Sintheros's Top 50 Porcupine Tree Songs! (Starts on Page 5)

[jag66]

FOABP is a great song, easily better than the other songs on the album apart from anesthetize imo..
Sax solo 

[Zantera]

FOABP is a great song, easily better than the other songs on the album apart from anesthetize imo..
Sax solo 

Personally i would rank the songs on FOABP like this:

1. Way out of Here
2. Sleep Together
3. Anesthetize
4. Sentimental
5. My Ashes
6. Fear of a blank Planet

 

[zxlkho]

1. Anesthetize
2. Sentimental
3. Fear of a Blank Planet
4. Way Out of Here
5. Sleep Together
6. My Ashes

I can foresee this completely derailing this thread.

Don't Hate Me was a nice pick, btw.

[Marvellous G]

1. Anesthetize
2. Sentimental
3. Fear of a Blank Planet
4. Way Out of Here
5. Sleep Together
6. My Ashes

I can foresee this completely derailing this thread.

Don't Hate Me was a nice pick, btw.

That's my ranking too. And these lists are great for newer listeners like me, as now I have an idea of where to start with the older and rarer PT material.

[Sintheros]

1. Anesthetize
2. Sentimental
3. Fear of a Blank Planet
4. Way Out of Here
5. Sleep Together
6. My Ashes

I can foresee this completely derailing this thread.

Don't Hate Me was a nice pick, btw.

That's my ranking too. And these lists are great for newer listeners like me, as now I have an idea of where to start with the older and rarer PT material.

Stupid Dream, obviously.

[zxlkho]

Stupid Dream > Signify. But don't tell Quad...

[Sintheros]

Stupid Dream > Signify. But don't tell Quad...

Stupid Dream > a lot of things. It's just about the least cheery album on the planet though, keep that in mind if you haven't listened to it before.

So 8 songs to go. What will they be?

[MetalManiac666]

Deadwing
Trains
The Start of Something Beautiful
Arriving Somewhere
Anesthetize

maybe some have already been mentioned, but i guess its the boring 'normal' choices :>

[Sintheros]

Arriving Somewhere's sitting over in 24th.

[Zantera]

Deadwing obviously.
Trains
The Start of Something beautiful
Anesthetize

Fairly sure about these.

Then i'm going to throw out some guesses (note: cba to read through all your songs again, so might miss some that has already been posted )

Cheating the Polygraph
Glass Arm Shattering
Gravity Eyelids
Bonnie the Cat

[Sintheros]

Sorry for the delay.

8. Even Less (full version) from Stupid Dream / Recordings

Even without the second half of the song, I'd still place it awfully high. There's only one thing I dislike about this song, and it's that Steven changes the line to "to even less" on every version of the song that isn't the studio version. I don't get it. But regardless, Even Less does a bunch of things that make it memorable. For starters, it was the beginning of a new era of sound for the band, opening Stupid Dream. Less psychedelic, more mellow and melodic. It has some of SW's best lyrics, particularly the "chorus." "And I may just waste away from doing nothing, but you're a martyr for even less." I could spend my whole life doing nothing with myself, but it's better than killing yourself for a cause that nobody will remember. Damn. I'm also a fan of the intro riff, and I wish I could play it myself, but it's got too many slides. The song's excellent enough without the second half, but the second half does nothing but improve the song. A long-drawn drum bit by Maitland builds up with layers of other instruments, reaching more quality lyrics (I'm a sucker for sneaky title drops). "And I had a stupid dream that I could change things, but I'm a martyr to even less." Again. Offing yourself for your stupid dream is never the answer. And then the song closes with the riff again, and then a few whined lines of vocals at the very end that simply trail off lazily. I never tire of this track.

7. The Start of Something Beautiful from Deadwing

This one tends to be high up on most fan's lists, and for good reason. From the minimalistic sounding keyboards making up the intro and verses to the huge build up of the instrumental section and last chorus, this song is probably the song I would say is most representative of PT's 'modern' sound. Certainly a song I'd give in a compilation album to attempt to make a new fan out of someone (alongside Blackest Eyes and Trains). Another sarcastic song of unrequited love by Wilson, this track stands out by being less in your face about it. The lyrics blend in with the melodies very well, and the instrumental segment of the song is one of PT's best. The soft keyboards that merge into loud guitars that break into the last chorus. For many people the song could very well be the start of something beautiful (zing.).


EDIT: Wow, why did I write so much for Even Less. TSOSB feels left out.

[ZBomber]

Two great songs! I also never got why SW changes the chorus live... I like the studio version best. "But I'm a martyr to even less" doesn't sound as good as "But you're a martyr for even less" imo.

[Sintheros]

Two great songs! I also never got why SW changes the chorus live... I like the studio version best. "But I'm a martyr to even less" doesn't sound as good as "But you're a martyr for even less" imo.

I agree.

[zxlkho]

Even Less is so amazing.

[Sintheros]

More delays. I'll get the last few in as soon as I have the time.

6. Gravity Eyelids from In Absentia

A friend of mine refers to this song as "the musical equivalent of rape." I don't know quite what he means by that. The song is certainly an experience though. In future PT albums, there would be a lengthy centerpiece song with a similar beginning and ending with a radically different middle. Arriving Somewhere, Anesthetize, and Time Flies fit the bill. Gravity Eyelids is somewhat like the transition. It fits the pattern, but it's still a much more "manageable" length. Clocking in at 8 minutes, the first half of the song is spent weaving ones way through eerily played keyboards behind eerily sung lyrics that are supposedly inspired by a night on the dead sea, but who really knows. The song could have stood on its own continuing that way, but as the four minute mark hits, some of the most sinister sounding guitars that aren't on an Opeth album break in and turn into a heavy solo that is reminiscent somewhat of the main riff of album opener Blackest Eyes. My favorite part, however, is right after that when the keyboard takes over for a number of very drawn out notes alongside the back end of the solo. Richard's keys sound like an ominous howling wind over the dark riffs. A shame that this song doesn't get the love it deserves.

[AwakeFromOctavarium]

 

[nightmare_cinema]

FOABP Rank:

1) Anesthetize
2) Sentimental
3) Fear of a Blank Planet
4) Sleep Together
5) Way Out of Here
6) My Ashes

1, 2 and 3 are all brilliant and amongst my favourite PT songs overall.

[PixelDream]

Great songs: Even Less, TSOSB and Gravity Eyelids would be in my top 10 too.

FoaBP ranking:

1. Anesthetize
2. Sleep Together
3. Way Out of Here
4. Fear of a Blank Planet
5. My Ashes
6. Sentimental (possibly the only PT song I find boring to listen to - the melodies are good, but it just doesn't really go anywhere. The 'Trains' bit does nothing for me as well, the riff sounds less powerful here).

[Sintheros]

5. Anesthetize from Fear of a Blank Planet

It was sure to pop up at some point. Unlike Gravity Eyelids, which is much more condensed, Anesthetize pulls out all the stops. Their longest single track not counting things like the improvised Moonloop, Anesthetize makes up the bulk of Fear, and does a great job at showing off most of PT's styles in one song. The first part, while my least favorite of the three, is still a great introduction and mood setter. Glum and reflective, like much of Fear, it does its part and moves on. The connecting solo performed by Alex Lifeson is a nice bonus, though its live equivalent by Wesley seems to trade off trying to sound like the studio version for a more individual sound with a pile of slides. The middle section is my favorite, and is possibly the heaviest thing Porcupine Tree's done that isn't forced sounding like Shallow, or B-side Futile. When I saw them in May, the rendition of this section was the highlight of the show for sure. The flashy videos, the killer riffs, the ~15 seconds of neck-breaking heaviness right before the third chorus, it was an experience for sure. Dark keyboards whine behind the verses, and all the band members seem to have a blast playing the instrumental parts. Wilson in particular is all over the stage. Eventually it breaks into the last segment, accompanied by videos of calm waters and rushing waves. Keyboards and vocal harmonies set a special mood not heard elsewhere while the song slowly fades away. Anesthetize places high on most people's lists for good reason.



And to fit the trend.

1. Anesthetize
2. Fear of a Blank Planet
3. Sentimental
4. Sleep Together
5. My Ashes
6. Way Out of Here

And I'd rank Fear as my 3rd favorite album.

Also, Trains is a shoe-in, and it's not exactly private what my favorite track is. What could the other two be?

[Zantera]

Well, cba reading through the list again to see what's missing.

Deadwing is given though. 

[Sintheros]

Lazy. 

5.  Anesthetize
6.  Gravity Eyelids
7.  The Start of Something Beautiful
8.  Even Less
9.  Fear of a Blank Planet
10. Don't Hate Me
11. Buying New Soul
12. A Smart Kid
13. Blackest Eyes
14. Pure Narcotic
15. Lightbulb Sun
16. Hatesong
17. Heartattack in a Layby
18. Lazarus
19. Russia on Ice
20. The Creator Has a Mastertape
21. Octane Twisted/The Seance/Circle of Manias
22. The Blind House
23. Sentimental
24. Arriving Somewhere but Not Here
25. Prodigal
26. Collapse the Light Into Earth
27. I Drive the Hearse
28. Time Flies
29. The Sky Moves Sideways
30. Nine Cats
31. What Happens Now?
32. Stars Die
33. Normal
34. Lips of Ashes
35. Piano Lessons
36. Sleep Together
37. Sever
38. My Ashes
39. .3
40. The Incident
41. Waiting
42. Halo
43. Open Car
44. Shesmovedon/Last Chance
45. Burning Sky
46. Way Out of Here
47. The Rest Will Flow
48. Tinto Brass
49. Synesthesia
50. Nil Recurring

Honorable Mentions to...
-Fadeaway
-Dislocated Day
-Idiot Prayer
-Stranger by the Minute
-Futile
-Half-Light
-Bonnie the Cat
-Remember Me Lover

[AcidLameLTE]

As much as I love Anesthetize, I don't think I could put it that high. I really think it needs some trimming in places. I can never through it all. By about the 12/14 minute mark I just have to change the song.

[Zantera]

Hmm, i'd say Drown With Me would be one of them.
As for the other one, it would be a crime not having Dark Matter on the list.

There you go. 

[zxlkho]

It's missing Dark Matter, The Sleep of No Dreaming, Drown With Me, Slave Called Shiver, Trains, Cheating The Polygraph, Deadwing.

All would be top 30 for me. Well, maybe not Deadwing.

[AcidLameLTE]

Trains and Deadwing will be in there.

Deadwing is his favourite PT song...for some reason

[zxlkho]

So the top 4 are Dark Matter, Drown With Me, Trains, and Deadwing? Let's try to guess the order. Mine was posted.

[Zantera]

1. Deadwing
2. Trains
3. Drown With Me
4. Dark Matter

my guess

[zxlkho]

Cooool you stole mine 

[Sintheros]

Curses, foiled again!

4. Drown With Me from Futile

If I ever bought an acoustic guitar, it would be to play this song first and play anything else a distant second. I've always been baffled as to how a song of this quality didn't make it on the album. The story goes that it was replaced by Wedding Nails, which is a good instrumental and all, but can't hold a candle to this track. The main riffs are a layer of acoustic and electric played together with Richard in the background, creating an upbeat, bouncy mood. Clearly the lyrical content of the song is the complete opposite, much like Blackest Eyes and others. I've already said the end of Pure Narcotic is my favorite vocal moment by SW, but if I had to pick an entire song with stellar vocal delivery it would surely be this one. In particular, I love second soft part where his voice is layered over itself over and over. Immediately after that is another great part where he's not even saying any full words, but it fits in so well that it's uncanny. It's great that this song has gotten so much playtime lately, it really deserves it. The song is one of their best and tends to a live environment awfully well. If you're new to PT and haven't heard this track due to it being a B-side, I'd get on that immediately.

[zxlkho]

  Drown With Me

I think SW purposely makes the best songs b-sides. (like Buying New Soul)

[Marvellous G]

I love Drown With Me a LOT LOT more than Wedding Nails, great pick. Number 3 please!

[Darkes7]

Why the hell I haven't followed this? This is easily the most awesome top 50 this far.

[Marvellous G]

Darkes, I read about you doing one but I couldn't find it when I searched. Would you happen to have a link to it so I could give it a read as well?

[Quadrochosis]

I don't think he did one, it's just a known fact that his number 1 is Anesthetize. I think you're referring to a post I made.

[Marvellous G]

I don't think he did one, it's just a known fact that his number 1 is Anesthetize. I think you're referring to a post I made.

Oh yeah, I think you're right, the one where you were comparing how different people's number ones were?