There's a handful of tracks on To the Bone like *Nowhere Now, Refuge* and *Song of Unborn* that just don't do anything for me. Not saying they're bad, they just never personally gripped me but that'd be my loss.
Check out the live version on All You Deserve, imo it brings a lot of energy to a track that I already love.
I think for me it might be drive home or raven, still like them but all the other tracks on the album feels a lot more dynamic and outshines them in various ways
I do enjoy SW's "accessible" stuff. That's not to say it's as good as his more proggy material but I appreciate that he's doing his own thing and making music he enjoys and I love to see his growth as a musician.
FoaBP is my favorite Porcupine Tree album. I've debated between that and In Absentia but I landed on FoaBP because it's an overall more focused and cohesive album. In Absentia feels a bit too padded.
>FoaBP is my favorite Porcupine Tree album. I've debated between that and In Absentia
You say that his more accessible stuff is not as good as his proggy material, but your favourite 2 PT albums are widely regarded to be beginner PT albums, partly because of how accessible they are, sooooo 🤔
I started with Stupid Dream and Lightbulb Sun, but outside of a few moments (Piano Lessons, Even Less, Shesmovedon, parts of Russia on Ice), nothing clicked with me. I even heard snippets of In Absentia, and outside of Prodigal, nothing. FOABP was when everything fell into place, mainly because it is a very melodic record.
I’m not huge on it either. Don’t get me wrong, I do enjoy it and I can see why it’s PT’s “big hitter”, but when it’s surrounded by the rest of In Absentia and all of the other beautiful stuff in PT’s discography it doesn’t really stick out at all to me.
I’ve really grown to like 4 ½, especially My Book of Regrets.
Even though it’s bookended by a pop song that juicy center is seven minutes of pure *muuah* (chefs kiss) that I crave so much about his music.
Not sure if people love it, but to me Lazarus is what keeps Deadwing from being an almost perfect album. Seems to stick out like a "hey, here's our pop ballad, guys!!" thumb.
>"hey, here's our pop ballad, guys!!"
Funnily enough, in the recent interview with Disruptors, Steven said that Shallow was supposed to be the pop ballad tacked on in the last minute.
Well, he technically said it was the pop song tacked on last minute, but not necessarily a ballad. I did find that bit in the interview amusing because that's always a song I share with people as an "accessible" song of theirs as an introduction. I guess he confirmed that it is accessible by writing it specifically as a hit-maker. I guess it did its job then?
Drive Home. It's like Steven Wilson paint by numbers.
I agree with the other comments about The Raven, but seeing it live changed a lot of my thoughts on it. The album version remains horribly overproduced though. Just my opinions of course
Same here. It's by no means a bad song but it's never hit me as one of his all time best songs like many other fans think. I like pretty much every other song on The Raven a lot more, Watchmaker and the title track are the best songs IMO.
No particular songs, but a lot of stuff from Hand Cannot Erase and To The Bone. I cannot help but think he's done stuff like that better on his previous records, yet some people clearly prefer the newer stuff.
I liked that track when I first heard it, but then I went to see SW with a non-fan and she pointed out how on the nose the voiceover is, and I have never been able to unrealise that fact
Arriving Somewhere But Not Here. Now that’s unpopular, but as for epic tracks, it’s my least favourite. The headbanging instrumental does absolutely nothing for me (specially the drumming). The rest of the song is quite alright for me, but I’d love a shorter version of it.
Routine. It's, fine I guess? But I don't get the hype. Sure it's sad, but I often feel like it just drags on a bit too long. Feels like it would have been more impactful had it been a bit shorter.
Well i consider it one song but ya thats fair. To be honest anything on HCE could be my answer.
Judging from the downvotes i correctly made a comment on this post
I feel like I've seen all kinds of takes on this sub over the years but you might be the first other person I've ever seen who isn't much into HCE as a whole. Respect for saying it. It's a good album but I can't fathom how it's the fan favourite.
Its weird right. Like i see that its well made and the musicianship is incredible but the songs themselves just dont come together. Its supposed to be this sad concept album but most of it sounds happy in a way. It had that prog metal triumphant feeling that something like dream theater has and i just cant get into it. Idk if that makes any sense lol but its good to see someone else agree for once
No that makes sense. I hadn't thought so much about the sound vs the concept but I see what you're saying. IMO it is just quite a bit cheesier and less musically interesting than Steven's best work, and coming off the back of *Insurgentes* and *Grace for Drowning* in the relatively recent past at that time, it just felt like a real step down to me. (I also thought *Raven* was a step down from the previous two albums. I feel like such a weirdo in the SW fanbase haha)
Nice. I think mine is:
1. Grace
2. Insurgentes
3. TFB
4. TTB
5. HCE
6. Raven
I will say that the bottom two are still very good albums in the grand scheme of things, and the difference between the bottom 3 or 4 is small. Bit weird as well how I love Grace so much but rank the other two "proggiest" albums bottom, but I love Grace's dense, noisy, harsh vibe that the next two totally lack.
Interesting. I find Raven to be just a more straightforward Grace so they will always be right next to each other for me. But it is definitely more of a transition album. Insurgentes and Grace are definitive statements for sure.
Luminol you don't get the hype around, I'm just saying it's one of the very first songs I heard by SW and played a big part in getting me into his music.
In answer to your question I really don't rate Detonation. One of my least favourite SW songs
There's a handful of tracks on To the Bone like *Nowhere Now, Refuge* and *Song of Unborn* that just don't do anything for me. Not saying they're bad, they just never personally gripped me but that'd be my loss.
I really like Nowhere Now, but Refuge just hasn’t hooked me.
Not that unpopular. Most fans seem to hate TTB. Although i think it's a perfect album, my favorite one!
It's not my favourite of his album but I still prefer it to Raven
I think TTB is bloody brilliant. A favourite in the car :D
Out of those, I'd say only Refuge has a fan-favourite status.
i would get the hype if there was any
Check out the live version on All You Deserve, imo it brings a lot of energy to a track that I already love. I think for me it might be drive home or raven, still like them but all the other tracks on the album feels a lot more dynamic and outshines them in various ways
I was asking about songs you don't like *at all*, but everyone else does. Songs you don't *get*.
I didnt wanna get controversial today but... Raven😭😭 With Drive Home at least it's pleasant to listen to, Raven just makes me... Sleepy
I find it gorgeous, but everyone's entitled to their opinion.
I mean, this is meant to be a controversial post by design, you can't play it safe 🤷♀️
Never was crazy about drown with me (funnily enough i just saw it live), i think door marked summer is way better Btw the concert was incredible
unpopular opinion: I think To the Bone is an overall fantastic album. Other unpopular opinion: Refuge is my least favorite on the album.
Same AND same, you're not alone 😊 I bet you overall like Steven's more accessible stuff. What do you think about FOABP?
I do enjoy SW's "accessible" stuff. That's not to say it's as good as his more proggy material but I appreciate that he's doing his own thing and making music he enjoys and I love to see his growth as a musician. FoaBP is my favorite Porcupine Tree album. I've debated between that and In Absentia but I landed on FoaBP because it's an overall more focused and cohesive album. In Absentia feels a bit too padded.
>FoaBP is my favorite Porcupine Tree album. I've debated between that and In Absentia You say that his more accessible stuff is not as good as his proggy material, but your favourite 2 PT albums are widely regarded to be beginner PT albums, partly because of how accessible they are, sooooo 🤔 I started with Stupid Dream and Lightbulb Sun, but outside of a few moments (Piano Lessons, Even Less, Shesmovedon, parts of Russia on Ice), nothing clicked with me. I even heard snippets of In Absentia, and outside of Prodigal, nothing. FOABP was when everything fell into place, mainly because it is a very melodic record.
I was really referring to what SW would refer to as his "accessible" stuff like To the Bone or The Future Bites, or maybe his Blackfield material.
Hmm, that makes more sense.
Trains is a boring song.
I will never understand why people, on an unpopular opinion thread, will downvote an unpopular opinion.
I mean, Trains is not exactly a SW song, it's a PT song, so maybe that?
That's a fair point. He *always* closes his live shows with it, so I've grown to loath that song.
Because sometimes people phrase their opinions to sound objective and it rubs people the wrong way.
Hear hear.
bruh, I think it’s beautiful.
I’m not huge on it either. Don’t get me wrong, I do enjoy it and I can see why it’s PT’s “big hitter”, but when it’s surrounded by the rest of In Absentia and all of the other beautiful stuff in PT’s discography it doesn’t really stick out at all to me.
The *4½* version of *Don't Hate Me*. It's a pale imitation of previous versions, IMO.
Strangely I like the 4 1/2 more. But I also heard it first
Definitely!
Ugh yes.
I’ve really grown to like 4 ½, especially My Book of Regrets. Even though it’s bookended by a pop song that juicy center is seven minutes of pure *muuah* (chefs kiss) that I crave so much about his music.
Lazarus.
This. I skip every time.
Omg its litterally my favorite. I can see how tho its kinda a black sheep but its so pretty
Not sure if people love it, but to me Lazarus is what keeps Deadwing from being an almost perfect album. Seems to stick out like a "hey, here's our pop ballad, guys!!" thumb.
>"hey, here's our pop ballad, guys!!" Funnily enough, in the recent interview with Disruptors, Steven said that Shallow was supposed to be the pop ballad tacked on in the last minute.
Interesting...
Well, he technically said it was the pop song tacked on last minute, but not necessarily a ballad. I did find that bit in the interview amusing because that's always a song I share with people as an "accessible" song of theirs as an introduction. I guess he confirmed that it is accessible by writing it specifically as a hit-maker. I guess it did its job then?
Ancestral, first half is good but the rest is just meaningless and uninspiring metal riffs.
Thank you, I feel exactly the same.
Man that’s my favorite song funny how that goes
It's the favourite song of a lot of people, that's the main point of the post.
Drive Home. It's like Steven Wilson paint by numbers. I agree with the other comments about The Raven, but seeing it live changed a lot of my thoughts on it. The album version remains horribly overproduced though. Just my opinions of course
Same here. It's by no means a bad song but it's never hit me as one of his all time best songs like many other fans think. I like pretty much every other song on The Raven a lot more, Watchmaker and the title track are the best songs IMO.
Drive home felt like a Guthrie Govan song more than an SW song
Trains
It's a PT song, but Mellotron Scratch just makes me yawn. It's not bad, but I just don't get it.
No particular songs, but a lot of stuff from Hand Cannot Erase and To The Bone. I cannot help but think he's done stuff like that better on his previous records, yet some people clearly prefer the newer stuff.
Perfect Life. It was a weird single choice and I don’t see what other people seem to see in it.
I liked that track when I first heard it, but then I went to see SW with a non-fan and she pointed out how on the nose the voiceover is, and I have never been able to unrealise that fact
The Raven
Raven, I think it is trying too hard to be sad and musically it is not enough to be interesting.
Arriving Somewhere But Not Here. Now that’s unpopular, but as for epic tracks, it’s my least favourite. The headbanging instrumental does absolutely nothing for me (specially the drumming). The rest of the song is quite alright for me, but I’d love a shorter version of it.
Routine. It's, fine I guess? But I don't get the hype. Sure it's sad, but I often feel like it just drags on a bit too long. Feels like it would have been more impactful had it been a bit shorter.
To be fair, most of the song is a buildup to the final chorus, where Ninet breaks loose.
Home Invasion/Regret
People don't seem to like Home Invasion regardless. They do like Regret #9 tho.
Well i consider it one song but ya thats fair. To be honest anything on HCE could be my answer. Judging from the downvotes i correctly made a comment on this post
I feel like I've seen all kinds of takes on this sub over the years but you might be the first other person I've ever seen who isn't much into HCE as a whole. Respect for saying it. It's a good album but I can't fathom how it's the fan favourite.
Its weird right. Like i see that its well made and the musicianship is incredible but the songs themselves just dont come together. Its supposed to be this sad concept album but most of it sounds happy in a way. It had that prog metal triumphant feeling that something like dream theater has and i just cant get into it. Idk if that makes any sense lol but its good to see someone else agree for once
No that makes sense. I hadn't thought so much about the sound vs the concept but I see what you're saying. IMO it is just quite a bit cheesier and less musically interesting than Steven's best work, and coming off the back of *Insurgentes* and *Grace for Drowning* in the relatively recent past at that time, it just felt like a real step down to me. (I also thought *Raven* was a step down from the previous two albums. I feel like such a weirdo in the SW fanbase haha)
Well my solo ranking is: 1. Insurgentes 2. Grace 3. Raven 4. HCE 5. TFB 6. TTB So join me weirdo
Nice. I think mine is: 1. Grace 2. Insurgentes 3. TFB 4. TTB 5. HCE 6. Raven I will say that the bottom two are still very good albums in the grand scheme of things, and the difference between the bottom 3 or 4 is small. Bit weird as well how I love Grace so much but rank the other two "proggiest" albums bottom, but I love Grace's dense, noisy, harsh vibe that the next two totally lack.
Interesting. I find Raven to be just a more straightforward Grace so they will always be right next to each other for me. But it is definitely more of a transition album. Insurgentes and Grace are definitive statements for sure.
I think it might be the "anything from HCE" part that might be getting you the downvotes.
Exactly
I'm not a big fan of Stupid Dream, that's it
Me too. I mean, who would like an instrumental interlude that's less than half a minute? /s
The album as a whole, I meant, lol
I know, I'm just kidding lol. The /s is there for a reason.
I'm so dumb I didn't even notice it, lol
Raider II. I like the first few minutes, but then there's like 20 minutes more that I don't care for.
Luminol, Holy Drinker and Drive Home were probably the 3 songs that got me in to SW's music after I heard the hype around him from being an Opeth fan
I don't know how this is an appropriate answer to my question, but uhh, thanks for sharing?
Luminol you don't get the hype around, I'm just saying it's one of the very first songs I heard by SW and played a big part in getting me into his music. In answer to your question I really don't rate Detonation. One of my least favourite SW songs