This SHT list is all because of Niels!
Some time ago Niels posted some videos and then some tracks from an album titled "The Raven That Refused To Sing" by Steven Wilson. Ever since then its been a very consuming venture to find about this guy and his work. Really, it has been one of those great journeys of discovery and something that has opened my eyes, and ears, to some really great music.
While the journey started with his latest solo album, it lead to a band named "Porcupine Tree" - So heres a little about them;
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Porcupine Tree originated in 1987 as a collaborative hoax project by Steven Wilson and Malcolm Stocks. Partially inspired by the psychedelic/progressive bands of the 1970s, such as Pink Floyd, that had dominated the music scene during their youth, the two decided to form a fictional legendary rock band named The Porcupine Tree. The two fabricated a detailed back-story including information on alleged band members and album titles, as well as a "colourful" history which purportedly included events such as a meeting at a 1970s rock festival and several trips in and out of prison. As soon as he had put aside enough money to buy his own studio equipment, Wilson obliged this creation with several hours of music to provide "evidence" of its existence. Although Stocks provided a few passages of treated vocals and experimental guitar playing, his role in the project was mostly offering occasional ideas, with the bulk of the material being written, recorded, played and sung by Wilson.
Much of the inherent musical background of Porcupine Tree goes back to Wilson's childhood, when his parents gave Christmas presents to each other. His father received Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon whilst his mother got Donna Summer's Love to Love You Baby, which Wilson assures, both played "in a continuous way". These albums would heavily influence his further songwriting (especially the Pink Floyd one). Other known influences are Karlheinz Stockhausen and Abba.
For their recordings the band has included mellotron, banjo, hammered dulcimer and guimbri among other instruments unusual for rock bands.
Above all, Porcupine Tree music has maintained a strong textural and experimental quality, often fusing many genres in a single track. The band's work is noted for its atmospheric nature, largely due to Barbieri's keyboard style and sound-processing abilities, and Wilson's cinematic scope, as a declared fan of American filmmaker David Lynch, whose films are renowned for their sonic content. "Very layered, very produced, very arranged and [with] complex arrangements" is the way Wilson describes the sound of the band.
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OK - so the stage is set, are you ready for this? Did you know Porcupine Tree has won several Grammy's for best Surround and 5.1 mixes? So listen carefully and preferably louder than normal...
PLAYLIST --> http://snack.to/adn5yukt
Assuming you've taken the time to read down this far your in luck. I have a brand-spanking-new version of Signify still shrink wrapped and dying for an owner. It goes to the first person who can answer this question correctly...
This city is home to the oldest enclosed stadium on a college campus in the United States and the second-oldest overall. Only the Houston Astrodome, completed in 1965, predates it. Since 2008, it has been the oldest enclosed stadium in use.
Name the city and the arena...
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The first time, I noticed Porcupine Tree, was in 2010, when I did VOTW, and I found and posted a track from The Incident. I loved that video and track, and I also bought the album. It wasn't as great, as I expected, but I hoped for a new PT-album, but then Wilson made a solo-album, which wasn't very good, and then he made an album with Mikael Åkerfeldt, which wasn't very good, and then he made TRTRTS, which at the moment imo, is one of the two best albums, released in 2013.
I don't know, why I haven't tried to listen to some older PT-albums, probably because I have listened to something else, but I will listen to this, and if I like it, I will try to get my hands on some of these albums.
Scott and/or Jon: Which albums, should I start up with? Is the latest double-live album any good?
You need to get "In Absentia", "Fear Of A Blank Planet" and "Deadwing". I'm not too big on live albums, so couldn't give you a recommendation on their latest live album. If you want to here some early Porcupine Tree, get the "Stars Die" comp, but it's mostly pretty mellow stuff. It's not bad, but it's more along the lines of Tangerine Dream on a lot of the songs.
I listened to most of The Incident yesterday. I think it's damn good. I'm gonna try to listen to it again today.
This was nice. I like Porcupine Tree, the early stuff is ok, but I really enjoy the later, heavier stuff. I don't think you can go wrong with anything from these guys though. What's amazing is the production, this is great music to listen to on headphones. Nice job, now more people need to buy their albums and listen to TRTRTS AGAIN to fully realize the masterpiece that it is.
agreed... this stuff turned on headphones is completely different and enhanced listening experience. Remember these guys have won grammys for their surround and 5.1 mixes.
And anyone who doesn't like that Raven album, well that's just not normal!
Damn. Have I ever missed out on some good music here. Although I have heard of these guys, I think I once saw a video that I just didn't care for and therefore never gave these guys a second look. This shit is great. I hear a lot of Hawkwind and Marillion in here. I think a bit of Mathew Sweet as well and a few other bands I can't quit pinpoint other than the obvious Floyd. oh and I just heard a bit of Stabbing Westward right now. Amazing!!!!!!!
Thanks for this. Gonna be looking for their stuff now.
I may do a part II if you want to hear more next week ... I love the Signify CD right now, and their catalog is really split in two..
Part I: Atmospheric, psychedelic, and pink floyd-ish
Part II: Progressive with more rock and roll / metal influence.
Hell yeah Scott.
This is very, very good!!
Might I just add, that even though Wilson sings great, his voice isn't THAT strong, and I wonder how this music had sounded with an even better singer with a stronger voice.
But....I have to get me some of those albums!! I think, that I agree with Jon, that the later heavy stuff might just be the best, well for me (and Jon, obviously) anyway. I've just heard most of "Deadwing", and it sounds great!! The best tracks, are those, where the guitar sounds heavy!!
But I'm interested in "Signify" as well. Something about that cover, tells me, that it's a good album! Do you have the Special edition from 2004, Scott? There's 22 tracks on that one.
It seems like, it's not that easy to purchase all of their albums, though?! Well, not the way, I usually purchase albums, meaning either through ITunes or by a couple of scandinavian shops on the net, but CD's ARE more expensive.
If so, I guess, I can get all of them through Amazon, but I will start out with the 4 albums recommended by you guys: "In Absentia", "FOABP", "Deadwing" and "Signify" special edition, of course.
I purchased all of mine between a local CD store and Amazon.com. They are not overpriced (IMO) for the special edition and packaging that you get, especially Signify - which is the one I'm into most. It is, however, not as heavy as their later work.
Not that anyone would find this on this thread, but there was a free CD giveaway buried at the bottom of this ... No one even guessed! Sooooooooo ..... This giveaway is dead... Not gonna happen... over... We'll try again in the next post.
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