What makes Porcupine Tree a good band?

progkidjoel wrote: Evening Basically, I'm a little confused. I love Porcupine Tree - One of my favourite ever bands... I recently let a friend who loves GENESIS borrow 3 albums (Deadwing, The Sky Moves Sideways and In Absentia) and he basically said he couldn't see what was so great about them... I found it incredibly hard to explain. I'm not in doubt, I just want to explain to him why I love the band and why so many other people do. So basically, Can someone tell me what makes Porcupine Tree special? Thanks -Joel.

You know, whenever someone lends me an album or albums and says "hey man, you gotta try this," it often depends on hearing the material at the right time.  Hear it when you aren't in the mood for it and it won't click. 

Of course being a hardcore fan of old Genesis from way back, the three you loaned and most of the catalog aren't all that similar to old G.  I'd have to guess the more metal bits of D and IA were probably the turn off and even if he was a big Floyd fan, he might not like TSMS for being too Floyd like.

To answer the thread question though, what makes PT a good band?  The short and somewhat sarcastic answer is Steven Wilson.  The guy was born near the same year as myself and if you consider his considerable output, Steven's not only a prolific musician, but seems to be influenced by the same artists that I get into.  Still, with my first love, In Absentia, he brings in a lot of elements that really aren't stereotypical prog, then throws his own creative elements into the brew.

Now, if you're talking about Porcupine Tree as a band, I'll have to think about it a bit and get back to you. 

I would not dispute the proposition that PT, as they are and have been, are not a good band.  I don't think PT would be as good if SW wasn't collaborating with others...


Edited by Slartibartfast - July 23 2009 at 11:20

p0mt3 wrote: floydispink wrote: p0mt3 wrote: floydispink wrote: The combination of spacey and melancholic soundscapes with metal influences. Of course, that's just one thing that makes them the band they are, I could name another thousand of things; Steven Wilson's excellent guitar playing, Gavin's great drumming, their emotional songs, etc. But the combination of soundscapes and metal influences is clearly one of the things that makes Porcupine tree one of a kind.  At the same time I think this also is their weakness, for example, in the early days of the band, or actually Steven Wilson's solo project. The album I mean is Up The Downstair, my first Porcupine Tree album. I started with early psychedelic PT, because I was very into soundscapes and not into heavy prog or metal at all. I think the album is decent, but apart from the soundscapes and a song or two, the album is very uninteresting IMO. An example: the two mini-epics of the album, the title track and Burning Sky. Both have kind of the same structure (Burning Sky has more solos though), and both have an incredibly cheesy and uninteresting main riff. Those riffs are as far as I know, the only metal influences on the album, and they are the biggest dissapointments. They do, roughly said, make the two mini-epics of the album my least favorite songs of the album.  Now I've got more PT albums, I can say they've done the soundscape/metal combo much better on their more recent releases, for example: Deadwing. I think the album is great, songs like Arriving Somewhere... are the perfect combination between soundscapes and metal. and to me the defining Porcupine Tree.  PT has never been Metal . . . No, but they've been metal influenced.  True, true. In fact, doesn't the official site state somewhere that Meshuggah is Wilson's favorite metal band?

Well, I've certainly heard Steven say he loves them. He's a big fan of extreme metal in general, I think, which he was introduced to through Opeth, another one of his favourites. And good for him, they're both awesome bands.

What makes them good?

Easy:

I like them.

Trying to convince people to like what's great about certain music is like trying to convince someone to like what's great about your favorite food.  It's pointless (believe me, I've tried).

Fieldofsorrow wrote: p0mt3 wrote: floydispink wrote: p0mt3 wrote: [QUOTE=floydispink] .... snip ...   /QUOTE] PT has never been Metal . . .   No, but they've been metal influenced.  True, true. In fact, doesn't the official site state somewhere that Meshuggah is Wilson's favorite metal band? Well, I've certainly heard Steven say he loves them. He's a big fan of extreme metal in general, I think, which he was introduced to through Opeth, another one of his favourites. And good for him, they're both awesome bands.

Let me add a bit to what all the fellas had said that are good info and important why we like Mighty Tree and Steve Wilson, however I won't write a whole journal here : Is this simple why I love PT and anyone would. To my ears PT sounds like these bands in many ways here:

Edited by darksideof - July 23 2009 at 11:43

Slartibartfast wrote: darksideof wrote: Let add a bit to what all the fellas had said that are good info and important why we like Mighty Tree and Steve Wilson , however I won't write a whole journal here : Is this simple why I love PT and anyone would. To my ears PT sounds like these bands in many ways here: Pink Floyd( the spacey sound and guitar solos), King Crimson,( the quirky guitar solos)  Yes,( the vocals arraignments) RUSH, ( The synchronism  in the music) Black Sabbath (their heavy sound)    Led Zeppelin.( their heavy sound and folky tunes )  I think PT's music a bit of all these these bands. If  a person likes these bands I pretty sure that will love Porcupine Tree. 2. and it also the more you listen to a song the more you like it and grows on you like a tree. Am I right or wrong? My God!!  What have you done? Letting the days go by...

Edited by darksideof - July 23 2009 at 11:45

I think it's because they're as poppy, accesible, and catchy as the "prog" banner allows. Really that simple. Anymore poppy and they would be called an alt rock group, any more prog, they'd be lost in obscurity.

floydispink wrote: Moshkito, I believe we've had the same discussion before. My answer: genres can be used as an indicator for something, I know what metal is and I know some of Porcupine Tree's music is influenced by that. Steven Wilson himself has stated that he and the band are influenced by metal, the genre.  So, I advice you to tell Steven Wilson he can't look beyond genres.

I hear piles of influences in PT, not least of which are Floyd, Crimson, and various classic rock acts, but they are most certainly not derivative.

I love the atmospherics that are evident in their music, and Wilson is one of the finest vocalists I have ever had the pleasure of listening to.

Emotion, great performances, lyrics, vocals, musicianship, soundscapes, mood changes...They've got it all. A classic modern band, and long may they continue.

I like Porcupine because of emotion deliver in different kinds of moods, "heavy" and "smooth" with a great vocalist. It's not complicated music and can reach young and old people.