Porcupine Tree v. Glarung is a Lightbulb

[Ħ]

Whether or not you like those four songs, they do not fit with the album at all. They are like Nil Recurring to FOABP. But even less related. (yes i c wut i did thar.) I am happy he released those songs, because they are all right, but the means by which he just slapped them on to an already completely album is facepalm worthy.

[KevShmev]

Who says those songs don't have something to do with the songs on Disc 1?  I know they aren't a part of the "song cycle" per se, but there are various lyrical connections, especially in Bonnie the Cat and Black Dahlia.

[Ben_Jamin]

Still a dumb idea to include it on the album in the first place.

Error....Error...

[The Letter M]

Whether or not you like those four songs, they do not fit with the album at all. They are like Nil Recurring to FOABP. But even less related. (yes i c wut i did thar.) I am happy he released those songs, because they are all right, but the means by which he just slapped them on to an already completely album is facepalm worthy.

Actually, the tracks on Nil Recurring are more directly connected and related to the tracks on FOABP than the ones on The Incident are between its two discs.

And while The Incident was released as two discs, it could have all easily fit onto ONE CD, so the separation of the main song-cycle was only done to further emphasize it as being a single piece, apart from the other four songs, which doesn't necessarily mean they aren't related to the song-cycle - it's just that they're on a separate disc.

-Marc.

[glaurung]

Whether or not you like those four songs, they do not fit with the album at all. They are like Nil Recurring to FOABP. But even less related. (yes i c wut i did thar.) I am happy he released those songs, because they are all right, but the means by which he just slapped them on to an already completely album is facepalm worthy.

The issue of length aside, how is this any different from something like DT's Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence? The songs on the first disc don't have anything to do with tracks on the second. Why shouldn't they have been scrapped?

[Ħ]

Whether or not you like those four songs, they do not fit with the album at all. They are like Nil Recurring to FOABP. But even less related. (yes i c wut i did thar.) I am happy he released those songs, because they are all right, but the means by which he just slapped them on to an already completely album is facepalm worthy.

The issue of length aside, how is this any different from something like DT's Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence? The songs on the first disc don't have anything to do with tracks on the second. Why shouldn't they have been scrapped?

There were six songs. I thought that tied the album together. Plus each disc on its own (especially disc 1) is too short to be an album.

[Zantera]

Is it really? Disc 1 is 54 minutes, Disc 2 is 42 minutes. If you look at I&W it's 57 minutes, so if 6DOIT had only been the first disc for example, it wouldn't have been that much shorter. 42 minutes is kinda short for a Progressive album, but I still think it would have worked. If anything, DT has shown us with several albums that making a 75 minute-album isn't really the key to success, there's often filler-songs that could have been cut.

[Ħ]

Huh. Well, I guess they are long enough to be standalone albums. I still think that the two discs of SDOIT are much more connected than the two discs of The Incident.

[The Letter M]

Huh. Well, I guess they are long enough to be standalone albums. I still think that the two discs of SDOIT are much more connected than the two discs of The Incident.

I think, in the case of SDOIT, the album was only one 2 discs because the medium upon which the music was put onto only allowed for a maximum of 75-79 minutes of music per single disc. Had the album been released during the apex of audio cassette technology, you can bet the band would have made the album fit onto one single cassette tape.

And because the title track of SDOIT was always listed as "Track 6", there was never any doubt that the two discs should have been seen as separate, but just a continuation because of the way the medium allowed the music to be listened. If there were CDs that could hold 100 minutes of music, the album would have been a single disc. Some albums, over two discs, are sometimes not meant to be viewed as 2 entities of the album, such as the case with SDOIT, but in the case of The Incident, the separation was done on purpose. So obviously, SDOIT's discs are meant to be a cohesive whole, while with PT's album, it's a bit more blurred.

Sure there might be some lyrical or musical connections, but it doesn't mean they are meant to be part of the album's main song-cycle, but they are still part of the same album, whether or not you like the tracks. In fact, the DVD-A version of The Incident features ALL 18 tracks, run in the same order as the two CDs have them. Heck, with a DVD-A, you could fit all of SDOIT onto one disc - then there wouldn't be these stupid debates about "SDOIT - Disc 1 VS Disc 2".

-Marc.

[jammindude]

Huh. Well, I guess they are long enough to be standalone albums. I still think that the two discs of SDOIT are much more connected than the two discs of The Incident.

I think, in the case of SDOIT, the album was only one 2 discs because the medium upon which the music was put onto only allowed for a maximum of 75-79 minutes of music per single disc. Had the album been released during the apex of audio cassette technology, you can bet the band would have made the album fit onto one single cassette tape.

The total running time of all the tracks on The Incident is 75:56.    It does all fit on a single disc if you do it yourself.   It was put on separate disc on purpose in order to keep the unrelated ideas completely separate from one another.

[The Letter M]

Huh. Well, I guess they are long enough to be standalone albums. I still think that the two discs of SDOIT are much more connected than the two discs of The Incident.

I think, in the case of SDOIT, the album was only one 2 discs because the medium upon which the music was put onto only allowed for a maximum of 75-79 minutes of music per single disc. Had the album been released during the apex of audio cassette technology, you can bet the band would have made the album fit onto one single cassette tape.

The total running time of all the tracks on The Incident is 75:56.    It does all fit on a single disc if you do it yourself.   It was put on separate disc on purpose in order to keep the unrelated ideas completely separate from one another.

Some albums, over two discs, are sometimes not meant to be viewed as 2 entities of the album, such as the case with SDOIT, but in the case of The Incident, the separation was done on purpose.

And while The Incident was released as two discs, it could have all easily fit onto ONE CD, so the separation of the main song-cycle was only done to further emphasize it as being a single piece, apart from the other four songs, which doesn't necessarily mean they aren't related to the song-cycle - it's just that they're on a separate disc.

Oh I know 

-Marc.

[Mladen]

I really like The Incident, except for the second disc. I wish they hadn't released it as a part of the album, it should have just been a bonus disc or a separate EP. This way, it's a part of the album that includes four more songs that have absolutely nothing to do with the concept of the first disc. And they aren't too great neither.

Uhh, that's why it's on a separate disc in the first place.

Yeah, but it's labeled as a part of the album rather than a bonus disc. You can't get the edition of the album without the second disc, can you?

If those four songs are connected to the story told on the disc one, than damn, I should have paid attention. 

[glaurung]

I really like The Incident, except for the second disc. I wish they hadn't released it as a part of the album, it should have just been a bonus disc or a separate EP. This way, it's a part of the album that includes four more songs that have absolutely nothing to do with the concept of the first disc. And they aren't too great neither.

Uhh, that's why it's on a separate disc in the first place.

Yeah, but it's labeled as a part of the album rather than a bonus disc. You can't get the edition of the album without the second disc, can you?

If those four songs are connected to the story told on the disc one, than damn, I should have paid attention. 

That's exactly the point I was making. I bolded the part I was talking about.

[Mladen]

I really like The Incident, except for the second disc. I wish they hadn't released it as a part of the album, it should have just been a bonus disc or a separate EP. This way, it's a part of the album that includes four more songs that have absolutely nothing to do with the concept of the first disc. And they aren't too great neither.

Uhh, that's why it's on a separate disc in the first place.

Yeah, but it's labeled as a part of the album rather than a bonus disc. You can't get the edition of the album without the second disc, can you?

If those four songs are connected to the story told on the disc one, than damn, I should have paid attention. 

That's exactly the point I was making. I bolded the part I was talking about.

I bolded the part I was talking about. I think it's pretty much that the inclusion of these songs to the album makes sense to you for whatever reason, while I thought those songs didn't really have a point being included on the album, as they don't have anything to do with the concept, or at least I failed to see the connection. I don't care that they're on the second disc, they're still part of the album, and NOT a bonus disc - it nowhere says so.

[Ħ]

There's no question that those four Disc 2 songs are part of The Incident album. The issue is whether or not they should have been released like that. I think they should have been released as an EP (even as an EP that comes with the album)because it makes more sense when looking at the concept.

[Scorpion]

Deadwing = sex.

Just putting that out there.

[KevShmev]

Who says those songs don't have something to do with the songs on Disc 1?  I know they aren't a part of the "song cycle" per se, but there are various lyrical connections, especially in Bonnie the Cat and Black Dahlia.

I am quoting myself for emphasis.

Saying the four songs on Disc 2, "have absolutely nothing to do with the concept of the first disc," is simply not correct.  I think Wilson didn't include them as a part of it because the musical flow wouldn't have worked, but the lyrical connections are more than obvious, IMO.

[TioJorge]

This shit again? Meh.

I've been spinning Lightbulb Sun a lot recently (and will be more and more as we ease into the Fall) and it's bringing back some really awesomely depressing, yet somehow comforting memories. Opeth and PT will do that in the Fall. OooOOo Heritage is gonna be spinning soon enough too; that album is so great for Fall/Winter. Okay back on topic: I like hookahs.

[The Letter M]

There's no question that those four Disc 2 songs are part of The Incident album. The issue is whether or not they should have been released like that. I think they should have been released as an EP (even as an EP that comes with the album)because it makes more sense when looking at the concept.

This is sort of how Neal Morse released Testimony 2 - there is no single-disc version of the album that is just the Testimony-parts. The album was released as 2-CDs and includes the 3 other tracks on Disc 2. Had there been a single-disc version of the album, one could surmise that "Absolute Beginner", "Supernatural" and "Seeds Of Gold" were meant to be *bonus* tracks, and therefore not part of the album. However, since this was NOT the case, those 3 tracks are part of Testimony 2, just not part of the main narrative on Disc 1.

-Marc.

[seasonsinthesky]

Who says those songs don't have something to do with the songs on Disc 1?  I know they aren't a part of the "song cycle" per se, but there are various lyrical connections, especially in Bonnie the Cat and Black Dahlia.

I am quoting myself for emphasis.

Saying the four songs on Disc 2, "have absolutely nothing to do with the concept of the first disc," is simply not correct.  I think Wilson didn't include them as a part of it because the musical flow wouldn't have worked, but the lyrical connections are more than obvious, IMO.

SW stated the reason for splitting the extra 4 onto a second disc was because they were band compositions made at the same time, while the song cycle is primarily SW-written.

[ReaperKK]

Deadwing = sex.

Just putting that out there.

Deadwing is just one of those PT albums that has some amazing songs (Mellotron Scratch, Glass Arm Shattering) and some really forgettable ones (Halo, Lazarus)

[FlyingBIZKIT]

Deadwing = sex.

Just putting that out there.

Deadwing is just one of those PT albums where every song blows your mind   

fix'd.

[Super Dude]

Ah fuck it, they're all amazing.

[seasonsinthesky]

Deadwing = sex.

Just putting that out there.

Deadwing is just one of those PT albums that has some amazing songs (Mellotron Scratch, Glass Arm Shattering) and some really forgettable ones (Halo, Lazarus)

i'd actually switch those and put the super-soupy "Mellotron" and "Glass Arm" in the forgettable category (despite how "Mellotron" gets such love here) along with "Shallow" (because it's boring and goes on too long). i'm not a fan of "Halo" at all but at least the goddamn song has real dynamics and significantly differing parts to keep interest. and "Lazarus" is a beautifully written pop tune, imo.

[Zantera]

Mellotron Scratch is easily one of the best songs on Deadwing IMO. If I had to pick out the worst songs on the album, I'd say - Shallow and Open Car, both are decent straight up rockers, and Glass Arm Shattering. While none of these songs are bad, they aren't IMO good enough to claim the album being a 5 out of 5.
While I love most of the title-track, I feel like it could have been cut down a few minutes. I don't particularly care for the heavy part. Halo is a song I'm a bit divided on, I think it's one of their best from Deadwing if we're talking live versions, because there it really becomes much better, but the studio version is not as good. Lazarus is a great ballad-song, but doesn't quite live up to previous songs like Trains or Drown With Me, two songs that are also a bit acoustic/ballady.

I'd probably say Mellotron Scratch, The Start of Something Beautiful and the title-track are the 3 best songs on the album.

[Mladen]

The title track is actually my least favorite on the album. Shallow is pretty cool but still not as awesome as the rest of the album. In fact, the album gets better as it goes, and it finishes with the two songs I like the most. 

[LieLowTheWantedMan]

Open Car is probably my least favourite PT song. Shallow and Halo are forgettable. Mellotron Scratch, Arriving Somewhere, and The Start Of Something Beautiful are each amongst their best songs though.

[Super Dude]

Nahhhh, Shallow and Halo are awesome. I especially love the riff near the end of Halo, with the ascending piano notes.

[LieLowTheWantedMan]

I'm not a fan of Steven's vocal style in the chorus of Halo, which probably is what limits my enjoyment a bit. The bass riff is awesome though.

[Ryzee]

I really enjoy Open Car

[skydivingninja]

Open Car is pretty good, especially live.  Way better than Shallow for sure.  Halo's good too, though it was a weird choice to close out shows on the FOABP tour.  I was like "wait, that's it?  Really?  That song?"  This is after both Dark Matter and Shesmovedon, which would have been great closers. 

[Sigz]

Deadwing is goddamned perfect you plebeians.

[Nick]

Deadwing is goddamned perfect you plebeians.

[Ben_Jamin]

I don't prefer Shallow or Halo, other than Deadwing is great

[The Letter M]

Deadwing is goddamned perfect you plebeians.

The song or the album? Your lack of italics or quotations really makes it ambiguous...although it doesn't matter, both the song AND the album are great!

-Marc.