These are heady times indeed for Porcupine Tree with the Grammy-nominated band’s 10th studio album ‘The Incident’ going straight into the BBC charts at number 23. They also are embarking on a World tour with many nights already sold-out plus now, their latest offering has just been nominated as Album of the Month on my blog….. wow……can it get any better?
I try to keep this music site open to all musical genres as it reflects my taste in music which is pretty general and was planning to have Shea Seger ‘The May Street Project’ as my album of the month as her 2002 offering is just excellent. But I bought this album around two weeks ago and was totally gobsmacked by it – it really is just great, and I’ve finally decided to have Porcupine Tree as both album and ‘Time Flies’ as song of the month – it’s just so good.
Over the last twenty years, Porcupine Tree have proven to be a band of highly skilled musicians and simple yet great songwriters, if they had been around in the heyday of Prog rock in the 70’s they would have had the private jet, the no. 1 albums the critical acclaim of Floyd and others. But what is so remarkable is the honesty of this album – I feel they believe what they say, come on who makes a concept album that commercial these days. Also it great to see that they are still this unique and eclectic band that are comfortable on short rock numbers, longer songs with multiple parts, progressive jams – even being able to thrash it up a wee bit.
With their new album, they’ve become even bolder than ever producing a musical journey that has taken me back to my youth when I first heard Floyd and Zeppelin and marvelled at what I was hearing. The first CD is broken into fourteen parts and is an incredible ride of lavish and opulent music that glides along like a Mercedes Benz on speed. Its melodic, its heavy, its calming, it’s exciting it’s probably the main reason ears were invented. The second CD has been somewhat overlooked by many reviewers but is just as good demonstrating that a band can produce what is nearly a double album and still make it sound fresh.
In my opinion Steven Wilson and Porcupine Trees have produced their masterpiece.
Mr LD
Again I cant complain about this as I do like it
Though I am playing the Arctic Monkeys new one alot as well very different though
I’m still waiting for this one to grow on me. Maybe I’m in the minority for a change (!). I like it, don’t get me wrong – but it just seems to lack something that earlier albums had. Somewhere Mr Sin said something about thinking he had his player on repeat at some stage and I know what he means.
It definitely has its moments, no doubt about that, Time Flies as has already been said appears to have a lot going for it, clever lyrics etc. On early listenings though, I think my favourite here is going to be Bonnie The Cat.
Problem I appear to have with this CD though is that I can’t see how it will translate into a live show. The first CD of PT’s I got was Coma Divine and I can’t see anything on here standing up to Dislocated Day or Radioactive Toy.
I hope I’m wrong, not that I’m likely to see them for some time to come, but somehow I doubt it.
For me – possibly over produced and too technically perfect.
You surprise me – I’m still playing and enjoying. Still finding new things in this wonderful technically perfect album. We’ll see in December but this could be my album of the year.
You say “Problem I appear to have with this CD though is that I can’t see how it will translate into a live show” interesting point, and I must admit to never have thought this about an album. I sometimes wonder how, for example, a 3 piece band will replicate a song that includes 4 or more instruments when played live but never like you suggest – has anybody else wondered this when playing a new album?
Hi
Been reading your blog for a few weeks now and I enjoy
You have done a professional job well done
My point – you say that Muse, White Lies etc. are simply reproducing chicken sandwiches and rehashing the songs of the 80′s
What about Porcupine Tree – don’t you think they sound like Pink Floyd, especially their earlier music.
Maybe people in glass houses etc.
Hi Ken, good to see you’ve decided to join us.
Just thought I would get in with a comment or two before The Dog bares his fangs!
Of course, you’re right, PT do lean heavily on The Floyd influence, and their early releases in particular are based solidly on ideas first originated back in the glory days of psychedelia. You may have noticed elsewhere on this blog that I personally don’t have a problem with this.I think that what PT have done though is to take these basic ideas and expanded on them through time. Playing PT’s releases in chronological order, you can see the band evolving these ideas and forming them into a unique sound of their own.
Now, look over my comments on their latest CD and you will see that I don’t necessarily agree that where they are going is in the right direction (for me anyway). The point is that they do seem to be heading off in a new direction, but at the same time, acknowledging their musical history.
I think that the point our Happy Hound is making is that White Lies and Muse aren’t really changing much or introducing much in the way of new ideas. I’m not going to agree or disagree with that, I haven’t listened to enough of either band to make a fair judgement. It does concern me that any band thinks highly enough of the (in my opinion) dross that came out in the ’80′s to want to replicate it or even to extend its shelf-life.
Maybe I’ve got the wrong end of the stick and that’s not his problem with it at all, maybe its something totally different.
Let’s hear what our Hound has to say in his defence.
Hi Ken
And welcome to Musicforthemonth
You do have a point and I can hear similarities between Porcupine Tree and Pink Floyd especially in their earlier work. But this is not uncommon to bands playing the same sort of music. Pick any genre, listen to a few bands who play that genre and there will be similarities.
I feel that Porcupine Tree cannot be classed as a tribute band like the Muse’s, White Lies and The Gobshitte Twins of this world for two reasons. Firstly, they have taken the genre to a new level and modernized it with great songs, excellent musicianship and a great attitude that made them successful. Secondly, its the honesty of the band – Porcupine Tree play Prog Rock because thats what they love. I cant imagine some record company PR making Steven Wilson write songs that last 20 minutes cos it will get them on Top of the Pops. Yes its the honesty of bands like PT, like Siena Root like countless other bands that play music cos they love music – this is the difference.
There no fangs bared (I must be in a good mood)
Ken – hope you enjoy the blog and contribute again. Please let me know what you think about the Music Mix as this is mainly what the site is about
Not sure if you wish to engage in dialogue here but I’m not sure I agree with you.
I don’t know much about White Lies but I don’t believe you can call Muse dishonest. They actually worked quite hard at the beginning of their career touring etc. Its hardly their fault that the music press like them and promoted them.
I’m sure Steven Wilson would have done the same.
Hi Ken,
Good to hear a different point of view – I don’t agree with you but still good to hear.
My problem is that I see Muse as part of the establishment, darlings of the music industry – and really what have they achieved? I feel they are too over-produced creating music they are told to make – told to make by their record company of course, by their fans (everyone loves them) and by the music press. I know you know argue differently but I see them as I see Coldplay/Girls Aloud/Take That – I see them as a product – something to sell.
I know I maybe a wee bit naive here but that how I feel. I see bands like PT/Siena Root/Kraftwerk even so different to this.