Porcupine Tree - Deadwing

Complete modern prog album

My discovery of Porcupine Tree just a little over a year ago was a musical revelation of sorts. Porcupine Tree has really inspired me, more than any modern band, with the way they can synthesize a wide array of influences into a completely unique and well-crafted album. Steven Wilson certainly is a musician and producer with extraordinary range, and myriad influences. His career as a musician with IEM, No-Man, Bass Communion, Blackfield and Porcupine Tree has spanned the range of electronica, ambient, pop, metal and psychodelica, and his production of albums from the raw simplicity of Anja Garbarek to the crushing death metal of Opeth showcase his amazing musical capability and attention to detail.

Porcupine Tree's latest studio album "Deadwing" defies characterization, with their trademark pristine production, attention to nuanced detail, and intelligent songwriting. I love Porcupine Tree's ability to easily switch gears from a straight-forward groove rocker like "Halo" to a subtle ballad like "Lazarus," and then transition to the centerpiece of the album "Arriving Somewhere Not Here" which builds from quiet ambient to full metallic power.

As with their previous album "In Absentia," and much of the rest of their catalog, the band creates accessible yet challenging pieces that still seem fresh after many repeated listens. Although incredibly talented, it seems to me that the band is almost incapable of showboating, and they prefer to let musical nuggets like the offbeat groove in "The Start of Something Beautiful" or the touch of the fuzz-wah solo in the self-covered "Shesmovedon" reveal themselves over the span of multiple listens. October 8, 2008

Awesome CD !! My new favorite band.

I discovered PT through a friend about 2 years ago. Since then, I have bought everything they have done since the "Lightbulb Sun" LP. I have also seen then perform live. BUY THIS CD !! Excellent song writing, and one of the world's greatest drummers, Gavin Harrison. If you like this one, also check out "In Absentia", my favorite of all Porcupine Tree LPs. August 13, 2008

Need I say more...

To their peers, superlative!

Arriving Somewhere But Not Here, need I say more?

If you don't already own this, well then, you're really not into progressive rock. June 8, 2008

Quite possible, a perfect album

There are others here who can give (and have given) much better reviews for this album. So I don't know how helpful this will be to anyone who's contemplating buying it. I'm only going to give my gut, emotional reaction to it, as opposed to a logical analysis of why each song is so spectacular. See....the music on this album goes beyond logical analysis. It hits you right in the emotional solar plexus. Especially after you play it several times through and let it wash over you (and especially as you get into the fifth track throgh the end. BTW....keep the CD playing. There is a hidden track after the end. And yeah...it's a stand out track just as much as the other ones are).

I'm a fan of many different types of music and I came across this album because Steve Wilson has been involved with one of my favorite metal bands, Opeth. So I kinda picked it up sight unseen only because of this association (And because Mikeal Akerfeldt of Opeth admires him so much. I personally think that Akerfeldt is a musical genius, so I take his recommendations to heart).

I think I have found a perfect album. I really do. It was as though Steve Wilson took all of the best parts of my favorite bands (A little bit of Coldplay, maybe some Radiohead, a little Pink Floyd, a bit of Dream Theater, maybe some Rush, even some Peter Gabriel and Beck and yes....even some Opeth...miunus the growls, of course) and mixed it all up and put his own special brilliant spin onto it and created...the perfect album.

Perfect from start to finish. Every song is fantastic. No filler whatsoever. Great lyrics, great musicianaship and perfect arrangements.

Not a very helpful review is it? No, I can't logcally tell you why this album has reached in and grabbed my heart and won't let go. Maybe...hopefully...it will do the same for you.

If you're contemplating getting this album....take a risk and get it. Perhaps you'll see the same magic in Steve Wilson and Porcupine Tree as I do. April 30, 2008

The Greatest Band You've Never Heard Of

This album is a masterpiece. It's really rare to find a band like this in this day & age. There is so much crap out there now. A band that makes it on talent alone. No MTV no radio play. It's like it used to be. Word of mouth and live shows. Check out all of their work, you won't be dissapointed. Spend some time with their music and let it grow on you. Really good stuff. April 9, 2008

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