Well not exactly. I had known about the band for sometime, but I never got into them. So on a whim I got Steve Wilson's "Insurgents" and was blown away. I had to check this band out.

Grabbed "Up the Downstair" off of eMusic and listened to it yesterday. How did I miss this band? It was fantastic!

So where is a good place to go next? Also how are the 5.1 mixes of the albums?

Well sir are you in for a treat. I consider PT and Wilson my favorite artist right now. I always laugh when people get excited about Brit bands like Coldplay, as Wilson is 10 times the songwriter those guys will ever be IMO.

If you really liked Insurgentes, you might be better off starting with PT's newest stuff. You'll probably like the two Blackfield records as well which are more "pop" oriented in that they are radio length songs with really great choruses and such.

UTD is decent but that was still mostly a Steven Wilson only effort with some help from the guys who eventually made the nucleus of the band. Signify is really the first "full band" record they've done where Wilson wasn't doing a lot of the parts.

In Absentia is easily their most accessible record, and has a little more of an "American" flavor to it since they recorded it in the US. This is the record that got me into them 5 years ago. This features what may be their best song, "Trains". This was also the first record with their current drummer Gavin Harrison, who is just a monster and actually dethroned Mike Portnoy of Dream Theater from the Modern Drummer best prog drummer award. The previous drummer Chris Maitland was great too, but didn't have the harder edge Harrison can showcase.

Deadwing is described as the soundtrack to a movie which isn't made yet. A little darker than IA, and has some heavier spots. "Shallow" got some decent airplay and was even on the first Xbox360 released in 2005 IIRC. Lots of good b-sides from this record too which PT plays live a lot like "So Called Friend" and "Mother and Child Divided".

Their latest full-length is Fear Of A Blank Planet from 2007. They released a companion EP called Nil Recurring later in 2007, and I really consider them to be one long album together. This is kind of a concept piece, and has a long but awesome song call "Anesthetize".

The older records are definitely worth checking out as well especially Lightbulb Sun (2000), Stupid Dream (1998) and Signify (1996). The stuff before that like UTD tends to be more "jammy" and Pink Floyd-esque, but still good.

You're coming in at a good time because Lightbulb Sun and Stupid Dream were out of print for a while and were very expensive on Ebay. In fact I don't think they ever really had an official US release until these remasters from Snapper.

I kind of envy you being able to hear this stuff for the first time! All I can say is savor it and don't go too fast - there's a lot to take in. I think the best part about the band is they have awesome memorable and catchy tunes, yet there is still a lot of complexity to the music without being inaccessible.

They have a new record due out this year and I am really looking forward to this as they never disappoint. There's also a live DVD called Arriving Somewhere... from the Deadwing tour. I had the privilege of being at one of the shows they recorded here. I think I'm even in a crowd shot at the end.

I'll stop gushing now.

Very cool. Thanks for the info.

I know eMusic has almost (if I recall) the entire catalog, so I will be all over that.

In the interim, I am going to check out Amazon (and Wikipedia) to see what's available.

The 5.1 mixes have me intrigued...I have the Beatles "Love" and Opeth "Ghost Reveries" and both sound fucking awesome! With all the texture this band has (reminds me of My Bloody Valentine to a degree), I bet they sound awesome in 5.1.

I am embarrassed to admit I haven't even listened to all the PT 5.1 mixes yet. I have all SD, LS, IA, DW, FOABP/NL and I also got the big deluxe Insurgentes book with the 5.1 disc.

Funny you mention Opeth - they are my #2 favorite right now. A big reason for that is how much I liked the records Steven Wilson produced for them (Blackwater Park, Deliverance and Damnation). Of course they've done great work after those, but to me they really hit the next level when SW started working with them.

Their 5.1 releases are pretty well known in the hi-rez community to be some of the best in the biz. "Stupid Dream" is my personal favorite 5.1 disc followed by "Deadwing". Their live dvd "Arriving Somewhere" has some of the strongest bass I've ever heard from a concert dvd. Steven Wilson mixes all of their DVD-Audio discs, except for "In Absentia".

I have nothing more to add to what has already been posted, it all seems to cover it quite well. Porcupine Tree is an awesome group, and Steven Wilson seems to have a golden touch.

Yeah...pretty much what he said.

I'll just add that In Absentia may well be my album of the decade. You're in for a great journey.

QFT. "Shallow" is a favorite of mine, though their entire albums are really good. Wilson is great, though.

Also wanted to mention the In Absentia b-side "Drown With Me" is really worth tracking down. I know it's on the 5.1 disc.

Thanks for the information, I have been listening to Fear of the Blank Planet and In Absentia for the last year and I love it, now it is time to listen to more of thier stuff.

I got an album of mp3's called "Out Absentia" it says is bonus, Outtakes and Demos from In Absentia.. is that the same as Drown With me?

One of my favorite bands. They played in Nashville last year so I got to see 'em live.

Those are my favorites.

Also, doesn't Toni from Curve do some vocals on one of the Blackfield songs?

So how do you feel about the later stuff? I know I've read people who were into them before IA got turned off by some of the heavier aspects of the later stuff.

I'm not sure about the vox on Blackfield. It's possible. I know they used some outside collaboration for "Scars" on the first record. Man all of their choruses just sound beautiful.

I got some of their stuff via Opeth. I have Deadwing and In Absentia. Two songs really stood out (Open Car, Trains), but I haven't given a deep listen to the albums enough. I really do love those songs, though....so I imagine the rest will come. The drummer is great and has a really nice style.

I did find out about Wilson through Opeth. I do agree with bunkaroo, Opeth got that much better when Wilson came on board (not to say they weren't awesome before...it's almost like Prince leaving Warner was still awesome Prince, just not with Warner).

Working on getting those 5.1 mixes and so downloading more when my subscription re-ups in 2 weeks.

Thanks to those who posted, your information was well worth it.

I got into PT through Opeth as well and Opeth has never had better production since Wilson.

My first PT was Lightbulb Sun and I loved that CD. Than I got Signify and Sky Moves, my 2 favorite CDs. Stars Die.... fucking amazing. After Wilson got into Opeth the heavier bits in DW and IA sound a bit forced. Theres some oustanding songs on those CDs though.

I consider FoaBP and Nil one album and have them burned onto one CD. Best PT I have heard in years. Just takes you on an amazing journey. Are these available in 5.1? I would kill for that!

bunkaroo: I like the trippy/psychedelic tunes the best but dig the heavier songs too.

I've tried it and I just couldn't get into it.

Snowmaker:

I actually heard IA several times and it took a while before it clicked. Depending on your tastes you might be better off checking out something else of theirs first. That is unless you don't like the vocals. I know it took me a bit to get used to Steven's voice but once I did I couldn't get enough.

I gave IA another spin and I think Creator has a Mastertape ruins the CD for me. That riff is so annoying. I hate it But I did discover Hearattack in a Layby and that song is a GEM!

So did anyone get Steve Wilson Insurgents? I saw it at BB and will get it with my $5 RZ card thats coming my way

Are you talking about the opening guitar riff? I could see how that one is a little strange especially when he doubles it on vocals later on.

Insurgentes is great if you're a fan of SW, but I wouldn't expect it to be immediately accessible like a lot of the tunes PT does.

There are parts which are PT-ish but it's very eclectic overall. I think it took me a good 2-3 listens to start soaking it in.

Just got my copy a couple of days ago. Very nice packaging. I got the 2-disc version in the deluxe cardboard case. It includes a 5.1 mix on disc 2 along with a trailer from the upcoming documentary.

I actually sprung for the big book/2 CD/DVD thing last year. I love the extra tracks.

I have been listening to Stupid Dream a lot and Steven Wilson's solo album (I missed out on the extra tracks, so I downloaded them...hopefully he releases them at some point). I can see why this band (and Steven Wilson) are held in such high regard.

Also from a technical stand point, I like the fact that the band is willing to use technology to further enhance the listening experience. It is a nice touch...as a fan of music in general, that kind of effort goes a very long way in my book.

Glad I discovered this band...I am not disappointed at all.