Porcupine Tree: How has a band this good managed to fly under the radar?

[Night Surfer]

I discovered them recently (from this forum, THANKS ALL) and I cant believe that I had never heard of them before.
The radio stations around here play the same old crap all the time, endlessly.
Thank heavens for the internet.

"Radioactive Toy" is awesome.

 

[Coltrane]

Just depends on how you point that radar.

 

[Night Surfer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coltrane /img/forum/go_quote.gif Just depends on how you point that radar.

Reckon so.

Our "Alternative" station still plays David Bowie and U2.
Shouldn't that be "Classic Rock" now and the Led Zep's, and Black Sabbath's of the world be "Oldies"? I mean it IS 30 years old now.
Time to move on people....

Give me new music or give me deaf!!!

 

[Coltrane]

Radio has, unfortunately, become completely useless for music lovers. Is still great for people who think of music as little more than a background accessory, as they will only hear simple and familiar music.

The internet has now completely replaced radio as the place to hear about new music.

Often times you may have a public radio station that plays good music. For Oregon check here:
http://www.opb.org/radio/

 

[ozstrike]

I also hadn't heard of them until a few months ago. I saw it recommended on this forum, and bought a couple of CDs.
I can't believe I hadn't heard of them until now.

 

[asmox]

Fly under the radar? Hardly. Porcupine Tree is fairly popular. Do a search for the band on this forum and see what you get.

The radio is a terrible thing to use when judging what bands have "flown under the radar", because 99% of commercial radio doesn't play anything that isn't well known by members of contemporary popular culture.

There's a lot out there that's far more interesting than PTree and deserving of far more attention, but unfortunately does not see the light of day on the radio or on forums such as this.

 

[Thelonious Monk]

porcupine tree is pretty damn popular on the internet. if you want an example of a band that's really flown under the radar (for 30 years), check out automatic man.

Quote:

Originally Posted by asmox /img/forum/go_quote.gif There's a lot out there that's far more interesting than PTree and deserving of far more attention, but unfortunately does not see the light of day on the radio or on forums such as this.

kinda pointless to say this without mentioning some such bands.

 

[asmox]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thelonious Monk /img/forum/go_quote.gif kinda pointless to say this without mentioning some such bands.

Well, I didn't want to hijack his thread.

Most recently a band called Shining (not the black metal band, the experimental space/jazz-rock band). Umm... Collapsar, a math rock band that essentially worships Red-era King Crimson, but does it exceptionally well. Battle of Mice, a surreal mixture of Neurosis and Red Sparowes with one of the most incredible female voices I've ever heard. Grayceon, a post rock band comprised of guitar, drums, and cello. Intronaut, metal that brings together the sludgy riffing styles of bands like The Ocean, the organic bass presence of bands like Cynic, and the menacing atmospherics of bands like Neurosis. Hammers of Misfortune, an oddly retrofied modern progressive rock/metal band with some rather unexpected forays into the operatic, symphonic, and folk. The Deserts of Traun, project of ex-Estradasphere drummer Dave Murray that throws in everything from metal, jazz, and funk to classical, gypsy campfire music, and video game sound bytes. Dog Fashion Disco, a goofy yet deadly serious experimental rock band.

And... well, this is kind of pointless. There are obviously a ton of unknown bands out there. For the record, I wasn't trying to put PT down or anything like that - they're a good band.

 

[Thelonious Monk]

oh hey, i've heard every single one of those bands, save Shining. i must be like, beyond cool.

you've got good music taste; do what i do, make a giant list of bands people should listen to and send it to them. i would appreciate to see what else you've got, since i am always trying to find great music and i'm sort of in the mood to shift gears to "search for albums around town" mode. i just got A Day Of Nights by Battle of Mice a few days ago, infact. while it would be great if sheepish people heard great bands like porcupine tree, it would be greater if music lovers heard great bands like Automatic Man and Battle Of Mice.

 

[nelamvr6]

Quote:

Originally Posted by asmox /img/forum/go_quote.gif Fly under the radar? Hardly. Porcupine Tree is fairly popular. Do a search for the band on this forum and see what you get.

I have to respectfully disagree. This forum has a lot of PT fans, but with rspect to the general populace, they are unknowns.

Their new album entered the US charts at 59. Most Americans have never heard of them.

They, unfortunately, are STILL under the radar, but I hope that situation will change soon.

As for radio, if you want to hear great music, check out RadioParadise. That is where i first heard Porcupine Tree.

 

[asmox]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thelonious Monk /img/forum/go_quote.gif oh hey, i've heard every single one of those bands, save Shining. i must be like, beyond cool.

Well, I didn't say they were super obscure (although they are in a sense), just that they're examples of bands I think are very interesting and deserving of far more attention than they get.

Have you heard Miasma & the Carousel of Headless Horses? Upsilon Acrux? Bubblemath? Tub Ring?

You'd like those.

 

[asmox]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nelamvr6 /img/forum/go_quote.gif I have to respectfully disagree. This forum has a lot of PT fans, but with rspect to the general populace, they are unknowns.

I was speaking in the context of the Internet. They are very popular. They're basically a house-hold name any time somebody even mentions "modern prog".

 

[nelamvr6]

Quote:

Originally Posted by asmox /img/forum/go_quote.gif I was speaking in the context of the Internet. They are very popular. They're basically a house-hold name any time somebody even mentions "modern prog".

I agree, they are fairly popular when it comes to the Internet music communities. I'd rather they were more popular, and I hope they will be soon.

But I think that the OP meant that they are not known outside our little world.

Think of all people in this thread (myself included) who never heard of PT until a few months ago!

And I believe you hit on the answer to the OP's question when you said:

Quote:

99% of commercial radio doesn't play anything that isn't well known by members of contemporary popular culture.

I hate to think about how many great musicians will never be heard because Clearchannel has bought radio, all radio.

I can think of a least a dozen great bands or musicians who I would not have heard if it weren't for RadioParadise. It really is a sad situation.

 

[infinitesymphony]

I like that Porcupine Tree is only popular to those people who search them out. I don't have a problem with bands achieving mainstream popularity--my problem is with the countless style-biting bands that follow in the wake.

Imagine some of the uber-popular "hard rock" bands now trying to tackle progressive rock...

 

[Patu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by asmox /img/forum/go_quote.gif Fly under the radar? Hardly. Porcupine Tree is fairly popular. Do a search for the band on this forum and see what you get.

Once again, it's how you define popular. Their popularity on this forum isn't a big deal.

Pretty much none of my friends have ever heard of them. I think I've never heard any of their songs on Finnish radio stations or seen any music videos on MTV. I'm not sure do they even have any music videos but not even one song in the radio, that's odd. This band is so good that they should be played regularly on radio.

The only Finnish rock music radio station plays very much the basic stuff like Guns'n'Roses and AC/DC. I've heard them playing Tool few times though. I was positively surprised.

PT is going to play on one of our summer festivals this summer (first time in Finland IIRC). Maybe after that they will get more popularity here also.