Customer Reviews

Recordings

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Recordings was the first Porcupine Tree album I heard mostly because distribution of their CDs are terrible in the U.S. Since then I've been purchasing what I can find which has been most of their catalog.

Having been a recent fan of PT it is difficult to consider Recordings as a B sides, extra tracks kind of CD. As a listener new to Porcupine Tree I was instantly involved with the album as a whole.

Buying New Soul is a great opener with great dynamics and mood. Access Denied was a surprise. It sounded like a drugged up XTC number, something different yet sandwiched with Cure For Optimism it made for a nice flow, a buffer between darker sounding songs.

The flow of Recordings is a strength. Even though it was recorded on several tracks at different sessions the songs fit well together. Much of this has to do with the vibe of Stupid Dream and Lightbulb Sun, there is a similarity to these albums much as there is a similarity to the tracks found on Recordings.

Even Less in this expanded version is quite engaging, the expansion actually sets up some drama from an already great song.

If I were advising someone to buy their first PT album I'd consider suggesting Recordings right along with Signify as these two CDs represent PT in their extended song format along with the shift to more traditional material from the previous two releases.

A few thoughts about Porcupine Tree and progressive rock. PT is not typical of what most people are familiar with as prog rock. They use synthesizers and on occasion work with complex song structures but also paint sound more like an electronica or post rock band. In this sense I'd place them as post rock with prog and electronica elements. It is worth consideration as to whether Porcupine Tree aren't developing the first advance in progressive rock instead of depending on 70's based progressive and quoting favorite artists from that era. One thing not mentioned are the extreme dynamics of PT recordings. This is music that demands listener's attention. Some passages are so quiet as to be distracting to casual listening. It could be argued that PT is expanding on the German tradition of electronic music in a similar vein to NEU! Although early PT albums borrowed from Pink Floyd that influence has diminished from Signify onward.

In any case Porcupine Tree are evolving into a unique sound that is their own. It could well be the first serious attempt to create the next phase of progressive music. At the very least this is entertaining music that will appeal to forward thinking listeners.

I recall snapping this 2001 album up upon it's release during a slight lull in the release of "official" PT studio albums during the 2000 - 2002 timeframe (i.e. from Lightbulb Sun to In Absentia) and the fact that this was a Limited Edition CD (#681 of 20,000) had me pretty excited. To make the deal even sweeter, I noted that there were a lot of new pieces, including a nearly 14 minute version of Even Less, which first appeared on Stupid Dream (1999), albeit at only slightly over 7 minutes in length.

The musicians on this album include Steve Wilson (lead vocals, electric/acoustic guitars, samples, hammered dulcimer, and acoustic piano); Richard Barbieri (Hammond organ, mellotron, and analog synthesizers); Chris Maitland (drums); and Colin Edwin (fretless electric bass and acoustic bass). Along with the core musicians there is a flute/saxophone player and a string section. With respect to the core musicians, I enjoy Steve Wilson's excellent vocals although Colin's bass playing is worth singling out - he is a very tasteful and restrained player that never oversteps his bounds, unlike most of the bassists in the new prog bands out there. Furthermore, as a huge fan of 1970s progressive and experimental rock, I especially appreciate the fact that these guys favor mostly analog equipment.

The 60 plus minute mix of pieces on this compilation include three previously unreleased tracks (Buying New Soul (10'24"), the expanded version of Even Less, and Oceans Have No Memory), while the remaining tracks were originally released as singles. The tracks range in length from 3'06" to 13'55" with most in the 6 minute plus category. Interestingly enough all of the tracks flow together into one cohesive whole and are well-paced, making this quite possibly the perfect PT album. Well, that is how I feel about it at any rate. I guess the plus for me is that with the single exception of the introduction to Access Denied, there is very little of the "poppiness" that started to creep in on albums like Stupid Dream and with the follow-up Lightbulb Sun (2000). In short, this is one incredible slab of killer, post-progressive space rock that recalls the best moments on albums like The Sky Moves Sideways and Signify.

Speaking of the music, it is very somber and grey with loads of spacey sections dominated by analog synths and heavily echoed guitars. Everything sounds incredibly organic and the splashes of mellotron here and there really add quite a lot to the brooding feel of the album. In addition to the spacier sections, there are some slightly heavier moments when the whole band is playing and Steve gets a very crunchy and distorted sound on the electric guitar. These moments are far and few between however, but add a textural element to the album that is just fantastic. I should note that the lengthy jam on the 13'55" Even Less is awesome and it is too bad that this version was not included on the Stupid Dream album - surely a great album would have been made greater.

Not only is this my single favorite album by PT, I feel that it is quite possibly one of their best albums in spite of it being a compilation of unreleased tracks and previously released singles. In fact, it is unfortunate that this album can not be distributed to a wider audience and is only presently available as an extremely expensive (and out of print) limited edition "collector's item". This album is very highly recommended with every fiber of my being to all 1970s prog/experimental rock fans that are desperately looking for newer, yet excellent and interesting music.

If you're already a fan of Porcupine Tree, you probably have hunted down all of the band's singles since they often include unreleased songs. If you haven't tracked them down--then you're in luck because this album features all of the "other" songs PT have released on their singles. "Disapear" is a fantastic song--it's suprising it was left off the "Lightbulb Sun" album because it's simply great in so many ways.

If you have these songs already, you still need to buy this album since it contains two brand new gems. And gems they are!!

"Buying New Soul" is haunting to say the least. The opening of the song has a great mellow keyboard melody that carries it into the core of the tune. A great chorus and great lyrics make this another fine PT song. The other new tune, "Access Denied" is also great--up tempo with vocal effects.

Porcupine Tree can't do wrong; they keep releasing stunning material. It's safe to say they may be one of the best bands around today. It's a shame more people haven't found them yet. That will all change soon.

Just to let everyone know who is willing to throw down hundreds of dollars on a cd that this is officially being re-issued on September 6th, 2010. Apparently, it's just a straight re-issue with the same artwork and track listing. Now if they can only re-issue XM and XMII and have a physical release of Futile and Rockapalast...

Since I have all Porcupine Tree cds I could not miss this one even though I knew this was a collection of sparse material whihc did not make it to any of their previous album.
However -and this is where a great prog band demonstrates its value- this album got under my skin. It is not an easy album so you will need to listen to it more than once, then you will discover it has its own coherent logic and structure as it had been conceived and built from the beginning where it was not. This is the most amazing things of all.
Said this, I must warn that for a Porcupine Tree novice definetively this is not the best buy. Try Signify to understand them.
But for all of us who love them this album is a pearl and a great basket of musical pleasure .

"Recordings" is actually an album of outtakes and cuts that did not make the band's official album releases up to this point in their career. The only exception is an expanded version of the track "Even Less" (this one over 13 minutes long) that first appeared on the "Stupid Dream" album. I have said this before, but the material the Porcupine Tree throws away is better than 90% of most band's legit releases. I normally avoid outtake and rarities albums like the plague, but with material of this quality it should not be ignored. I don't think this album ranks up there with the best of Porcupine Tree's official albums, but it is certainly worth owning for the fan. All that being said, "Recordings" is currently out of print and copies are selling for over $200.00 right now. It is a good album, but not that good.

If you have any opportunity of getting your hands on this CD, and you like Porcupine Tree at all, do not let that opportunity pass you by! This CD is amazing. Sure, it's more/less a collection of b-sides, but it's still very fine material.

I'll spare you a track-by-track rundown, but here are my favorite moments on the disc. "Buying New Soul" is one of my all-time favorite songs. Not just for a PT song, but just as a song in general. It is slow and beautiful, and really captures Steven Wilson's opinion on the sense of isolation that fame can give someone. "Cure for Optimisn" is another great mellow track (actually, this CD is mostly the softer side of Porcupine Tree, so don't expect any Deadwing-esque guitar riffs). For anyone who has heard the Stupid Dream version of "Even Less", you have no idea what the Recordings version is like. It is basically for the first 7 minutes, the same exact song as it is on SD, but after that, it morphs into this fabulous long instrumental. You'll wonder why you ever thought the SD version sounded complete.

All in all, this is a very introspective, laid-back, atmospheric, and tragically beautiful side of Porcupine Tree. It's very similar to the softer side of Lightbulb Sun. Think of the first half of "Russia on Ice" and you'll get what I mean.

If you own this CD, as I do, consider yourself very lucky. To those of you who don't, look for this anywhere you can, or try to convince Steven Wilson to reissue it, because it is amazing. Truly this is one of, if not THE, best b-side collection I have ever heard.

I don't own it yet, but I know all the songs. It's the usual Porcupine Tree quality, no surprises. What's important is that this CD is being re-issued in Sept 2010 at a realistic price ($16) from the band's website, and I'm sure Amazon will have it shortly after. I can't justify spending $40-70 on one CD. It will be a straight re-issue, exact same material and packaging as previous edition, no bonus anything.

Well, purhasing this little "dainty" nearly cost me a divorce ,but sometimes you have to make sacrifices..... I love the music on this CD, which is a collection of B- side single releases. This is Steven Wilson at his most vulnerable. There are some very moving slower pieces on this, which is the reason I listen to music. It should be an emotional experience and this is! "Buying New Soul" is quickly becoming my favorite PT song. I enjoy every tune on this disc, from the instrumentals to the extended version of "Even Less." I feel the price I paid was worth it to not miss out on these timeless gems. I wouldn't gamble on just any group, but I knew that this would be a winner because everything I've heard by Porcupine Tree has been of the HIGHEST quality and very satisfying listening. It's like a void in my psyche is being filled.....

Porcupine Tree are fast becoming my favourite band. In an era where almost every band I've ever respected try to "re-invent" themselves, Steve Wilson and the rest of Porcupine Tree manages to remain as uncompromising as ever. Marillion, PLEASE take note!

Anyway, this album, a collection of b-sides from the last two albums and including two new numbers, is probably meant as a stop-gap whilst Porcupine Tree are in the studio cooking up their next masterpiece.

Even so, "b-sides", this is material any self-respecting melodic rock band would kill for. The new track, "Buying new Soul", is just wonderful, and the inclusion of the complete "Even Less", is, at 15 minutes, nothing short of masterful. Hard riffs, catchy tunes, floating keyboards and a no-nonsense drummer is what it takes to rid the world of the ghost of Yes.

Excellent.