Porcupine Tree top 50 Countdown! (top 2 featured! - countdown over)

[faizoff]

Deadwing - Unranked
Russia On Ice - #16
Lazarus - #9
Same as the list.

I wonder if I'll end up with the least amount of songs ranked.

How many from the Countdown have made your personal Top 50 so far (out of the 42 songs revealed)?

-Marc.

I have 22 from the 42 revealed so far.

[The Realm]

11 Deadwing
Appeared on 17 of 22 lists
Highest Finish: 1 (devieira73)
5 Top 10 Finishes

10 Russia On Ice
Appeared on 15 of 22 lists
Highest Finish: 2 (The Realm, Puppies_On_Acid)
10 Top 10 Finishes

09 Lazarus
Appeared on 17 of 22 lists
Highest Finish: 5 (Duetsch Dream Dates, Ben_Jamin, nobloodyname, Buddyhunter1, DTowwbwMP)
7 Top 10 Finishes

Deadwing - my rank 16. Just a great album opener on a great album.

Russia On Ice - this song is just mind blowing, just a brilliant piece of music and mood. Well done Puppies on joining me with the number 2 ranking. This could have easily been my number 1. This is just such a haunting and powerful song, it just hits in all the right places for me (obviously not for everyone though...only on 15 lists???).

Lazarus - a great song, my rank is 11.

I only have 3 of my top 10 remaining all of which I am very confident will make it. After that it will be interesting if my guesses for the remaining songs turn out correct. So far I have 12 unranked and hoping that stays that way until the end.

[The Letter M]

Deadwing - Unranked
Russia On Ice - #16
Lazarus - #9
Same as the list.

I wonder if I'll end up with the least amount of songs ranked.

How many from the Countdown have made your personal Top 50 so far (out of the 42 songs revealed)?

-Marc.

I have 22 from the 42 revealed so far.

Wow, almost half! Yeah, you might have the least amount of songs from your list ranked in the countdown. On the other hand, I might have the *most* from my list! 

-Marc.

[Ben_Jamin]

#11 Deadwing - My Ranking: #03

I really enjoy Deadwing as an album, so it's no surprise I have a lot of songs from it in my top 20. That intro keyboard sets a nice tone, and I like that sample of what sounds like a train coming to a stop. It's a great beginning to the story, like someone is patiently awaiting the arrival of someone. Then the band kicks in and that groove is what drew me into the song, along with the drums. The instrumental is amazing, and it's one of their best solo sections.

#10 Russia On Ice - My Ranking: #28

I used to like this song a lot. I still do, but others I am more into now. I love the atmosphere it gives of a lonely guy in a bar downing shots of alcohol. It really goes into this mindset, and it gets even more bitter at the end with the buildup into the more "rocking" groovy section. This makes me imagine wondering around the town in a drunken stupor.

#09 Lazarus - My Ranking: #05

This is a great song with a lot of feeling in it. This mood and vibe also fit with the lyrics as well. I imagine a person in a train, spectating the view as it goes along the tracks. Then they begin to reminisce and sort of daydream about their mother, who has words to give him in these rough moments. It's even more fitting considering it is followed by Halo. I also find it hilarious how 5 of us ranked it as #5, while 5 is the spot where the song ranked the highest.

[Elite]

Deadwing - Unranked
Russia On Ice - #16
Lazarus - #9
Same as the list.

I wonder if I'll end up with the least amount of songs ranked.

How many from the Countdown have made your personal Top 50 so far (out of the 42 songs revealed)?

-Marc.

I have 22 from the 42 revealed so far.

Wow, almost half! Yeah, you might have the least amount of songs from your list ranked in the countdown. On the other hand, I might have the *most* from my list! 

-Marc.

I have only 21 out of 42 so far. If my prediction of the remaining 8 songs is correct, I will end with 29 out of 42.

[jammindude]

Starting to think my #1 won’t make the cut.

Collapse - did not rank
Start of Something Beautiful - #4
Way Out of Here - #23
Deadwing - #43
Russia on Ice - did not rank
Lazarus - did not rank

[Elite]

What if all of us with the feeling that our #1 won’t make it actually all have the same #1 and we’re underestimating the popularity of our tune? It might be wishful thinking, but the closer we get to the end, the more likely this becomes in my head

[Buddyhunter1]

I'm not sure my #1 will be #1 but I will jump off a bridge if it doesn't rank.

I do have one song from Recordings that was my #25 and I wouldn't be surprised if mine was the only list it appeared on.

[jammindude]

I’ve actually never been more intrigued to see everyone’s list. I’ll probably be analyzing all of them much more closely than the lists in previous countdowns.

[The Great Zo]

I'm confident my #1 will show up, but I've got seven songs in the 10-20 range that are basically guaranteed to miss the countdown.

Can't wait to share my full list. I've got a few oddballs in there too. And wondering if the Recordings song I have at #17 is the same one Buddy has at #25.

[Buddyhunter1]

I have three Recordings songs on my list, actually.

[The Realm]

99.999% sure my number 1 is still to come.

My non-direct spotlighting thoughts are that In Absentina is a little underrepresented with 8 songs to go, Deadwing not done yet and FOABP also and then for me it is a little murky what song(s) may still come not from those albums....

[The Great Zo]

I have three Recordings songs on my list, actually.

I have four -- and make it five if you count that song that's, uh, kinda sorta on another album too. 

[Buddyhunter1]

My non-direct spotlighting thoughts are that In Absentina is a little underrepresented

Assuming In Absentia has at least a few more songs to go (there's some incredibly obvious ones that haven't shown up yet), hard disagree there. Pretty much all of the album will be on the list at that point.

[KevShmev]

I will just say that every song from In Absentia will not be in the top 50.

[King Puppies and the Acid Guppies]

I will just say that every song from In Absentia will not be in the top 50.

This is actually not surprising. I can think of 2 off the top of my head that most likely won't make it.

[SomeoneLikeHim]

I still think the remaining songs in my top 20 will be the top 8 but I'm starting to get a little worried for my #19.

[KevShmev]

We continue to climb closer to the top...

08 Even Less
Appeared on 20 of 22 lists
Highest Finish: 3 (The Letter M)
8 Top 10 Finishes

Good song, but one I didn't rank.  I was not surprised to see it get a lot of love from the cumulative group, but I have never been overly nutty about this one. I like it, but I don't love it.


07 Heartattack in a Layby
Appeared on 18 of 22 lists
Highest Finish: 1 (Revenge319)
7 Top 10 Finishes

This might have been top 10 for me at one point; it finished 15th for me here. It's is a stunning piece of melancholy.  I love the sad lead guitar, and Wilson demonstrates yet again how skilled he is at arranging vocal melodies and overlapping multi-part harmonies.  The end of this song is easily one of the best ends to a song he has ever written.  Amazing.


06 Buying New Soul
Appeared on 18 of 22 lists
Highest Finish: 2 (The Great Zo)
7 Top 10 Finishes

Like the last song, I feel this should have been in my top 10, but I can't put everything in there!  I ranked it 17th.  The greatness of Barbieri is on full display in this one.  Just a stunning piece of music.

[The Letter M]

08 Even Less
Appeared on 20 of 22 lists
Highest Finish: 3 (The Letter M)
8 Top 10 Finishes

07 Heartattack in a Layby
Appeared on 18 of 22 lists
Highest Finish: 1 (Revenge319)
7 Top 10 Finishes

06 Buying New Soul
Appeared on 18 of 22 lists
Highest Finish: 2 (The Great Zo)
7 Top 10 Finishes

NR. Where We Would Be
NR. The Blind House
NR. Fadeaway
NR. Glass Arm Shattering
NR. I Drive The Hearse
NR. Chimera's Wreck
NR. Last Chance To Evacuate Planet Earth Before It Is Recycled
NR. Shesmovedon
NR. A Smart Kid
NR. Lightbulb Sun
NR. The Start Of Something Beautiful
50. Drown With Me
48. Strip The Soul
46. Harridan
45. Mellotron Scratch
43. Halo
42. Buying New Soul
41. Stars Die
40. Sentimental
38. Waiting (Phases 1 & 2)
37. Feel So Low
34. Time Flies
33. Open Car
32. Fear Of A Blank Planet
31. Herd Culling
30. Heart Attack In A Layby
29. Dignity
25. Lips Of Ashes
24. My Ashes
23. Sleep Together
22. Normal
20. Way Out Of Here
19. Gravity Eyelids
18. Stop Swimming
17. The Creator Has A Mastertape
16. Lazarus
14. The Sound Of Muzak
12. Don't Hate Me
11. Deadwing
10. Collapse The Light Into Earth
07. What Happens Now?
06. Hatesong
05. Russia On Ice
03. Even Less
01. The Sky Moves Sideways (Phases 1 & 2)

Whoa, another Highest-Place song for me. Yep, I love "Even Less" that much!

I had HIAL at 30th though I'm not surprised to see it in the top 10! Same goes for BNS, which I had at 42. Now I wonder if I should have ranked it higher...although to be fair, it's been a LONG time since I've listened to it so I'm not sure if my feelings on it have changed.

Still only 11 out of 45 unranked! Surely the remaining five are in my list as well! There are still 16 songs in my ranking left to pull from!

-Marc.

[Lonk]

Even in the top 10 I have songs I didn't rank. Even Less and Buying New Soul did not rank for me. HAIL is top 15.

[Elite]

Still not my #1

I ranked all of these and Heartattack was top 10, but I’m not exactly sure where. #7 if I recall correctly.
Again three songs I predicted would show up still. Will ipdate my list when I get home

[ReaperKK]

Even Less and Buying New Soul are fantastic songs. I never understood the hype for layby, I think SW's vocals come off whiny and grating.

[faizoff]

Even Less   #7
Close to the list, such a kick ass track, all versions of it are amazing, the extended and the little acoustic one done as well

Heartattack In A Layby #27
Love the melancholic tunes on this one.

Buying New Soul   11
I'm glad they performed this song live, one of the most catchy chorus and could really have been included on Lightbulb Sun and it would have fit right in.

[SomeoneLikeHim]

Normal
The Blind House
Halo
The Creator Has a Mastertape
Strip the Soul
What Happens Now?
Waiting
Gravity Eyelids
Chimera’s Wreck
The Sky Moves Sideways
Time Flies
Deadwing

48. I Drive the Hearse
46. Lips of Ashes
45. Harridan
43. Way Out of Here
39. Open Car
38. Dignity
37. Don't Hate Me
36. Lightbulb Sun
34. Stars Die
32. Herd Culling
30. My Ashes
29. Sleep Together
27. Where We Would Be
26. Shesmovedon
25. Fadeaway
24. Stop Swimming
23. Mellotron Scratch
21. Collapse the Light into Earth
20. The Start of Something Beautiful
19. Buying New Soul
18. Hatesong
17. Sentimental
16. Glass Arm Shattering
15. Drown With Me
14. Fear of a Blank Planet
13. The Sound of Muzak
12. Lazarus
11. Last Chance to Evacuate Planet Earth Before It Is Recycled
10. Feel So Low
9. Even Less
6. Russia On Ice
3. A Smart Kid
2. Heartattack in a Layby

I was curious from the start where Heartattack in a Layby would rank. I almost put it at #1, might be as close to a perfect song as I have heard. Absolute heartbreak, not a word or note wasted. Perfection.

Even Less is fantastic. I actually prefer the Stupid Dream version, I find that it works best as a shorter and more focused tune. I really like the lyrics to this one as well, they paint a good picture.

I was beginning to worry for Buying New Soul. Now that it's here I feel very sure what the top 5 are. Great song, killer atmosphere, seeing this live was a great surprise as well!

[jammindude]

I had Even Less at 15. I love the longer version. I always wondered why SW changed the lyrics for the live version.  The studio version says “you’re a martyr to even less” but live he says “I’m a martyr to even less”…which I don’t think makes sense considering the previous line.

Heartattack was my #1. Sometimes I’ll play it over and over again I love it so much. The overlapping vocals at the end just kill me every time.

Buying New Soul was my #32. Great song. Heard the live version first. That chorus is amazing.

[romdrums]

8. Even Less (20).  I like both versions of this song, and while I love the extended version on Recordings, the album version works just as well.  Great tune.

7. Heartattack in a Lay By (32).  I probably could have rated it higher.  The combination of the song itself along with a genius mix really puts you in the car with the character in the song.  So awesome.

6. Buying New Soul (10).  First time I heard this one was on the Arriving Somewhere DVD, and I was absolutely blown away by it.  Great showcase for all that Richard Barbieri contributes to the band.

[The Letter M]

I had Even Less at 15. I love the longer version. I always wondered why SW changed the lyrics for the live version.  The studio version says “you’re a martyr to even less” but live he says “I’m a martyr to even less”…which I don’t think makes sense considering the previous line.

https://genius.com/Porcupine-tree-even-less-full-version-lyrics

He sings both lines in the full version of the song, with "You're a martyr for even less" in the first half, then "I'm a martyr to even less" at the end.

-Marc

[Buddyhunter1]

Unranked

- Where Would We Be
- The Blind House
- Halo
- Lips of Ashes
- Stars Die
- Feel So Low
- Fadeaway
- The Creator Has A Mastertape
- Stop Swimming
- Gravity Eyelids
- I Drive The Hearse
- The Sky Moves Sideways
- Open Car
- Last Chance To Evacuate Planet Earth Before It Is Recycled
- Shesmovedon

Ranked

#50: Normal
#49:
#48: Drown With Me
#47: A Smart Kid
#46: The Sound Of Muzak
---
#38: Glass Arm Shattering
---
#35: Deadwing
#34: Dignity
#33: Chimera's Wreck
#32: Even Less
#31:
#30: Fear Of A Blank Planet
#29: Herd Culling
#28: Sleep Together
---
#23: Mellotron Scratch
#22: Waiting (both phases)
#21: Don't Hate Me
#20: Time Flies
#19: Way Out Of Here
#18: Sentimental
#17: What Happens Now?
#16:
#15: My Ashes
#14: Lightbulb Sun
#13:
#12: The Start Of Something Beautiful
#11: Heartattack In A Layby
#10: Strip The Soul
#9:
#8: Harridan
#7: Buying New Soul
#6: Collapse The Light Into Earth
#5: Lazarus
#4:
#3: Russia On Ice
#2: Hatesong
#1:



Even Less: And that's hopefully the last of the songs from outside my top 20! I've always found this one to be a bit overhyped, though I do enjoy it. The vocal melodies are especially great here, and the chord progression in the verses is quite nice. I ranked the Stupid Dream version rather than the one on Recordings - I never really got the point of the extended version. All that stuff they add in the middle just feels pointless to me.

Heartattack In A Layby: As I've said before, this song feels like Steven Wilson deliberately wrote the most depressing song imaginable, and he succeeded! Lyrically this song is devilishly emotional. One of the saddest things to me is someone dying without even being aware of it, and this song sure as hell capitalizes on that. And musically it's just beautiful. It's such a lush and layered mix without becoming too complex or distracting.

Buying New Soul: This is another one that has grown on me considerably over the years. There's just nothing else like it. It's sort of comparable to Russia On Ice because of how incredibly vivid the dark atmosphere is, but the vibe is completely different. Whereas that song was sinister and ominous, this one is more wistful, as if there's still a tiny bit of hope left in the character. Barbieri's keyboards are perfect here, and Collin's upright bass adds a nice texture, too. But I think the biggest strength of this song is how well it utilizes silence. The amount of space in the mix and the patience of the composition creates such an evocative atmosphere that's impossible for me not to love.

[Mladen]

I had Even less at #31 and Heartattack at #24. Buying new soul just missed the cut. All great tracks, but not among my very favorites.

[The Great Zo]

08 Even Less (my ranking: 4)

I just barely missed being the high-rank on this one, and it sets a new record for the group, appearing on 20 of 22 lists.

So, which version am I reviewing? I guess the answer is both. I treat Stupid Dream / Lightbulb Sun / Recordings as a trilogy of albums. When I listen to them, I usually do it one after the other -- maybe over the course of three days. Even Less acts as the bookends -- the short version as the introduction, and the full version as the huge dramatic F-bombed conclusion. Throw in Oceans Have No Memory as the cool-down over the end credits.

And yeah, Recordings isn't a real album, but the song quality is good enough -- and the sequencing flows well enough -- that I treat it as one.

Since I'm fairly certain our countdown is done with this run of albums, I can say that I ranked 8 songs from Stupid Dream, 5 from Lightbulb Sun, and 5 from Recordings if you double-count Even Less.

As for Even Less itself? My favorite part is near the end of the short version -- the heavy riffing in D, combined with the huge snare hits that come in at different parts of the count. But really, the whole song is amazing. The bleak resignation in the lyrics, the main riff (and the extra guitar line they add on top of it), the solo at the end over the quiet bit. And the counting. Zero Zero Nine Six!

07 Heartattack in a Layby (my ranking: N/R)

Well, this might be my last "song I just don't get the love for" on the countdown. It's pretty, the vocal harmonies at the end are beautiful, but the song just doesn't really do anything. And I kinda need my songs to do things. I don't hate it -- in fact it's probably my favorite song on the final segment of In Absentia. But I couldn't rank it.

06 Buying New Soul (my ranking: 2 -- high rank)

Everything Steven ever learned about depressing downbeat balladry, he perfected on this amazing song. If Even Less has lyrics that are bleak, Buying New Soul goes even further. The imagery of the line "I still wave at the dots on the shore" makes it one of my favorite lyrics in any song, by any band.

Musically, it's some of the nicest chord progressions Steven's come up with, and the huge build-up in the middle section adds some tension and intensity before the final verse kicks in.

And yeah, that thing Richard came up with at the beginning and the end of the song? It's brilliant. Steven doesn't get all the credit here -- the whole band deserves it.

I love the musical motif enough that I even ranked "Untitled" near the bottom of my Top 50!

------------------------

My #1 and #6 are still alive ... but my #10, and a bunch of others down from there, are toast.

[Buddyhunter1]

I love the musical motif enough that I even ranked "Untitled" near the bottom of my Top 50!

I do have one song from Recordings that was my #25 and I wouldn't be surprised if mine was the only list it appeared on.

[The Great Zo]

YES!!! 

[Mladen]

I have two songs from Recordings that will not be ranked either. I am looking forward to the entire list at the end, I wonder if I'm the only one that ranked them. 

[Buddyhunter1]

Untitled is super underappreciated. It's the amazing atmosphere from Buying New Soul, but a jam! What more could you want?

[The Great Zo]

We're all gonna get scolded for spotlighting once it turns out "Untitled" is actually #2 on the countdown, just barely nudged out of the top spot by "Space Transmission".