Changing Of The Guard

For many years, the band Dream Theater was my favorite band. I was introduced to them in either my junior or senior year in high school, and for many years, I never looked back. Lately, however, I have been enjoying their output less and less. I've been drawing away from their style of music, and being drawn more towards the band known as Porcupine Tree (myspace).

This outfit is led by the, dare I say, musical genius Stephen Wilson (myspace). His style is somewhat reminscent of the alternative movement of the 90's with a heavy Beatles-esque influence (which is really odd as I hate the Beatles). Then again, his style is very unique in that you can't really put a label on it. Progressive? Sometimes. Ambient? Often. Poppy? Yep. Heavy? Definitely. I guess I'm at a point in my life where I now signify with the music he writes than with anyone else. Dream Theater, on the other hand, have become almost predictable (ironic considering their genre) in their songwriting, and I just don't feel it anymore. Their last three albums have had only a handful of songs I like, where as everything up through "Scenes From A Memory" was perfect from start to finish.

So Porcupine Tree is quickly replacing Dream Theater as my favorite band. I even cancelled the pre-order I placed of their new album "Systematic Chaos" because I just don't get it anymore. They released a "single" of sorts, and it's just more of the same pointless wankering that I'm just not into anymore.

So here's to you, Mr. Wilson and the Tree. Here's the torch that Dream Theater carried for so long.

A Resurrection

I am resurrecting this blog as I feel that it's time for me to share my thoughts. Those thoughts may take any shape. From mindless obscurity to personal insights, to music that is really speaking to me, to something that might be pissing me off... Anything goes this time around.

I have, of late, been getting more into my creative side. I'm playing guitar more (thanks to the amazing generosity of my mother-in-law who purchased me a brand new Ibanez RG4EX, pics to come), and even writing music again. I am also writing on the literature end of things, thanks in part (hell, in whole) to my good friend Cole, who is always there with a fucked-up idea to turn into a cinematic event of some kind, and he always manages to pique my interest enough to get my gears a moving.

I am also now officially a webmaster! Heroes Of The Internet we like to call ourselves in our little part of the office. It's challenging me to be more creative visually, which is an area I've been sorely lacking in. And I like that. I like to be challenged. The guys I work with are some of the coolest people to work with, and I'm not saying that because they'll be reading this; it's true. We click really well together, we share that odd sense of humor that makes geeks who they are. It's a good thing.

More to come later...