I voted for Stupid Dream because I couldn't find the option for Voyage 34: The Complete Trip.

Lightbulb Sun, actually.

1) Lightbulb Sun
2) In Abstentia
3) Deadwing
4) The Sky Moves Sideways
5) Stupid Dream
6) Fear of a Blank Planet
7) Signify
8) Up the Downstair
9) The Incident
10) On the Sunday of Life
11) Voyage 34 (I find phases 3 and 4 terribly boring)

Of it was considered as an album, "Recordings" would be close to the Top 3.

I regard Recordings as not only an album proper but also quite superb. It's compiled from material the band deemed not suitable for Stupid Dream or Light Bulb Sun. Well maybe because some tracks might not have flowed with others - certainly not because they lack in anyway. Album opener Buying New Soul is quintessential P Tree.

My all time favourite might be that but is probably Up The Downstair for such a high melodic standard, variety of material and imagination. Bot to mention Burning Sky, psych / prog lead guitar doing just what such a number needs to do. Give a great prog rock album experience.

The thing is most P Tree albums are a different experience. In Absentia is a near concept album (some themes recurring). Blank Planet and it's partner release Nil Recurring (also not mentioned) are full of great material. Strong on melody

Deadwing has Arriving Somewhere But Not Here - their Hotel California, Stairway To Heaven etc. or would be if radio had a brain.

A good place to start may be the 1996 live album with it's 16 minute spacey Radioactive Toy (radio... again...).

Sunday of Life is to P tree what Piper is to Floyd. A unique experience. Different lyricist and more psychedelic than most.

The Stars Die compilation is also a good place to begin this trip. A very full 2 Cd set, plus booklet with some unique issues to the compilation make it well worth it. I've the box set version, I think a couple of tracks have been omitted from later issues.

I know it's not a P Tree album but Grace For Drowning is the album that should have been the last P tree album. Sad to say but I thought the material on The Incident lacked a lot of the imagination and compositional standard that is the hall mark of most P Tree albums. As a concept album it also lacked thematic focus. And frankly did not have too much in the way of appealing numbers like Stupid Dreams Strange As It Seems tune. Never mind the expanse of the larger numbers.

Metanoia (not mentioned) is a series of similar jams recorded around the time of the amazing Signify album. probably not the place to start bu to get while in the throes of full addiction. Voyage 34 - same applies although it is a lot of fun, probably more so. Btw, Make sure you get all full editions of any e.g Signify has as it's 2nd CD a former fan club type only release.

Very popular is The Sky Moved Sideways (where I came in to P tree). Wilson has virtually disowned it as he thought it was a little too close to Pink Floyd for comfort. He did say that he recorded it "because Pink Floyd were not releasing albums like that any more." So if you are a PF nut you might think he 's right. Or not care. I think he is right and I also don't care (that it's too close to PF for comfort). It's fine and the 2nd CD features an early version of the full thing. Great listen.

Might be an idea to try any of the excellent live albums (of recent years) for tastes of the superb variations of journeys Wilson and his merry men had engaged upon for so long.

There - I've made it easy to choose. ;)

UtD over TSMS.

Here's my top five Porcupine Tree albums, in order!

Someday "The Incident" will get the credit it deserves, it's a great album.