Wow, the new Porcupine Tree is quite heavy!

[J.]

Yeah, the guy ruined Opeth, but they were going downhill anyway, so who gives a fuck.

I really liked Stupid Dream and about half of Lightbulb Sun. Couldn't get into In Absentia or Sgnify or the early soundscape stuff, but SD was a winner.

 

[Demilich]

In Absentia is crap! seriously.. each song could have had a couple of minutes shaved off of it, and they aren't that special to begin with!

 

[NAD]

I have the Stars Die 2-disc retrospective thingy, and In Absentia. Stars Die is pretty kickass stuff, but when I'm in the mood for second rate Pink Floyd with poor riffs, I toss on In Absentia.

 

[Demilich]

i lent In Absentia to my girlfriend like 2 years ago and just never bothered asking for that shit back. good riddance to it, and Wilson. Whether he had anything to do with Opeth's downhill slide, we'll see when the new album comes out, but I don't like the guy.

 

[Chromatose]

In Absentia is crap! seriously.. each song could have had a couple of minutes shaved off of it, and they aren't that special to begin with!

other than Trains (which is an amazing song all around), I always find the rest of the album forgettable, I consider it a step back from the rest.

 

[Demilich]

other than Trains (which is an amazing song all around), I always find the rest of the album forgettable, I consider it a step back from the rest.

Trains and that other one... something about a Layby... were my favourites. been a while since I heard any of em now.

 

[J.]

Whether he had anything to do with Opeth's downhill slide,

The band was going down before Wilson totally fucked them up. Once their original bassist left, the band became irrelevant, so maybe the magic was in the noodling bassist.

Wilson can write a good, emotional tune. Thing is, he can't write an entire album full of them. Stupid Dream was the closest he's come. But man, the last couple of songs on Lightbulb Sun are grand. I love Feel So Low.

Alas, I sold my PT CDs during the Opeth/PT n00b revolution of 2001 for about $25 a pop.

I don't miss them.

 

[Demilich]

Opeth was strong on My Arms... and Still Life, man! Maybe they'd fallen into a bit of a cliché of their own creation (only got worse on the later albums), but Still Life is a great album!

The noodling bassist was fired, he didn't quit! Mikael didn't like the noodling, wanted a "bass to remain a bass"... or so the story goes.

 

[J.]

wow, so it's Mikael's fault Opeth went to shit. Way to go, dumbass.

The noodling bass was one of the countless strong points of Orchid.

 

[Demilich]

damn straight!

 

[NAD]

The noodling bassist was fired, he didn't quit! Mikael didn't like the noodling, wanted a "bass to remain a bass"... or so the story goes.

As a noodling bassist of approximately 12 years now, originally inspired by Les Claypool, all I have to say is: GOOD. That original Opeth bassist was ANNOYING AS FUCK. There is a time and a place for noodling, even in death metal. Just ask Steve Digiorgio or Alex Webster. Both noodle, but both also concentrate on laying down the foundation, and that's the primary job.

 

[Demilich]

NO YUO!

I don't think any "foundation" was missing on Orchid... DeFarfalla just came from a very different musical background and was probably thinking "what the fuck am I doing in this band at all?"

 

[NAD]

I'm referring to his work on Morningrise really, I only listened to Orchid once or twice because it bored me. Bottom line is, the older I get and the more I play, the more I realize how true the phrase Less Is More really applies to bass.

My favorite bassist right now is the dude from Dredg. That dude uses space like a sumbitch and gets the job done and gets it done RIGHT. *hipthrust*

 

[Demilich]

While I appreciate the bass on Orchid...and even Morningrise (boring album if you ask me), I totally understand what you're saying. Not to the extent of playing just a few single notes or the same chords as the guitar, because a lot more can be done to keep things interesting while providing a foundation.

 

[NAD]

That balance is what idiots like me strive for.

 

[J.]

pffft, DeFarfalla shits all over Mendez. early Opeth was progressive, so a boring less-is-more bassist wouldn't have fit. they were about creating good music back then.

Mendez fits just fine in Opeth now since their modus operandi these days is to bore the listener to death.

 

[Demonspell]

Believe it or not, I've only heard four tracks from Deadwing so far, plus the two B-sides on the Lazarus single...So-Called Friend rules so much, it has me convinced by itself the new one will be their best one yet since it didn't make the cut. The title track (with a great solo from Adrian Belew) and Open Car are amazing...can't wait for the rest.

 

[Demilich]

How's Mike Akerfeldt's solo on Somewhere but Not Here or whatever the song's called?

 

[Papa Josh]

pffft, DeFarfalla shits all over Mendez. early Opeth was progressive, so a boring less-is-more bassist wouldn't have fit. they were about creating good music back then.

Mendez fits just fine in Opeth now since their modus operandi these days is to bore the listener to death.

Okay fuckwad, the purpose of this thread was to talk about the new Porcupine Tree, not for you to get on your Opeth bashing soapbox. Go find one of the countless other threads...........

And, oh what is DeFarfalla doing now?

 

[J.]

dunno, but I'd be interested in knowing what he's up to.