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.