Porcupine Tree DVD

[maximoiglesias]

Any comments or reviews for the Porcupine Tree DVD that just came out?????

 

[j_garcia]

It is pretty awsome. Video is so-so (average for a concert DVD IMO) DTS track is very good, and the bonus item "cymbal song" on the second disc is a Demo everyone should have. It absolutely shakes my room and the channel usage is very well done. Track selection is good. Only negative is the editing, where it tends to jump around a lot with close-ups, and different angles, but overall it is a good disc. Having just seen them, I think it is a good representation of them live. Thanks to Ron for letting me borrow it! Yes I will be buying it too.

 

[Ron Temple]

It's a great DVD for the musical content, recording, mix and close ups of the band. I'm not terribly impressed with the video editing or presentation, but you may be. Content was mostly from IA and DW, but a few of their older songs were killer. The bonus disk has some additional live performances, a wonderful "Cymbal Song" percussion mix and a few cuts from the concert featuring their "live" media presentation. I let John Garcia borrow my copy and I already miss it. It's a must have if you are a fan of PT.

 

[maximoiglesias]

Great!

Great !! Thanks for the comments.
I am ordering it now alomg with Dream Theatrer 20th Anniversary concert and Pat Metheny "The Way Up"

 

[Sleestack]

I'm a huge Porc. Tree. fan and I have to say I found this DVD disappointing. Having never seen them live, I felt that they sounded lifeless and had the stage presence of a wet noodle. As technically proficient as all the musicians are, they didn't sound like a group of guys who play together live very much. I also felt that the DTS mix was a poor effort compared to their 5.1 DVD-A mixes and sounded a bit hollow. I would still recommend the DVD for PT fans, but I was definitely expecting more from Steven Wilson and crew. Opeth's DVD... now that's another story. Great live DVD.

 

[Ron Temple]

Can't comment on what you expected...but they looked better live than the choppy editing indiciated. However, I like the mix, which was recorded from a 2channel show into DTS.

PT is not a commericial success, as far as I can tell. What you see is what you get, great musicians and a great composer/arranger...just playing.

 

[Sleestack]

Can't comment on what you expected...but they looked better live than the choppy editing indiciated. However, I like the mix, which was recorded from a 2channel show into DTS.

PT is not a commericial success, as far as I can tell. What you see is what you get, great musicians and a great composer/arranger...just playing.

It isn't that it is a terrible mix, but definitely not up to par with the sound quality you found on most of their work.

As for expectations... it was pretty clear to me that the band just doesn't spend enough time playing together as a band. Everyone seemed tight and there simply wasn't much spontaneity for a live performance IMO. I have no problem watching fine musicians just playing, but I expect great musicians to sound even better when the play live. In the case of PT, their DVD just made me want to go listen to their DVD-As.

 

[mnnc]

Great !! Thanks for the comments.
I am ordering it now alomg with Dream Theatrer 20th Anniversary concert and Pat Metheny "The Way Up"

The DT Score dvd is pretty good but not near as good as the Budakon show from '04 I believe. Now that dvd kicks arse. The Metheny should be sweet although I have not viewed his dvd's.

 

[mnnc]

I'm a huge Porc. Tree. fan and I have to say I found this DVD disappointing. Having never seen them live, I felt that they sounded lifeless and had the stage presence of a wet noodle. As technically proficient as all the musicians are, they didn't sound like a group of guys who play together live very much. I also felt that the DTS mix was a poor effort compared to their 5.1 DVD-A mixes and sounded a bit hollow. I would still recommend the DVD for PT fans, but I was definitely expecting more from Steven Wilson and crew. Opeth's DVD... now that's another story. Great live DVD.

Cheers to the Opeth show/dvd...superb acoustic/mellow jam that is on par with Floyd, Parsons, 70's sounding rock. Awesome drummer who is no longer a band member.

 

[maximoiglesias]

Opeth

Cheers to the Opeth show/dvd...superb acoustic/mellow jam that is on par with Floyd, Parsons, 70's sounding rock. Awesome drummer who is no longer a band member.

Yeah! if you are refering to the Lamentations DVD in DTS. Very good sound and a great show, I bought it for my son but I have keep it for me.

 

[Sleestack]

I have gone back to watch this a few more times. While I do continue to prefer their studio 5.1 mixes, I will say that some of the performances on the DVD have really grown on me. Sound quality is better than I initially thought. Not really on the top of my list of live performances, but definitely worth adding to the library.

 

[j_garcia]

I would agree with that...it isn't the best DTS mix, nor is it among the best discs I've herad, but it is still quite good. Compared to some of the better ones I have, the vocals in the center seem to lack a bit at times - the front blend isn't quite right, almost like being there live but not in the best seat... It isn't nearly as good as the DVD-As, but I didn't expect it to be either. I felt they played better when I saw them in person, though the sound at the show wasn't exactly great either (not related to their performance though...).

I know exactly what you're saying. I don't know if it is the mix or the way they played, but they didn't sound "on the money" on some of the tracks on the disc, like it was their first show with no rehearsal or something. They didn't sound like that at the show I was at.

The one track I like the best is Hate Song. During the solo, the guitar pans all the speakers rapidly and it sounds great. A nice little effect that you would obviously not hear at a show, but fun none the less. They did that also on Arriving Somewhere, But Not Here as well.

 

[Ron Temple]

Just be happy that you get to enjoy their astonishing 5.1 mixes on DVD A. I'm amazed that a band with as few evident resources can put out the quality achieved. I'd like to see them spice up the act visually and get the "live" sound closer to their recorded offerings, but they are still great.

 

[maximoiglesias]

Pt

Well thanks to all of you for all these comments, as I said before I did order the DVD and finally after 32 days of waiting it finally arrived.
To me, after my first listen, this is a no nonsense concert. A group of excelent musicians playing excelent music.
In my humble system this DVD sounds just great! It is everything I expected.

Along with PT, I also recieved the SACD of David Elias "Windows" and I can only say I strongly recomend it for its excelent sound, mixes, songs ....just great straightforward music.

 

[emorphien]

I will have to check this out. I have Deadwing and In Absentia on CD and DVD-As are coming (In Absentia just arrived).

 

[Sleestack]

I will have to check this out. I have Deadwing and In Absentia on CD and DVD-As are coming (In Absentia just arrived).

Get Stupid Dream on DVD-A. It is the best mix, although you might prefer the music on the other DVD-As. They are all very well mixed.

 

[maximoiglesias]

pt

I will have to check this out. I have Deadwing and In Absentia on CD and DVD-As are coming (In Absentia just arrived).

Me too but you can never ever compare a live recording with a studio recording, both situations are very diferent. Thats why good sounding and well recorded concerts are so special. No chance to do it again and again until is perfect.

 

[j_garcia]

Yes, Stupid Dream is probably the best mixed, and having heard In Absentia and Deadwing first, it was different listening to SD, but it grew on me really quickly and I like it as much as the other two now. I particularly like the extended version of Even Less.

 

[Ron Temple]

The new stuff that they are recording now is going to be another progression in composition. There's a 17 minute "magnum opus" cut that's probably the centerpiece, ala "Arriving Somewhere". It was pretty amazing IIRC. Hopefully, they will release it in MC format like the others. Also hope they hurry up with the DVD A version of Lightbulb Sun...