Porcupine Tree - Deadwing
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Free Music Notes for Deadwing
Free Music Review: A band that can seemingly do no wrong
Hit: 5 Stars
While it's not quite as innovative or wide-ranging as its predecessor In Absentia, Porcupine Tree's latest is yet another tasty Pink-Floyd-meets-Opeth-by-way-of-Radiohead offering from one of the only bands to ever come close to making progressive rock sound cool. If you liked the genre-bending sounds and oddly layered arrangements of In Absentia, then this album should leave you grinning like, erm, a young person in a store that sells sweets, as it's chock full of all the elements that make PT such a brilliant and distinctive band. Once again, they combine crazy instrumental skills with intricate, unpredictable songwriting and the haunting, emotional vocals of Steven Wilson, who makes up in power for anything he might lack in polish. Though it contains only nine tracks, Deadwing has plenty of goodies to offer the discerning listener, as it cycles through a vast mix of sounds-ranging from the dark, dense, and metallic to the spacey and Floydian to the melodic and folky-often within the space of a single song. For the most part, this album is divdided between lengthy, multifaceted epics (Arriving Somewhere But Not Here, Deadwing), and shorter, sharper rockers marked by striking riffs and surprisingly infectious choruses (Halo, Start of Something Beautiful). Naturally, this being PT, things aren't that simple, as there are plenty of variations on the theme to be found as well: hypnotic keyboard textures drift in and out of the midtempo, riff-driven gallop of the title track; the angry, assaultive guitar crunch of Shallow segues without warning into a disarmingly pretty piano-backed vocal melody before lurching back to metal with a vicious chorus; and Glass Arm Shattering ends everything on a languid, mellow note. As on their previous album, perhaps the most noteworthy aspect of PT's approach is their restraint: unlike certain other bands in the oft-derided prog metal genre (Dream Theater come up often, although there are many far worse offenders), nothing about PT's songs ever sounds forced or pretentious, even when they flirt with (or go past) the ten-minute mark, I've yet to hear a PT song overstay its welcome. And, fortunately, there are still no keyboard solos.Free Music Review: Another triumph for PT.
Hit: 5 Stars
Because they are unquestionably one of the finest bands presently inhabiting the universe, it's no surprise that Porcupine Tree have created yet another mind-bogglingly flawless masterpiece here with their eighth official studio album. Deadwing is a delicious, deliriously appealing record, vicious and vulnerable in equal measure. By birthing beauty through brutality, modern-day maestro Steven Wilson has succeeded in creating the finest conceptual album of the last decade or so, of course barring the band's previous (and similarly astounding) effort, 2002's In Absentia.
As one with any familiarity to the band whatsoever might anticipate, Deadwing is no easy listen. The storyline unravels with mysterious fluidity, beginning with the teeth-gnashing thesis statement of the title track and ending with the tender otherworldliness of the closer, "Glass Arm Shattering." Shifty, heavy tracks like the spitting-snarling "Halo" and the bitterly ironic "Shallow" are balanced by moments of sheer beauty, as evidenced by the lovely "Lazarus" and the eerily gorgeous minute or two at the end of the multi-layered "Mellotron Scratch." "Open Car" and "Start of Something Beautiful" are a pair of vexing twists, drawing from both modern and classic progressive rock and combining the dramatic differences of these two eras into an ingenious, formidable force. The finest moment on Deadwing comes in the shape of its monolithic 12-minute centrepiece, "Arriving Somewhere (But Not Here)." It is a bonafide odyssey and the crowning achievement of this record, strengthening it to legendary extents.
Deadwing may be Porcupine Tree's most commercially viable release to date ("Shallow" seems to have made its way to some of the more adventurous modern rock stations in America), but this in no way dims its appeal and power. This is a completely indisposable record; it never dulls or falls victim to its own pretense. Unlike most of their chronological contemporaries, PT are a band that cannot and will not be forgotten by their fans. They will continue to produce beguiling, expansive, and beautiful albums for the entirety of their careers.
Free Music Review: Well, I never expected this...
Hit: 5 Stars
One sure fire sign that you're becoming a fogey, fart, geezer is when you are amazed and astounded, thrilled and excited by a new band. Especially one that's been around for 13 years. Even the missus thought these wnaks were mighty.
So having seen that Robert Fripp was opening for them at The Keswick in Glenside, I checked out their website and bought this on a whim. I shall forever trust my whims. Inheriting a spirit of independent creativity from the likes of Pink Floyd and having harmonic and melodic turns as impressive as Steve Hackett fired Genesis, and even a pop sensibilty contemporaneous with anything Gwyneth might bed, I'm impressed. Then to see them execute a slew of material from their catalogue with a finesse and passion most bands would give their I teeth for (and having Fripp open for you no less), I'm really quite committed. I don't know the words to all their songs (well "Radioactive Toy" was easy enough, but that's pretty lame stuff) like the chap next to my wife who wriggled in ecstacy at every opening bar, nonetheless, I was blown away.
What caught me about the CD was the song "Lazarus". In concert, it was a revelation, as were "Halo Around MY Head" and a few others I couldn't possibly name. It all came to an emotional highpoint with "Arriving Somewhere, But Not Here."
In any case, what's on offer here is a very true teastament to how incredibly in command they are with their instruments, how tight they are as a band (the material sounds even better live), and what an imaginative songwriter and beautiful singer Steve Wilson is.
So, if yer as gobsmacked as I am about new (sic) bands, you'll find this an extraordinary introduction to PT. I am feverishly purchasing the rest of the catalogue and would certainly ercommnd the LIVE CDs from Rome and Warsaw. You'll be amazed.
They need to work on their video presentation, which at the Keswick was displayed on a small projection screen obscured by the drums and amps that looked like it was borrowed from my Mom. No doubt an accountant's decision....
Free Music Review: Quite possible, a perfect album
Hit: 5 Stars
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.
Free Music Review: Music Still Lives
Hit: 5 Stars
At the time of this writing, this album is number 116 on the ProgArchives.com Most Popular Album List. Considering that one of the factors affecting the ranking on this list is the number of reviews submitted, that's pretty high for an album that's only one year old. It is also the number one album of 2005 according to their reviewers.
One of the disadvantages of being an old fuddy-duddy with a wife, kids, jobs, etc., is that you get out of touch with the music scene. You listen to the albums you bought as a kid decades ago and you listen to the radio. And you forget that musicians are still making vibrant music. You forget that musicians have always, and will always, go past the limits set by radio marketers.
And so I decided that I needed to hear what was currently being created by "progressive" rock bands. And I purchased this album.
My only previous exposure to PORCUPINE TREE were the tracks played on my XM radio (channel 51 - Music Lab). And when you listen to the radio at work or in the car, it's easy to just lump everything together. I know they've played live at the XM studios several times, but that was the limits of my knowledge.
I really enjoyed the album. Deadwing isn't a thrash metal album, or even a hard rock album, but on several songs uses thematic elements of hard rock to push the mood. But on other songs the mood tends towards a quietness that rivals YES at its most New Age. The songs are not limited to what is commercial, but evolve on their own.
On the other hand, my twelve year old daughter wasn't thrilled with the album. She thought that the songs changed too much. However, she has copied "Open Car" onto her iPod and had it featured on her MySpace page. At 3:46 in length, it's probably the most commercial of the songs on the album.
This is a great album to remind an old fuddy-duddy that music can still be fresh and original.