Porcupine Tree - Deadwing
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Free Music Notes for Deadwing
Free Music Review: Another unbelievable effort by Steven Wilson and the gang
Hit: 5 Stars
Porcupine Tree is known for writing fantastic music, and that is exactly the same thing they have done with "Deadwing". They have taken their same fantastic style and have crafted it enough to create another amazing album. Is it better then "In Absentia"? Probably not, however, it doesn't fall too far behind. "Deadwing" is an album full of graceful melodies, hard rocking guitar riffs, and the same amazing singing from Steven Wilson. He really shows the wonders of his vocal chords on such tracks like "Halo", and "Mellotron Scratch". Here is a tracklisting, their times, and the ratings for each song.
1. Deadwing 9:46- 10/10 - An absolute wonder of a song, perfectly crafted to include prog rocking Porcupine Tree, and the heavy sides of their musical array.
2. Shallow 4:17- 9/10 - The first single is a short and sweet little hard rocker that almost everyone can enjoy.
3. Lazarus 4:19- 10/10 - One of the greatest songs to grace my ears, this song is pure beauty. Wilson's vocals and the musical quality is excellent, this is great to relax to.
4. Halo 4:38- 11/10 - This is one of my favorite songs on the album, and is ultimately a very catchy, fun song to listen to. The ending is very cool, and I love Wilson's vocals on this one.
5. Arriving Somewhere(But not here) 12:03 - 12/10 - This is it, the high water mark of the album. This song is a force of its own and truly is one of the best examples of excellent musicianship i've heard in a while. Many people will love this song.
6. Mellotron Scratch 6:57- 11/10 - My favorite track on the album, Mellotron Scratch is a great slow rocker with a fantastic ending. I love everything about this song.
7. Open Car 3:46- 9/10 - Another short and sweet song, has a good chorus.
8. The start of Something beautiful 7:40- 10/10 - This song will probably be most known for its fantastic final minutes. The 3 mintue Instrumental near the end should be and will be recognized for one of the most beautiful pieces ever.
9. Glass Arm Shattering 11:13- 10/10 - This isn't the best ending track, and definitely does not live up to say "Collapse the Light into Earth", however, it is definitely a very good song. This song is very reminescent of Pink Floyd in some respects, however, holds its own.
10. Shesmovedon(bonus) 5:00- 9/10 - This song is a remake of their older version that was one their album "Lightbulb Sun". It's a good song, however since I haven't heard the original, I don't know how it stands as a remake.
Make no mistake, Porcupine Tree has added another wonderful cd to their already star studded discography. I highly recommend this album, because it's really very good.
Free Music Review: Better than Great and then some
Hit: 5 Stars
I'm closing in on 50 years of age. Way back in the late sixties and the early seventies I was constantly bombarded with music that was inventive and always good. It was a high point in the history of rock, and from what I had been able to hear since then I assumed I would never hear anything that good again. Sure there were some good things coming out now and then, but nothing compared to those old bands and so I resigned myself to what I thought was the fact that the greatest that rock music had to offer was in the past. In fact I have to admit I was starting to grow a little bored with the whole rock and roll scene recently. And then just two weeks ago I heard Porcupine Tree for the first time. I couldn't believe my ears! Here was a band that created not just good music, but great music! I heard Deadwing and immediately went out and started buying their records. I bought Up the Downstair and In Absentia along with Deadwing, and I loved it all. The next day I sought out more. I found Signify and Stupid Dream and ordered copies of Coma Divine, On the Sunday of Life and The Sky Moves Sideways. All of those arrived within a week and during that week I downloaded the unreleased and live music available from their online shop. In short I've become a Porcupine Tree addict! And what luck: they have a new album coming out later this month! I went to a rather well known download store and bought the Blackfield 2 release mainly because it includes the title track from the forthcoming album, but I'm also really enjoying the Blackfield record as well. Needless to say I've spent a lot of money on their music in a very short period of time, and every single dime was well spent. According to the insert information in the repackaged versions of Signify and Coma Divine, both Lightbulb Sun and Recordings will also be re-released later this year, so I'll hold off on buying used copies of those (if I can wait).
Porcupine Tree have restored my faith in rock music again. I haven't been this excited about music since the good old days. In fact, thanks to Porcupine Tree, the good old days are here again. Unfortunately you just can't hear great music like this on the radio, so the only way to know it's there is for people who know about it to spread the word. For anyone who loves Pink Floyd, King Crimson, and Tangerine Dream I would say buy some Porcupine Tree. You'll probably wonder why you've never heard of them before as well. It surely shows the sad state of the music industry when something this good doesn't get the exposure it deserves.
Buy it. Play it. Buy a copy for a friend. Long Live Porcupine Tree.
If anyone has any recommendations beyond Porcupine Tree that they think I would like, I would appreciate it.
Free Music Review: Follow Me Down
Hit: 5 Stars
It's interesting to see the diversity of opinion about this album. Some dedicated PT fans seem to hate it. Others think it's the best yet. The diversity of musical tastes seem to parallel the diversity of expression that I have seen throughout the evolution of this amazing band. But I think it's safe to say that Steven Wilson has begun moving away from the "floyd-ish" mockery he began with, and is now moving deeper into his own well of musical ideas. We may not all appreciate the directions he takes us, but he has found voice, and he shouldn't be beholden to us.
My overall impression is that, as Porcupine Tree struggles to be noticed by mainstream audiophiles, it continues to produce amazingly good music. Steven Wilson's wry but melancholy vision has permeated every PT album from the band's inception, but over that span of time, his postulate has produced an increasingly refined and poetic (as well as dark) voice.
It took me a while to settle into Absentia, but it became my favorite and most played album as I kept finding new undertones and subtle meanings with each listen. Deadwing is, in contrast, an instant fascination to me. But again, one of the reasons I took to it right away was that I knew there was rich territory to explore. This one will be with me for quite a while.
Superficially Deadwing could be considered the flip side to Absentia, but there are some significant differences to the project. The orchestral backgrounds of "Gravity Eyelids" and "3" are missing from this new album, replaced by significant stanzas of "a capella" and sound effects. The railcar sounds are reminiscent of "Off the map" instrumentals.
There is some guitar work here that I can trace directly back to Pink Floyd, a ripe field to which Steven frequently (perhaps too frequently?) returns. (Listen to the instrumental portion of "Dogs" on the "Animals" album and you will pick it up.) Hard to believe that 30-year-old music can still provide such fertile ground for contemporary sound. I also hear some things that remind one of "Voyage 34".
It's the lyrics of Deadwing, as well as Absentia, that continue to pull me in, time after time. In that sense, the two albums are a pair. The lyrics are the stake that the instrumentation drives true and painfully home -- and would it be unmanly of me to say that sometimes the combination brings a tear to my eye and an ache to my heart? "Lazurus" and "Arriving Somewhere" are those kinds of songs, much like "Trains" on Absentia.
I'm curious about the message in the notes saying that the Deadwing project is an outgrowth of a screenplay written by Steven with Mike Bennion. Is there a PT film in our future?
Free Music Review: "Deadwing" should definitely be 'arriving somewhere', preferably in your CD player.
Hit: 5 Stars
This band has actually been around since '94 as a side project of Steve Wilson, but back then, the band went through more line-up changes than the 2005 New York Knicks' starting five. So, we'll fast-forward to 2002's release, "In Absentia". With it, Porcupine Tree had begun to gradually become more popular, flaunting their signature sound. Wilson and company then hit the studio once again and filled in all the holes ( though there were very few ) with 2005's release, "Deadwing," which is, in my opinion, a tad better than "In Absentia". As most of you already know, Steve Wilson is the current producer for my Opeth, my favorite band. It is obvious that Wilson has taken the influence he had from working with these legends and worked it into his own sound. Don't believe me? Listen to "Arriving Somewhere ... But Not Here". Hear that blues-y solo? That's Mikael Akerfeldt, Opeth's frontman. To tell you the truth, the only reason I know about these guys is because of Opeth. Nevertheless, Wilson will never lay forth a death metal growl, only dreamy, cleanly-sung vocals here. That's good though, because it means that these guys are totally different. My favorites are below ( I hate this, because I'd like to put the whole freaking CD here ) :
1. Deadwing - The title track has an odd vibe to it, but it's very catchy. The spoken back-up vocals are a neat idea. Once again a taste of Opeth : tempo changes, many different sections, great riffs.
2. Shallow - So, so catchy, the catchiest on the CD. It just might be my favorite track on the album, too. I could not tell you one bad thing about this song, right here. "This city drains me, or maybe it's the smell of gasoline."
4. Halo - Are these guys Christian? By the lyrics, it sure seems like it. More eerie feelings are given on this track. The chorus is pretty much irresistable, here.
5. Arriving Somewhere ... But Not Here - As aforementioned, we are delighted with a guest appearance of Mikael Akerfeldt on this track. Yet again, there are many sections of the song, and they all flow together subperbly.
There is one thing I'd like to know though, where is the bonus track, "She's Moved On," on Amazon? It's a great song, and I feel people will be missing out by not hearing it.
For some reason, I feel that many bands will be sprouting up in the next year, in search of having a sound similar to Porcupine Tree's. Progressive metal is becoming quite popular these days, but we will always be thankful to bands like Porcupine Tree that help to shape it and make it as it is. Oh yea, I almost forgot, check it out if prog metal is your scene, man. Thank you for your time.
Free Music Review: Continued brilliance from The Tree
Hit: 5 Stars
THE BAND: Steve Wilson (vocals, guitar, creator, mastermind and main song writer behind PT), Richard Barbieri (keyboards and sound effects), Colin Edwin (bass), Gavin Harrison (drums & percussion).
THE DISC: 10 songs running at approximately 70 minutes. Liner notes include lyrics, assorted obscure pictures and thank you's. Video: "Behind The Scenes Video Montage" (Approx 7-8 minutes). There is an extended version of "Deadwing" with a limited edition 72-page booklet containing mostly pictures that you can buy at PT's concerts or on their website (if still available). 2005 - Lava Records.
COMMENTS: "Dead Wing" is a great album, but on first listen I could not put it on the same lofty perch as "In Absentia" or "Lightbulb Sun". With that being said, this album has grown on me over many months and it's now on the same level. It also helped seeing The Tree live (Arizona Beach Club, 10/25/05) and the songs from "Deadwing" rocked (especially "Halo", "Arriving Somewhere But Not Here" with an incredible jam in the middle, and the stunning concert starter "Open Car"). Porcupine Tree is a unique pleasure to listen to. Often complex and varied, and rarely played on the radio waves. Maybe that's why so much of PT's catalog is still fresh - the songs are never overplayed. The band members are all master craftsmen. Steve Wilson (guitars & vocals) is the mastermind behind the band... and his genius once again shines on "Dead Wing". The new "Dead Wing" picks up for the most part where "In Absentia" (2002) left off... hard to define... covering many a rock genre - pop, rock, hard rock, electronic, soft rock ballads, 70's psychadelic rock, etc. I believe "Dead Wing" falls more in the 'rock' music category; more so than some of their more progressive material in years past. Wonderful vocals telling cusious stories. Brilliant guitars. Complex drumming and hi-hat work; no tom-tom left unused. Wonderful synth sound effects and piano. Stellar sound production as always, with crisp highs and deep lows. There are so many lush tones and layers upon layers of sounds - I honestly feel you'll get the best listen with high quality headphones. Porcupine Tree is easily the best band to (practically) never hit the radio. The 12 minute "Arriving Somewhere But Not Here" starts out slow with the rest of the band joining the song as it builds... this is my 1st favorite song on "Dead Wing". Others include "Shallow" and "Halo" - hard rockers; with the mellow "Lazarus" tucked nicely between the two. Here's to hoping the next PT album doesn't take as long as this one to be released. Great disc (5 stars).