OFF: Fear of a Blank Planet

[Steve Freight]

I agree with you Tim, I'm not after retreads and do get heartily sick of
bands that do this. What I am saying is that the CORE of what Porcupine
Tree were has changed and this is what has alienated me. The direction they
are now following is one that I personally don't like.

They do try to put at least one track on each album that appeals to the
original fans such as Arriving Somewhere on the last album, but the general
direction is away from what, imo, made them tick.

Hawkwind have evolved and not lost that core as far as I am concerned,but
from posts about TMTYL and TMTYF it appears that they have to some on this
list, and perhaps this is why there have been these negative vibes recently.

Steve


On 6/6/07, Tim Hall <tim at kalyr.com> wrote:
>
> Steve Freight wrote:
>
> > For me Porcupine Tree lost it a few years ago.
> >
> > The last fully rounded album they did was Stupid Dream. Each album
> > since has had at least one track that I would call real Tree but Fear
> > Of A Blank Planet has left me cold.
> >
> > I'm pleased Steven Wilson and co have finally found acceptance but
> > for me they lost the roots of what the band was originally about.
> > Perhaps they progressed too far for the original fans. Those that saw
> > them at Brixton with Hawkwind saw the real Tree for me.
> >
> > Steve (former Porcupine Tree fanzine Voyage 35 producer)
>
> I suppose it's inevitable that if a band changes and evolves there's
> going to be a certain turnover of fans.  The alternative is for a band
> to release endless retreads of the same album (Threshold, I'm looking at
> you!).  That approach will keep the existing fanbase happy, but it's not
> a good way to grow support. And it's ultimately boring.  Why keep buying
> albums that sound just the same as the ones you've got already?
>
> I lovw both "Stupid Dream" and the stuff they're doing now.  It's not
> better or worse, just... different.
>