Porcupine Tree - Deadwing
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Free Music Notes for Deadwing
Free Music Review: words can't express my joy
Hit: 5 Stars
I love Porcupine Tree, and was incredibly excited for this next release. And honestly, it is even better than I had anticipated.
It is as if somewhere along the lines they decided to take all of my favorite elements in their music, then pile them together and follow it to its most musically advanced point. Then, as if things weren't good enough, they centered it around a plotline (yes, this is a concept album, but luckily, the concept isn't in-your-face as in an Ayreon CD or something). And just to make this album a gift straight to me, they've borrowed Opeth's frontman! I have driven my friends insane by pointing out all of Mikael Akerfeldt's vocals and guitar solos.
But enough about me, this album is something you'll want to listen to over and over again. You'll hear something new each time you listen to it. I've heard Steven Wilson talk about the contrast between horizontal and vertical complexity in his albums, and this album embodies both to the nth degree.
In a quick rundown of the songs: the title track is this album's "Blackest Eyes"... "Deadwing" sets the mood of the album perfectly, and is very straightforward, and features a phenomenal Adrian Belew (King Crimson) guitar solo.
"Shallow" was a great single. It is very metal-y and obviously influenced by Wilson's work with Opeth. Fans of PT's mellower side won't be too impressed, but it's a great song nonetheless.
"Lazarus", the single for Germany, is my least favorite song. It is very mellow, reminding me of "Trains" and PT's other nonedescript songs.
"Halo" is a heavier song, a less PT-esque song, but that is in a sense MORE PT-esque, because it embodies Steven Wilson's obsession with exploring new genres of music. The guitars in this song are fabulous.
"Arriving Somewhere but not here" is my favorite song, hands down. Akerfeldt is on back-up vocals, and the two voices blend beautifully. This 12-minute opus is mostly mellow, but builds into one of the heaviest moments on the album, which melts into one of the most beautiful guitar solos I've ever hear (Akerfeldt once again).
"Mellotron Scratch" is beautiful. You can feel your soul drop out of your chest. The most notable moment is towards the end when the 3/4 instrumental is overtaken by 4/4 complex vocals, and then the instruments fade to this gorgeous a capella ending. I've replayed this ending dozens of times and it is so musically advanced even I can hardly understand it.
"Open Car" is a good song, but nothing spectacular. Classic PT.
"Start of Something Beautiful" is my 2nd favorite song. It has pounding guitars, but it isn't metal at all, really. The melody will stay with you, but it isn't really catchy. You thought this was the start of something beautiful, well think again...
"Glass Arm Shattering" perfectly completes the album. It's a mellower song, but it isn't boring at all. The second the song ends you want to start the album over again.
This really is a fabulous album. I'm starting to sound like I need a thesaurus, so I'll wrap this up. Really, I almost cried when they kept pushing back the release date on this, but it was worth every second of the wait.
Free Music Review: Rewarding
Hit: 5 Stars
Deadwing comes highly anticipated by new Porcupine Tree fans (like myself) who fell over themselves gushing about In Absentia. A close examination of PT's back catalog reveals that we really had no chance of getting IA part 2, however, as Wilson & Co will do their very best never to make the same album twice. Living up to the expectation of the unexpected, Porcupine Tree has put out a dark, raw album that follows up on their previous work while cutting new territory. At first, this might be offputting to the In Absentia crew, but over time Deadwing grows on you and reveals itself as another great album.
Deadwing's title track is a quick, rhythmic romp that sets the tone for the album beautifully. It's aggressive and forceful, with a propulsive beat and plenty of time for the band to wander from heavy to soft. After that comes the raw, almost AC/DC-esque Shallow, which is a pretty basic hard rocker with a killer guitar hook. Lazarus is the opposite pole - a spacy piano-driven ballad, given the unique Porcupine Tree touch as always. By the time we reach Halo, the sound of the album has become pretty clear. The bobbing bass beat, quick drumming, and bitter sarcasm of Wilson's lyrics keep the dark mood intact while allowing for a cool guitar freak-out from guest musician Adrian Belew (of King Crimson). The midpoint track, Arriving Somewhere But Not Here, is the unquestioned highlight of the album, as it moves over its course from a barely-there electro atmosphere to an inventive guitar lick to a keyboard-heavy verse. Lyrics like "Did you ever imagine the last thing you'd hear as you're fading out was a song" are among Wilson's best, and while the sparse vocals take a break the song goes through a rollicking instrumental section that features Porcupine Tree's absolute heaviest, rockin'est riff ever before moving back into the powerful verse.
After that highlight, it's hard to go anywhere, and the band tries to ease the intensity level down. Mellotron Scratch does a good job of easing the mood as its calm but still rhythmic acoustic guitars turn down the volume while keeping up the pace. Open Car's beginning section is a misstep, but by the time it reaches the chorus and bridge sections this becomes a good track as well. Start of Something Beautiful is another spacier piece with some of the weirdness that made 90s PT so distinctive, and Glass Arm Shattering's fuzzy bass chords and washes of lush keyboard sound make for a suitably chilling conclusion to the album proper. Finally, after 6 minutes of silence, a bonus version of Shesmovedon is included with Mikael Akerfeldt of Opeth on backup vocals. Other than that this track is not sufficiently different from the Lightbulb Sun version to merit much comment.
In sum, Deadwing is a whole new beast, but still one that can't quite live up to its predecessor. It has a powerful concept, a new production approach, and enough guitar and vocal hooks to keep you spinning the disc over and over. Its problem, ultimately, is that on a track-for-track basis In Absentia simply has a few songs that make it a better album. Other than that, it's a dead heat. If you have one, get the other. Strongly recommended. Highlight tracks: Deadwing, Lazarus, Arriving Somewhere But Not Here.
Free Music Review: Excellent album
Hit: 5 Stars
I must say that Porcupine Tree is one of the few bands out there that is creating moving, wonderful, intricate rock music that is relevent in our day and age. This British prog outfit has always been a force to be reckoned with and they step it up a notch on this 2005 smash.
From the first track you can tell this is something worth listening to. The powerful, driving force of "Deadwing" lures the listener in with sharp, tight arrangements and sequences of brilliant musicianship. Gavin Harrison's superb drumming deserves recognition, as well as lead vocalist and guitarist Steven Wilson. Wilson's vocals shine clearly in this track, as they do in every track. He is clearly one of the most underrated vocalists in music today, and is on par with Maynard James Keenan for most powerful voice in metal today. After the dreamy prog metal fest of the first track, we are flung into a hard-hitting track called "Shallow". On the surface it appears like any other rock song, but Porcupine Tree douses it their style and it is powerful from the first second to the last set of notes.
After "Shallow", the album slows down suddenly with the charming "Lazarus". It paves a new road for Porcupine Tree and stands as a piece of pure bliss amongst the heavy, troubled songs to follow. Once "Lazarus" fades out, the hard-hitting "Halo" punches in. A very driving beat and melody carry this one through heavy shredding and interesting ambient effects. This one has also become a favourite of PT's live show.
Next up is the prog treat "Arriving Somewhere But Not Here". This 12 minute epic contains every element of Porcupine Tree's dynamic audio attack and pulls it into an opus in one track. Wilson's vocals shine as the song charts great territory for the album. It gets heavier and heavier until the breaking point, where second quiet track comes in. This one is known as "Mellotron Scratch". It contains wonderful vocal harmonies as well as some very soothing ambience.
After "Mellotron" comes to a close, the best track (in my opinion) comes in. Known as "The Start of Something Beauitful", this track creates a mood like none other. It starts out quiet, with a buzzing bass line and flittering room noises that penetrate the ear into aura of majesty. Then, the thundering chorus slams in with the most emotion lines Wilson has ever sung. "The more I show the way I feel the less I find you give damn..." is the staple line in this troubled, distraught track. Powerful from start to finish, this song is the centerpiece for this album. After the dust settles, the album comes to a slow close with the quiet, soothing "Glass Arm Shattering". After that, the epilogue commences with a great re-recording of the Lightbulb Sun track "Shesmovedon".
Overall, this is an album worthy of praise and widespread listening. Porcupine Tree remains the best kept secret in music today. Combining fierce prog metal signatures and pieces of sight, beautiful, trancy pop makes this British 4-piece one of the best bands in existence today. Go listen now, you won't be dissapointed.
Free Music Review: Deadwing - my first exposure to Porcupine Tree
Hit: 5 Stars
This is an excellent CD overall. This is my first and so far only exposure to Porcupine Tree, and I am very impressed. They remind me of other bands in some ways, but are also completely unique.
They are like...
...Pink Floyd, but with a more contemporary sound
...Rush, but with more dynamic range
...Dream Theater, but more artistic
...Greenday, but more creative and progressive
...Tool, but a lot cleaner (in several ways)
Now I hope PT fans will forgive these comparisons. I do not in any way mean that PT is somehow mimicking or copying these bands. If I had heard PT first, I could have easily made comparisons the other direction (eg. Dream Theater is like Porcupine Tree, only more technical).
This album is highly listenable, while still being intricate and dynamic. It also has the best string of 5 songs I've heard from any band in a long time (tracks 1-5), and that's saying something.
The songs:
DEADWING: Excellent opener - creative, edgy, and just catchy enough. Good progressive piece.
SHALLOW: Has a "single" feel to it. Very driving, great riffs, and, along with Halo, the heaviest song on the disc. Easy to get attached to.
LAZARUS: The most beautiful song on the album. A slow number that is absolutely beautiful.
HALO: Another driving, edgy song, more progressive than SHALLOW.
ARRIVING SOMEWHERE: The pinnacle of the album. A 12+ minute track that builds from a very simple guitar and vocal melody with increasing power and intensity before pulling back again. I can't get enough of this song.
MELLOTRON SCRATCH: The only song I don't like. Too slow, and frankly, dull. About 3/4 of the way through, it suddenly starts to get interesting, but then it ends.
OPEN CAR: Another edgy song with a lot of emotion to it.
START OF SOMETHING: Another good progressive piece that alternates between intense and mellow moments. Great bass on this song.
GLASS ARM: Another slow number. Similar to, but more interesting than MELLOTRON. At the same time, not as beautiful as LAZARUS.
The first 5 tracks are all top-tier songs in my book. MELLOTRON is the only really weak song on the album, and then the next three songs are really good second-tier numbers. The bonus track would rank in the same second-tier category.
A thematic thread of death and spirituality links all the songs into a cohesive album, yet musically, each song has a unique sound.
A note on the packaging: The 16 page CD booklet includes almost no lyrics (a few "handwritten" lyrics grace the artwork, but the lion's share of the lyrics are not available). It kinda sucks having to go to the internet to read along with the songs.
Overall, a great album, and a really enjoyable introduction to Porcupine Tree.
Full 5 stars.
Free Music Review: Porcupine Tree - Filling the void in todays rock music scene
Hit: 5 Stars
"Deadwing" is the new masterpiece by Steven Wilson and the rest of his band Porcupine Tree - and I do not use the word "masterpiece" lightly. Take a little Led Zepplin, a dash of Rush, a pinch of Opeth, a teaspoon of King Crimson, and a healthy dose of Yes, and you've got the bare bones mixture of Porcupine Tree's new release.
The production (self produced by Steven Wilson) is flawless - the CD is crystal clear, with each and every track polished to perfection. The CD begins with the title track "Deadwing" - a pulsing keyboard line that transforms into a rush of guitar, bass, and drumming from complete masters of thier instruments. You want complicated rhythm changes - check. Articulate drum work - check. Pumping progressive basslines - check. Strong, imaganitive vocals - check. It's all here, and the title track is just the beginning.
Other major highlights on this CD are "Shallow" (PT's self-proclaimed "big dumb rock song) - Tool fans should love this one. Next is "Lazarus", a melodic pop ballad led by the talented keyboardist Richard Barbieri. The piano line from this song will get stuck in your head, and the vocals are just enchanting. "Halo" is back to an upbeat sound with an incredible bassline by Colin Edwin, riffy guitars, and more entrancing vocals. Next up is my personal favorite on the entire CD - the 12-minute epic "Arriving Somewhere But Not Here" - it starts simple, quiet, and builds into an incredible section in the middle with furious guitar riffing and incredible drum work by Gavin Harrison. And just when you think the song can't go any further, it jumps into a beautiful acoustic passage by Mikael Åkerfeldt of Opeth. "Mellotron Scratch", "Open Car", "The Start of Something Beautiful", and "Glass Arm Shattering" close out the CD with even more incredible instrumental and voice work.
There is also a hidden track on the CD called "Shesmovedon" that's an updated version of a previously released song (available years ago, only in Europe originally). All background vocals on this CD are also done by Mikael Åkerfeldt of Opeth, and his vocals mix perfectly with Steven Wilson's. Adrian Belew from King Crimson is also a guest guitarist on one of the songs on "Deadwing".
This is a MUST-HAVE CD for anyone who wants something fresh, is tired of what's currently being played on American radio, and is ready to find something new and enjoyable with each listen of the CD. Again, it's a masterpiece. This is a CD that will not leave my player for years to come. You won't have to spread the word - the music speaks for itself. You want to impress your ears and your friends ears with new music? - buy "Deawing". Every track is simply amazing. Enjoy!
(Written by "the kid" who went all the way to Amsterdam from Dallas, TX to see Porcupine Tree in 2005)