Porcupine Tree Thread v. generic heaviness and boring ambiance

[TheOutlawXanadu]

People debate music on this forum all the time. Look around. My opinion is, if you're debating over the quality of music, then you probably believe in its quality or flaws enough to do so.

I see nothing wrong with discussing the quality of music. When someone says something I disagree with, I'm going to tell them. When they say that which reveals to me they are misinformed about something, I'm going to tell them (not about music, just anything in general). I'll take people who don't mind disagreeing with me over a world full of robots any day. At the end of the day, of course we'll probably still all believe the same things about the music we hear, but that doesn't make me an idiot for occasionally partaking in what everyone else does on this forum.

I debate music a lot on the forum too. It's fun, and sometimes productive, no doubt.

What I'm arguing against is how people go about doing it sometimes.

[mizzl]

Anyone have 'Out Absentia'? Wet Ribbon is pretty awesome.

Indeed! 

Isn't it also called "Collapse the light into the earth"? (Not the In Absentia one)

[TheVoxyn]

Anyone have 'Out Absentia'? Wet Ribbon is pretty awesome.

Indeed! 

Isn't it also called "Collapse the light into the earth"? (Not the In Absentia one)

I'm not sure what you mean. There is a version of Collapse... on there that is so different from the In Absentia one, it's a totally different song.

[lateralus88]

So I never visit this thread ever, but I thought I'd pop in to mention that after owning it for 2 or so years now, Fear of a Blank Planet has really clicked with me. I used to not care for this album all that much, but damn has it grown on me. Especially Way Out of Here.

[Ultimetalhead]

Congratulations.  It's right behind Deadwing for me.

[DarkEternalNight]

I didn't like it for a long time either outside of the title track but now I'd say its my favorite album of all-time.

[lateralus88]

That part on Way Out Of Here, "I'll try to forget you, and I know that I will". That entire build up is really tense for me. Like, I look at it in a sense of Steven Wilson venting in song form.

[Marvellous G]

That part on Way Out Of Here, "I'll try to forget you, and I know that I will". That entire build up is really tense for me. Like, I look at it in a sense of Steven Wilson venting in song form.

It does just sound like it's pure emotion going into it without as much thought for the actual songwriting, but the song doesn't suffer as a result and it sounds EMOTIONAL, I love it.

[skydivingninja]

That part on Way Out Of Here, "I'll try to forget you, and I know that I will". That entire build up is really tense for me. Like, I look at it in a sense of Steven Wilson venting in song form.

I love that part.  And the song. 

[Gadough]

So I never visit this thread ever, but I thought I'd pop in to mention that after owning it for 2 or so years now, Fear of a Blank Planet has really clicked with me. I used to not care for this album all that much, but damn has it grown on me.

Same here. Just listened to it and I found a new appreciation for it.

[ZBomber]

Way out of Here was pretty much the song that got me into PT. I got FoaBP, and thought it was OK, but the only song that kept making me go back and listen to the album for awhile was Way Out of Here. Soon afterward, the rest of the album clicked and I haven't looked back since. 

[Pirate]

Does anybody else really like How Was Your Life Today?

[ZBomber]

YES!

I am a sucker for pretty much any song Steven Wilson does vocal layering on. "How Is Your Life Today?" in particular really stuck out for me the first time I listened to Lightbulb Sun.

[Fuzzboy]

Does anybody else really like How Was Your Life Today?

I LOVE it.
and

I am a sucker for pretty much any song Steven Wilson does vocal layering on. "How Is Your Life Today?" in particular really stuck out for me the first time I listened to Lightbulb Sun.

[PixelDream]

Yes, great song. Cool contrast with 'Lightbulb Sun' as the preceding track. Both tracks are amazing. Love SW's telephone voice on 'How is your life today?'.

[skydivingninja]

Does anybody else really like How Was Your Life Today?

Am I going to have to start ranting about how every track on LBS is perfect again?

[Pirate]

You'd be preaching to the choir. Except for Four Chords, I never really dug that song as much as the rest. But LBS is tied for my favourite album of all time, so there you go.

[ZBomber]

You'd be preaching to the choir. Except for Four Chords, I never really dug that song as much as the rest. But LBS is tied for my favourite album of all time, so there you go.

This. Four Chords usually doesn't do it for me, but the rest of the album is god-tier.

[lateralus88]

The only song on Lightbulb Sun I'd say I find relatively weak is Russia On Ice. It's alright, I suppose.

[ZBomber]

The only song on Lightbulb Sun I'd say I find relatively weak is Russia On Ice. It's alright, I suppose.

Yeah, I mean that song is jus-ARE YOU CRAZY ITS LIKE THE GREATEST SONG EVER

That bass 

[Pirate]

Russia On Ice is amazing.

[jag66]

*can't resist ranking songs*

1. lightbulb sun
2. shesmovedon
3. russia on ice
4. hatesong
5. the rest will flow
6. last chance to evacuate planet earth
7. feel so low
8. four chords that made a million
9. how is your life today?
10. where would we be

First 3 are pretty godly, and the last few are still decent songs for me.

[Marvellous G]

Controversial ranking ahoy:

1. Feel So Low
2. Russia On Ice
3. The Rest Will Flow Flow
4. Shesmovedon
5. Lightbulb Sun
6. Where We Would Be
7. Last Chance
8. Hatesong
9. How is Your Life Today?
10. Four Chords That Made A Million

[Gorille85]

Yeah, Four Chords is meh but Russia on Ice is friggin'

In fact, I pretty much agree with ZBomber.

[7StringedBeast]

I enjoy Lightbulb Sun.  But yeah four chords that made a million is a pretty weak song.  Talk about pretentious.  For a song criticizing other music, it does not itself do anything.  I'll take Smells Like Teen Spirit or Rape Me over 4 chords any day.

[sonatafanica]

SO PUNCTURE WOUND IS A COOL SONG, HUH

[ClairvoyantCat]

Controversial ranking ahoy:

1. Feel So Low

This is... odd.  

[Pirate]

Just listened to Stupid Dream. It's my number two PT album  . Every song is solid at least, far as I'm concerned. Btw, does anyone else think that This Is A Rehearsal sounds like it could have come from The Incident?

[LieLowTheWantedMan]

My #8 PT album.

1. Russia On Ice 9/10
2. Hatesong 9/10
3. Lightbulb Sun 9/10
4. The Rest Will Flow 7.5/10
5. How Is Your Life Today? 7/10
6. Shesmovedon 6/10
7. Last Change To Evacuate Planet Earth... 6/10
8. Four Chords That Made A Million 4/10
9. Feel So Low 4/10
10. Where We Would Be 2/10

[LieLowTheWantedMan]

I enjoy Lightbulb Sun.  But yeah four chords that made a million is a pretty weak song.  Talk about pretentious.  For a song criticizing other music, it does not itself do anything. 

What really bugs me about that song is that recently SW ranted about criticizing other music in that sense.

[ClairvoyantCat]

I enjoy Lightbulb Sun.  But yeah four chords that made a million is a pretty weak song.  Talk about pretentious.  For a song criticizing other music, it does not itself do anything. 

What really bugs me about that song is that recently SW ranted about criticizing other music in that sense.

Well maybe his opinions changed.  Considering the length of time I wouldn't blame him for it.

[The Letter M]

Speaking of Stupid Dream, I listened to it today, but with a couple additions/changes to the track list:
1. Even Less
2. Oceans Have No Memory
3. Ambulance Chasing
4. Piano Lessons
5. Stupid Dream
6. Pure Narcotic
7. Slave Called Shiver
8. Don't Hate Me
9. This Is No Rehearsal
10. Baby Dream In Cellophane
11. Stranger By The Minute
12. A Smart Kid
13. Tinto Brass
14. Stop Swimming

Totals up to 76:31 and fits onto a CD-r comfortably. I love the whole version of "Even Less", and I threw in the other 2 B-Sides done during the SD sessions as well. The actual running order of the rest of the album ("Piano Lessons"-"Stop Swimming") is just so good, so I put "Oceans Have No Memory" and "Ambulance Chasing" before the rest of the album and after "Even Less". It flows fairly well and the track order would actually fit onto vinyl if it were ever conceived as such (Side 1 tracks 1 & 2, Side 2 tracks 3-7, Side 3 tracks 8-11, Side 4 tracks 12-14).

Definitely one of my top 3 PT albums (up there with TSMS and FOABP). I haven't listened to much PT in the last few months, but today seemed like a good time to start again! Listening to "Bonnie The Cat" at the moment, then the rest of TI, and then possibly FOABP while I get my dinner started.

-Marc.

[Marvellous G]

Controversial ranking ahoy:

1. Feel So Low

This is... odd.  

It's top 5 PT for me.

[Pirate]

I judge it to be the right time.

Lightbulb Sun
Stupid Dream
Signify
In Absentia
The Sky Moves Sideways
Deadwing
Up The Downstair
Fear Of A Blank Planet
The Incident
On The Sunday Of Life

[Pyroph]

So I was at Borders today and I found Metanoia. Kinda weird they'd have it, but cool nonetheless. I've never heard this before, so it should be fun.