Best 3 star porcupine tree album
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Topic: Best 3 star porcupine tree album
Posted By: fudgenuts64
Subject: Best 3 star porcupine tree album
Date Posted: May 16 2013 at 02:50
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Hard one for me, I gotta think about this. All are really good but Up The Downstair and Stupid Dream probably tie it for me.
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Replies:
Posted By: Man With Hat
Date Posted: May 16 2013 at 03:02
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Stupid Dream and On The Sunday Of Life are both fantastic. I'll go with the former. ------------- Dig me...But don't...Bury me I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect. |
Posted By: Aussie-Byrd-Brother
Date Posted: May 16 2013 at 03:08
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Like a record stuck in the final groove, I constantly mention that `Signify' is not only Porcupine Tree's defining moment, but one of the best modern progressive albums. A beautiful blend of prog, ambient, gothic, dance, hard rock and psych.
`Up The Downstair' is also superb, but only the original version, not the `remixed' one with the live drums. It totally changed the sound of the album, where it used to blend the programmed/dancy drums with prog, with new one removed that dance element altogether, somewhat ruining the inventive and truly progressive sound it first had! `Sunday' is a gorgeous 80's influneced psych/pop knockout, and the first of their run of more indie-rock albums `Stupid Dream' beautifully changed the focus to a more song-based direction without letting go of the prog rock style. Only `The Incident' is a slight disappointment, a good album on it's own, but the metal/harder elements were starting to sound a little tired, and the whole thing kind of suggested a bit of a step-back and rethink approach might be best for a while...cue the band being put on hold as we speak. 
But really, not an even remotely bad album among this bunch! What a band! 
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Posted By: King Crimson776
Date Posted: May 16 2013 at 03:18
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Stupid Dream is their best. In Absentia is one of their worst.
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Posted By: Gallifrey
Date Posted: May 16 2013 at 04:05
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The Incident. Never understood the hate for it. ------------- http://thedarkthird.bandcamp.com/ |
Posted By: Kotro
Date Posted: May 16 2013 at 04:16
 ------------- Bigger on the inside. |
King Crimson776 wrote:Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: May 16 2013 at 04:55
This poll is asking for the 'Best 3 star P.T. album' - I don't get it  .................
Or should it be 3 of the best P.T. albums ??
Anyway, to answer the question - the best '3 star' album would have to be 'Yellow Hedgerow Dreamscape'
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Posted By: zeqexes
Date Posted: May 16 2013 at 04:58
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I don't own Signify, but out of the others, I'd have to say Stupid Dream. ------------- 
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Posted By: Aussie-Byrd-Brother
Date Posted: May 16 2013 at 05:02
Tom, I thought it meant `Best of the PTree albums that are currently on 3 star ratings on the Archives, but now that I've checked, pretty much all of their albums are mostly at about 4 stars, so now I don't understand either! 
Unless these are the albums that the original poster feels are 3 star albums? |
Posted By: octopus-4
Date Posted: May 16 2013 at 05:14
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I know three of five of them. Up The Downstairs is my favorite in the list. Never heard "Sunday" and "Incident". ------------- I stand with Roger Waters, I stand with Joan Baez, I stand with Victor Jara, I stand with Woody Guthrie. Music is revolution |
Posted By: sleeper
Date Posted: May 16 2013 at 05:24
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On the Sunday of Life.
------------- Spending more than I should on Prog since 2005 
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Posted By: HolyMoly
Date Posted: May 16 2013 at 05:24
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Picked Up the Downstair, with Signify a close second. The Incident is fine; three stars is about right for it.. OTSOL and Stupid Dream are two of my least favorites from PT. ------------- My other avatar is a Porsche It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle if it is lightly greased. -Kehlog Albran |
Posted By: Finnforest
Date Posted: May 16 2013 at 06:31
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The Incident. ------------- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/sQD8uhpWXCw" rel="nofollow - It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood...Road Rage Edition |
Posted By: Roland113
Date Posted: May 16 2013 at 07:02
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Yeah, I'm not certain I understand the criteria either but oh well, from these, I have to go with Signify as one of the best in their entire career. For me, In Absentia and Signify are Porcupine Tree's two best albums. This was an easy vote for me. I do love The Incident and Stupid Dream but no contest when compared to Signify. ------------- -------someone please tell him to delete this line, he looks like a noob------- I don't have an unnatural obsession with Disney Princesses, I have a fourteen year old daughter and coping mechanisms. |
Posted By: Blacksword
Date Posted: May 16 2013 at 07:20
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Signify.
One of their best albums imo. Not far behind In Absentia. Level with Deadwing, and slightly ahead of FOABP, and better than any of the others listed by quite a large margin. ------------- Ultimately bored by endless ecstasy! |
Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: May 16 2013 at 07:36
I assume he means between 3 and 4. 'Yellow Hedgerow Dreamscape' is 2.44. |
Posted By: Melomaniac
Date Posted: May 16 2013 at 07:45
What ? Stupid Dream is rated 3 stars ???
 It's one of their best albums (in my humble opinion, that is)... ------------- "One likes to believe in the freedom of Music" - Neil Peart, The Spirit of Radio |
Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: May 16 2013 at 08:05
Actually 3.97 |
Posted By: AtomicCrimsonRush
Date Posted: May 16 2013 at 08:08
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Went for Signify, but I like material on all these ------------- 
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Posted By: progmatic
Date Posted: May 16 2013 at 08:55
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1. Signify 2. Stupid Dream 3. Up the Downstair (original) 4. The Incident 5. On the Sunday of Life The first three are awesome beyond belief, IMHO. Signify is one of my favorite albums ever, by anyone. ------------- PROGMATIC |
Posted By: fudgenuts64
Date Posted: May 16 2013 at 09:03
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Three stars as in anywhere within the 3 star ratings. I generally think of any album with a 4 star or higher rating as one of the artists best, and generally the 3 star ones are iffy, ranging from really great to just ok, so I thought it would be cool to see what people thought of the lesser of porcupine tree's albums, according to the site.
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Posted By: digdug
Date Posted: May 16 2013 at 09:05
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Stupid Dream just edges Signify
------------- Prog On! |
Posted By: Earthmover
Date Posted: May 16 2013 at 09:21
Though I haven't heard them all. -------------  |
Posted By: Wanorak
Date Posted: May 16 2013 at 11:19
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Stupid Dream, followed by on the Sunday of Life. ------------- A GREAT YEAR FOR PROG!!! |
Posted By: Guldbamsen
Date Posted: May 16 2013 at 11:54
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Just goes to show how different we hear these albums. To me there's only one 3 star album here, and that is the debut - still think it's quite charming though. Anyway it was between Signify and Up the downstair - and I went for the latter(I enjoy both versions - the 90s dance album as well as the modern one with Gavin on the drums) I just read a review on the frontpage that gave Metanoia 1 star, which again points towards my initial statement, because I happen to rate it among the very best of PT releases.... Different strokes for different coats and all that. Personally, I think that PT (Steven) were best during the psychedelic years. ------------- “The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.” - Douglas Adams |
Posted By: Triceratopsoil
Date Posted: May 16 2013 at 11:55
| Voted Signify because I like Neu |
Posted By: Gandalff
Date Posted: May 16 2013 at 12:19
------------- A Elbereth Gilthoniel silivren penna míriel o menel aglar elenath! Na-chaered palan-díriel o galadhremmin ennorath, Fanuilos, le linnathon nef aear, sí nef aearon! |
Posted By: pianoman
Date Posted: May 16 2013 at 14:51
Thirded. |
Posted By: Horizons
Date Posted: May 16 2013 at 17:47
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Signify. ------------- Crushed like a rose in the riverflow. |
Posted By: CryoftheCarrots
Date Posted: May 16 2013 at 17:59
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What an insanely difficult poll !!
I went with Up the Downstair by a gnats whisker from Signify & The Incident equally.
Stupid Dream next with OTSOL last. ------------- "There is a lot in this world to be tense and intense about" MJK |
Posted By: Aussie-Byrd-Brother
Date Posted: May 16 2013 at 18:08
Dave, one of my exes used to like PTree, and I remember I had `Metanoia' playing in the car one time, and she said `Urgh, I hate this album. It's like....nothing music. Nothing happens in it." at which point I jokingly thought in the back of my mind `You know, I don't think this is going to work out..."!
and AMEN to that, brother.
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Posted By: RedNightmareKing
Date Posted: May 16 2013 at 19:06
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I really liked Up the Downstair. A true cornerstone of modern space-rock, next to The Sky Moves Sideways. OtSOL was really hard for me to digest, save for a few songs. Signify was very good as well. Stupid Dream was awesome, but I still favor spaciness. The Incident was extremely meh.
------------- I consider drone metal to be progressive... |
Posted By: infocat
Date Posted: May 16 2013 at 22:49
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Up The Downstair (the original version) My first PT, and I have a definite soft spot for it. ------------- -- Frank Swarbrick Belief is not Truth. |
Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: May 16 2013 at 22:51
That works for me and I would give them both 3.5 to 4 stars. ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: May 17 2013 at 01:59
agreed. 5 star album for me
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Posted By: memowakeman
Date Posted: May 20 2013 at 08:15
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Signify ------------- Follow me on twitter @memowakeman |
Posted By: bonestorm
Date Posted: May 20 2013 at 23:12
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Definitely Signify. Love "Waiting Phase One and Two", "Sever", "Sleep…" and the list goes on. Bit of a crime it's a 3 star album, should be 4+.
------------- Hibernal http://hibernal.bandcamp.com" rel="nofollow - http://hibernal.bandcamp.com "This is a stunning work of art" - Muzik Reviews "A precious gem" - Dante's Prog |
Posted By: bonestorm
Date Posted: May 20 2013 at 23:31
That's undoubtedly my review. I told my wife that night that I'd written a one star review for a PT album and she wouldn't believe me, since she knows the regard I hold for them. But that is just an album I find painful to listen to. I'm glad you guys can get some enjoyment out if it though, more power to you.  ------------- Hibernal http://hibernal.bandcamp.com" rel="nofollow - http://hibernal.bandcamp.com "This is a stunning work of art" - Muzik Reviews "A precious gem" - Dante's Prog |
Posted By: Roj
Date Posted: May 21 2013 at 08:05
And as Yellow Hedgerow Dreamscape is without a doubt the best piece of music PT ever created I am absolutely staggered at that rating. Simply unbelievable. |
Posted By: Aussie-Byrd-Brother
Date Posted: May 21 2013 at 10:03
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Roj, I always loved `Yellow Hedgerow Dreamscape' as well, like a less poppy but equally warped and bent experimental companion to `..Sunday Of Life'.
Might have to give it another listen, I haven't done so in years
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Posted By: Chozal
Date Posted: May 21 2013 at 10:12
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Signify always excited me more than the others in this list.
------------- https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Infinite-Progability-Drive/141225469388975" rel="nofollow - The Infinite Progability Drive , feeding you daily progressive/weird music for just a like <3 |
Posted By: Roj
Date Posted: May 23 2013 at 08:08
The mini album is good, but the actual track Yellow Hedgerow Dreamscape is my favourite PT piece of all time. |
Posted By: uduwudu
Date Posted: May 25 2013 at 03:59
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Up The Downstair for me is an absolute classic. Great ideas well expressed and the CD EP shows the value of adding real drums for those old plastic drum sounds. Signify is also superb... 3 stars on PA? Really? Must add my rating. Sunday is unique - different lyricist. it has Radio active Toy - which if radio programmers had imagination and initiative should be a constant threat / presence. Stupid Dream is a fine album yet it's the number Strange as It Seems that works best for me. Yet it is that much derided format here on PA - that of a pop tune. It is one od those classic types of pop tunes where SW and chums came up with a gem. I am one of the listeners that found The Incident lacking. Less of the melodies (unlike his later should have been the last PT album, Grace for Drowning), I found the Incident an unfocussed concept album that did not hang together in any sort of conceptual identity. Not in the way that certain numbers on In Absentia related to one another. Still a great run of albums by a great band in it's slowly varying incarnations. I know I should vote for Signify as it's the first band album but for me it's Up The Downstair. Actually of of all the PT albums it's this one... |
Posted By: Chadders
Date Posted: May 30 2013 at 02:48
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has to be Fear of a Blank Planet for me at the moment, would be even better if 'Normal' was on it though |
Posted By: King of Loss
Date Posted: May 30 2013 at 20:22
| 3 Star Porcupine Tree album? Signify and Stupid Dream are definitely 5 star Porcupine Tree albums!! |