Best Porcupine Tree Album

Tie between TSMS and In Absentia. Went with the latter.

I don't really know, I don't know all of them, and would have to listen to the ones I have again. I mainly have the Gavin Harrison albums, plus the pre Harrison live albums Coma Divine and Warzawa. Of this, the one I have enjoyed the most is Coma Divine, but I'm not sure if I would actually like any of the pre-Harrsion studio albums over the Harrison era ones.

I'm not sure I would agree about Wilson's songwriting being better on the Harrison era albums. As I said, my favourite album from them is Coma Divine, and so far, my favourite songs from them would have to be "Radioactive Toy", "The Sky Moves Sideways" (as I know them on Coma Divine), as well as "Russia on Ice" (as I know it on Warzawa). I also like many of the more ambient bits on Coma Divine. However, I do enjoy many songs from the later albums, only they kind of lack that "something" special... perhaps in a way it was even Maitland himself (I actually sort of enjoy more his drumming on those two live albums I know with him than what I've heard by Harrison). However, I do love Blackest Eyes (as well as trains) for completley different reasons... not to say I think it's the best song from the Harrison era albums, but it does have some wonderful qualities... mainly, I think it's wonderfully succesful as a metal song, as well as a pop song, as well as a prog song (this last one to a lesser degree, though)... and there's not many songs that can achieve such a thing.

Deadwing. It's a shame that Stupid Dream, Lightbulb Sun and THe Incident are so underappreciated here, they all are excellent works.

And the hype around The Sky Moves Sideways was always bugging me. What's so special about this poor Pink Floyd rip-off? Not even songwiring was good on here, in comparison with Up the Downstair this album is literally boring.

I dunno. Porcupine Tree finally clicked with me about a month ago, and I've been listening to their music pretty consistently over that time. I could pick one of any 5-6 as my favorite right now.

Dellinger wrote: richardh wrote: I'm a bit confused then as to why you think you wouldn't like the pre Harrison albums as you have accepted that Wilson wrote good songs in that era and also you respect Maitland as a drummer? Well, perhaps I didn't express myself correctly. Mainly, I like so much Coma Divine, and specially the 3 tracks I already mentioned (though one of the is from Warzawa), that I'm not sure he could have pulled that atmosphere quiet the same way on the studio albums... I got the impression (perhaps wrongly) that they are going already in a more poppy and less atmospheric direction (perhaps I get that impression from what I heard on the Warzawa album).

richardh wrote: Dellinger wrote: richardh wrote: I'm a bit confused then as to why you think you wouldn't like the pre Harrison albums as you have accepted that Wilson wrote good songs in that era and also you respect Maitland as a drummer? Well, perhaps I didn't express myself correctly. Mainly, I like so much Coma Divine, and specially the 3 tracks I already mentioned (though one of the is from Warzawa), that I'm not sure he could have pulled that atmosphere quiet the same way on the studio albums... I got the impression (perhaps wrongly) that they are going already in a more poppy and less atmospheric direction (perhaps I get that impression from what I heard on the Warzawa album).   In Absentia was going a little bit that way but then Deadwing is one for those who like Wilson when he is really 'heavy' and for me is stronger on atmosphere. There is a very good reissue of Stupid Dream that you cannot avoid getting! Lightbulb Sun is to me a bit 'meh' compared to In Absentia but then that could possibly appeal to you just a bit more.

Yeah, I guess I will just have to end up completing my collection eventually... including the Recordings album... if I can still get it when I make up my mind, for I understand it was released as a limited printing album.

ole-the-first wrote: Deadwing. It's a shame that Stupid Dream, Lightbulb Sun and THe Incident are so underappreciated here, they all are excellent works. And the hype around The Sky Moves Sideways was always bugging me. What's so special about this poor Pink Floyd rip-off? Not even songwiring was good on here, in comparison with Up the Downstair this album is literally boring.

Stupid Dream

Very consistent catalogue they had...
Voted for "Stupid Dream".