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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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 :p: )
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.

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.

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.

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

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. :D

Steven Wilson is producing the next Anathema album!!!!!!11

Has anybody seen the 'Arriving Somewhere' DVD. They have absolutely no stage presence (with the exception of Wilson), Colin Edwin looks bored shitless but it is tight as a nuns downstairs hamper. Phenomenal DTS track too. Had to rip that to MP3 !

I have seen some of it off of youtube, but I can't find a torrent for it. They may not have stage presence, but I love how some of the songs sound live, (ex. Open Car.)

I dont know why that is, because in concert they are typically amazing. Everyone i know including my self have said they put on a great show.

Ill have to watch that DVD though.

Edit: And whoever was saying there a ripoff of Floyd..well thats just plain stupid. Listen to Deadwing as a primary example. Tracks like Shallow, Halo, Arriving Somewhere but not Here are MUCH heavier than anything floyd ever thought of putting out.