmoil where a lot of prog unfortunately ended up towards the end of the classic prog era. I do NOT understand why this band have such a following and I completely fail to see their merits. If somebody would like to take on the task of clearly and effectively explaining just what this band have done that is of any particular substantial merit at all, I would be very happy to read it.

[boo boo]

That is absolute rubbish. PT sound absolutely nothing like Pink Floyd, at all.

Thats basically like saying any band that makes mellow somewhat psychedelic music is ripping off Pink Floyd. You could call Radiohead and Flaming Lips ripoffs of Pink Floyd by using that logic.

Originally Posted by Rainard Jalen

My view is that this is one of the very worst bands to come out of British music over the past 18 years.

Well good luck trying to convert us proggies with bad taste in music.

They were originally a COMPLETE Pink Floyd rip off

Yet they didn't actually sound like them, even then.

If we're gonna say any band uses the same kind of song structure as another band is a complete ripoff and not only that, it strips them of any musical credibility, then you're gonna have a hard time defending the fact that you're a Nirvana fan.

and there is virtually nothing interesting, new or original in the majority of their catalogue at all

Don't you have some crappy avant noise rock to listen to or something?

- it just sounds like bog standard 70s prog

Thats because they're prog, you're basically telling me they're not good because they sound like a prog band, even though thats what they are. I'm sorry, prog bands dont always have to be completely f*cking innovative to be good. A modern band that sounds like a 70s prog band is still a prog band. You don't have to be innovative to be prog, or original, or good for that matter. Since PT are all of those things.

:the turmoil where a lot of prog unfortunately ended up towards the end of the classic prog era. I do NOT understand why this band have such a following and I completely fail to see their merits. If somebody would like to take on the task of clearly and effectively explaining just what this band have done that is of any particular substantial merit at all, I would be very happy to read it.

Why do you have to be so anal about other peoples tastes? People just like it, is it that hard to believe? I cant even explain in great detail why I like a lot of the music I listen to, I just do.

If I were to even try to explain their appeal to you, you wouldn't get it if you don't already. They're just a damn good band, they have a great atmospheric sound and a great sense of melody, add to that they are excellent musicians and I'm sorry but I won't accept "but wheres the passion man" as a serious rebuttal.

I certainly don't consider them a Pink Floyd ripoff, by saying that I can already tell you haven't heard much from them, they have a pretty broad range of influences, from ambient to metal to krautrock, if you think Signify let alone In Absentia sounds anything like Pink Floyd you have problems. Yeah, they specialize in mellow and atomospheric rock music with psychedelic elements, thats not enough to classify as a ripoff. Thats keen to saying any band thats heavy and energetic is ripping off Led Zeppelin.

[Demonoid]

Originally Posted by Rainard Jalen

My view is that this is one of the very worst bands to come out of British music over the past 18 years. They were originally a COMPLETE Pink Floyd rip off, and there is virtually nothing interesting, new or original in the majority of their catalogue at all - it just sounds like bog standard 70s prog: the turmoil where a lot of prog unfortunately ended up towards the end of the classic prog era. I do NOT understand why this band have such a following and I completely fail to see their merits. If somebody would like to take on the task of clearly and effectively explaining just what this band have done that is of any particular substantial merit at all, I would be very happy to read it.

Their music is not easy to appreciate in one or two listens.
Steve Wilson is an excellent song writer and one thing i like about them is the production/sound quality. Everything thing can be heard clearly. They have a wide range of influences...ranging from The Beach boys to Meshuggah. I don't know what part of their music seems like a pink floyd rip off. More riff oriented and highly layered.
Their newer stuff typically goes from being quiet and calm to blazing metal riffs...their older stuff is more on the psychedelic side. Sure it has some pink floyd influences but it doesn't sound anything like a rip-off.
Your question is hard to answer...because very few bands sound like them and your thinking exactly the opposite. You can easily hear so many influences, but they have fused them together quite well. For me, its the songwriting & production/sound quality that does it.(which is just about everything )
I can definitely tell that if you don't like them, its more of a personal view than trying to make up facts. The more modern sound and heavier riffs makes them nothing like a 70s prog band. If you have come to a point where hearing influences from other artist without being a rip-off(and they are in no way a rip-off) is bad or unoriginal, then I'm afraid very little music will appeal to you.
Well, I'd like to know what makes them a rip-off in the first place.

[jackhammer]

Originally Posted by Rainard Jalen

My view is that this is one of the very worst bands to come out of British music over the past 18 years. They were originally a COMPLETE Pink Floyd rip off, and there is virtually nothing interesting, new or original in the majority of their catalogue at all - it just sounds like bog standard 70s prog: the turmoil where a lot of prog unfortunately ended up towards the end of the classic prog era. I do NOT understand why this band have such a following and I completely fail to see their merits. If somebody would like to take on the task of clearly and effectively explaining just what this band have done that is of any particular substantial merit at all, I would be very happy to read it.

Their early music was Steven Wilson experimenting with many different sounds with the bulk of the sound based around Electronic soundscapes. Next to Pink Floyd they are my favourite band and the reason why I love them is that they perfectly encapsulate everything that I adore about music- extended ambient keyboard lead sections with guitar solos, brilliant instrumentation without over complication. Perectly placed guitar riffs that peak within a song and superb production. Are they original? No but what they do they do extremely well.

If we only liked music for originality, then we would have only a handful of artists in our collections.

[lucifer_sam]

I had not heard of Porcupine Tree prior to reading this thread, so I didn't know what to expect. I just downloaded a few albums (I have half a mind to buy In Absentia) and they are spectacular. I can't believe a band so good has stayed [largely] under the radar for so long. I'm still in the process of discovering their music, but so far I must say they are rather excellent.

[spark10036]

Listen to the album "Deadwing",it's pure magic...

[Seltzer]

Originally Posted by Rainard Jalen

My view is that this is one of the very worst bands to come out of British music over the past 18 years. They were originally a COMPLETE Pink Floyd rip off, and there is virtually nothing interesting, new or original in the majority of their catalogue at all - it just sounds like bog standard 70s prog: the turmoil where a lot of prog unfortunately ended up towards the end of the classic prog era. I do NOT understand why this band have such a following and I completely fail to see their merits. If somebody would like to take on the task of clearly and effectively explaining just what this band have done that is of any particular substantial merit at all, I would be very happy to read it.

Well they are influenced by PF, but I don't see how they're a PF rip-off or how their more metal influenced material in particular could be seen as bog standard 70s prog. I always saw more of the Beatles in Porcupine Tree than any other band - they both share that rare ability to make me feel unexplainably happy inside. In the wave of super technical prog bands (prog metal), I'm happy to see them garnering mainstream attention.

What PT have you heard? Even if you don't like them, you've got to admit Steven Wilson has an admirably eclectic taste in music.