Porcupine Tree: The Incident

[thoughtspart3]

The sound on this album is fantastic. It is so crisp and lively. The First and second disc are DR 10. The lowest track is DR 9 and the highest is DR13. It is simply a pleasure to listen to.

This continues Steven Wilson's track record of producing Dynamic music. Fear of a Blank Planet clocked in at DR9 which also sounded great as well as did the reissue of Lightbulb Sun which is DR10. While DR12 or 13 would be even better, Porcupine Tree albums stand head and shoulders above most of their peers. In an age of ear oppressing barriers of noise, PT is bringing back much of what has been lost in the listening experience.

[soulburner]

Now let someone proove to me that this album will sell bad because it ain't loud...

[MondayMorningLunatic]

that really sounds good!

A long time i wasn't much interested in PT - just another Progressive Rock band (that wants to be so cool like the gods from Dream Theater - what a childish thought).
But when i read some opinions about the sound i became interested - when PT has a good not overcompressed sound - maybe they make music that is good and not just cool because it "beats you in the face".
When an Album is very loud it is often produced "for the masses" - it shall sell. When it is not loud maybe the artist/band is more interested in the music - they want to create something with value.
And yeah! Fear Of A Blank Planet really is a great album. It sounds great and i can follow every step in the progress of the songs. Something that isn't granted in todays sound - i don't really listen to the newer dream theater songs anymore - they're like they were made for the band, not for me.

As i have only "Fear Of A Blank Planet" what would you suggest me to buy next?

[soulburner]

Get everything This band is not a Dream Theater wannabe and never was, so you're not risking anything

I'd recommend the Lightbulb Sun remaster from 2008 and In Absentia. You also should get The Incident (it's a must ), Stupid Dream (also nicely remastered) and Deadwing - although the latter is a bit loud.

[Hancoque]

Deadwing - although the latter is a bit loud.

Get the DVD-Audio 5.1 version. A measuring of the front side channels yielded DR11 (tracks ranging from DR10 to DR13).

[soulburner]

Oh, yeah, the DVD version rocks - too bad I don't have proper speakers, Creative p5800 ain't enough The disc is awaiting better times, though

[D34DL1N3R]

This continues Steven Wilson's track record of producing Dynamic music.

With the exception of Insurgentes. I LOVE the album & own the ltd. edition box-set but the sound on it it horrible. Even the DVD version sounds bad and is brickwalled in many parts. I had contacted Steven regarding this and he stated that it was intentional (I believe I posted about this a while back), but I'm not so sure I believe it was done purposely done - especially given the nature of the album/film.

Insurgentes is also about music and the album as art form, and applying the same aesthetic vision through the writing, performance, production, artwork, lyrics, videos and beyond. The film looks into the issues of creating, packaging and marketing music in an era when iPods, Mp3's and download culture are changing and eroding perceptions of exactly what an album is supposed to sound and look like.

"My fear is that the current generation of kids who're being born into this information revolution, growing up with the Internet, cell phones, iPods, this download culture, 'American Idol,' reality TV, prescription drugs, PlayStations — all of these things kind of distract people from what's important about life, which is to develop a sense of curiosity about what's out there.” (Steven Wilson, MTV News)

[soulburner]

Even if it was intentional, Steven Wilson redeemed himself with The Incident.

[Hancoque]

With the exception of Insurgentes. I LOVE the album & own the ltd. edition box-set but the sound on it it horrible. Even the DVD version sounds bad and is brickwalled in many parts.

Again, it's the 5.1 version that saves the day. There are some compressed parts but most parts are quite dynamic. DR values for all three versions can be found here.

[thoughtspart3]

When I refer to Wilson's track record, I mean the last several albums. In Abstentia and Deadwing are actually fairly compressed. It seems that he has understood the issues involved and chosen to reject the current trends.

That's too bad about insurgents. I don't own it yet and the the DR values make me a little hesitant. Everyone thinks In Abstentia is awesome, but I can't get into it. I have a feeling it is because of the compression. It clocks in at DR7. I keep listening to it and thinking I should like this album from a compositional standpoint, but it just sounds flat to me.