Who's the Better Band? Rush, Dream Theater, Porcupine Tree or Opeth

waltersobchak

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqKEhwp2S14

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qo10qEFxRaY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6LW-GVxLNc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSDyqSjoiKY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Tq-UsaRchI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDRPtg0kmJU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnYG6IRTlUk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9JvqJVjYTQ

GLaDOS

It's like you deliberately took 3 of my absolute favourite bands and asked this question to piss me off....

I couldn't possibly choose to be honest, while they have similarities, they are very different bands and each offer a different angle.

Musical geniuses each is all I'll say.

RayCon

Rush ... no contest.

Karl Hungus

This is a horrible thread! How can we make such choices? You fiend!

I picked Dream Theater, I probably do prefer them, but I don't really think they're better... Just, I dunno. Nasty question.

waltersobchak

Sorry lads.. :pac:

Its tough question alright as all 3 bands have some similarities but are yet so so different..

Kess73

From the early 90's to about ten years ago the answer from me would have been Dream Theater with no hesitation. I was hooked on Images And Words when it came out, and the cassette was on heavy rotation in my walkman for months.


Today in 2010 it is Porcupine Tree that gets the nod from me.

Mainly because I find their music more engaging nowadays, but in terms of technical ability etc then I would find it very hard to split them.

Mushy

I'm slightly biased so had to say Porcupine Tree. I find their music a lot more interesting, especially with my point of view on the world (namely FoaBP). I find the atmosphere in their songs plays a huge part, all down to Barbieri. Gavin is, well, Gavin.

Don't want to take it away from them in any way though. Rush were the catalyst for both bands, so that cannot undermine them. Dream Theater are masters in the heavy sections (although I still think that when PT do metal, they do it better than anyone else). I can't comment on Rush now, but live, PT are monsters, saw them and DT in successive days, so could compare well:D So in the pressure cooker atmosphere of having to vote, it had to be Porcupine Tree for me.

Mushy

Another chance to plug this dvd:D

GLaDOS

A slightly more sane hour, so a better reply from me is warranted I think.

Here's my take on them:

Rush have a more upbeat sound to them, closer to classic rock (which isn't particularly surprising). Based around cracking guitar riffs, tricky drums and catchy bass lines, not to mention great solos from all three and superb vocals from Geddy, they're a very easy band to get into. The role they played in the development in progressive metal can't be understated, and it's possible our other two bands wouldn't have the same sound if it weren't for these guys.

Dream Theater would be the heaviest and most technically proficient of the three in my opinion. In Petrucci, Rudess, Portnoy and Myung we've 4 of the best in metal for their respective instruments (though I do like Kevin Moore's stuff aswell ) and some of the solos are ridiculous (instrumental wankery is a term I'v heard ). Lyrics tend to vary between Philosophical and more personal, which I like.

Porcupine Tree in contrast I feel sacrifice technicality, which they're well capable of and do show when appropriate, for a more atmospheric effect. They don't pick a style and stick with it, instead show a huge range of different sounds. Lyrical themes tend to be a lot more personal, which results in them being a lot more lyrical based than the other 2. Another huge plus for me is that they do concept albums brilliantly.

I voted for Porcupine Tree in the end, as I've been listening to them loads the last few months. But if this poll came up last year or comes up next year my answer could easily be different. The winner of the poll is irrelevant to me anyway, they're all worthy victors and the real winners are us for getting to listen to them .

Jako8

Tough choice but it's Rush for me.

If it wasn't for them DT and PT probably wouldn't exist.

Zombienosh

not enough choices tbh,

theres a new band of up and coming youngsters called "metallica"... hope i got the name right. you guys who like rock and or roll should check them out sometime. maybe pick up a tape or two.

Mushy

AlcoholicA wrote: »

not enough choices tbh,

theres a new band of up and coming youngsters called "metallica"... hope i got the name right. you guys who like rock and or roll should check them out sometime. maybe pick up a tape or two.

This is just purposefully limited to these 3 cos of some off-topic stuff in the Iron Maiden gig thread.

Besides, who wants Metallica coming ruining the good names of these bands?:pac:

--LOS--

AlcoholicA wrote: »

not enough choices tbh,

theres a new band of up and coming youngsters called "metallica"... hope i got the name right. you guys who like rock and or roll should check them out sometime. maybe pick up a tape or two.

Relating threads back to your fave band at every given opportunity.........GUILTY!

Oh I heard those guys got a new bassist, could just be a rumour.

PS I picked Dream Theatre but I like em all.

waltersobchak

AlcoholicA wrote: »

not enough choices tbh,

theres a new band of up and coming youngsters called "metallica"... hope i got the name right. you guys who like rock and or roll should check them out sometime. maybe pick up a tape or two.

Who??`
Come back to me when Metallica become relevant to music again

Zombienosh

well its apparent rush/dream theater/porcupine tree fans have no humour?

edit: the post was sarcasm, how every topic relates back to metallica on this forum...

Patricide

This was like choosing between 3 children... I just ended up clicking an option at random. There all gods in my eyes.

GLaDOS

Just looking at wiki now, Alex Lifeson was a guest guitarist on FoaBP

waltersobchak

ScienceNerd wrote: »

Just looking at wiki now, Alex Lifeson was a guest guitarist on FoaBP

More importantly Alex Lifeson was in Trailer Park Boys:cool::pac:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFLKUlNfNuk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vn36jQm3oYE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_AsnTHJ52s

Malice

AlcoholicA wrote: »

well its apparent rush/dream theater/porcupine tree fans have no humour?

edit: the post was sarcasm, how every topic relates back to metallica on this forum...

I was thinking "Don't make me have to shove a bunch of posts into the Metallica thread again" .

On topic, the only one of the three I've listened to much is Dream Theater so I'd have to go with them out of familiarity, not necessarily that they are better.

stroopy

Such a hard decision! I think i'll have to go with DT though, but i really adore all 3

PeterIanStaker

DT went down (a tiny, tiny, infiniteismally small bit) in my book when Portnoy drummed on Avenged Sevenfold's new album. Clicked Rush because I'm listening to nothing but lately. Dont know enough Porcupine Tree to justify it, but I'll look them up.

PattheMetaller

Tough question. I personaly love them all, but Dream Theater are my absolute favourites, so I voted for them.

The OP has a wicked streak

Baggio1

Rush!!!..no contest

Mushy

Hmmm...Porcupine Tree are laying some countries they haven't played in quite a long time now. These include Greece, Czech Republic, Israel. Dear God please say Ireland gets added on to the list.

waltersobchak

Mushy wrote: »

Hmmm...Porcupine Tree are laying some countries they haven't played in quite a long time now. These include Greece, Czech Republic, Israel. Dear God please say Ireland gets added on to the list.

Have they ever played here Mushy?

RayCon

ScienceNerd wrote: »

Just looking at wiki now, Alex Lifeson was a guest guitarist on FoaBP

I can't believe you needed to look a wiki to know that ... have you not listened to the solo in Anesthetize !!!! ... awesomeness.

Mushy

waltersobchak wrote: »

Have they ever played here Mushy?

Around 2001/2002 in TBMC. Apparently only half full, so has erred them away from playing here again. Ask Karl about it, he was at it.

rgt320q

"In my van, it's Rush. All Rush, all the time."

PeterIanStaker

Have Rush ever played in Ireland?

Nephilim Wolf

RayCon wrote: »

Rush ... no contest.

I agree. For me I never had much interest in Dream Theater, and I find their music very self indulgent and forgettable, (apart from some of Images And Words) but each to his/her own. Rush on the other hand are fantastic and none of their songs feel self indulgent or boring to me. I also think that albums like '2112, Farewell to Kings, Hemispheres, Permanent Waves and Moving Pictures' are some of the very best prog rock albums ever made.

waltersobchak

PeterIanStaker wrote: »

Have Rush ever played in Ireland?

Nope never, not even in the Seventies when they recorded some of their albums in Wales.. I remember reading something once( might have been total BS ) That said they wouldnt play here because of the IRA..

waltersobchak

Nephilim Wolf wrote: »

I agree. For me I never had much interest in Dream Theater, and I find their music very self indulgent and forgettable, (apart from some of Images And Words) but each to his/her own. Rush on the other hand are fantastic and none of their songs feel self indulgent or boring to me. I also think that albums like '2112, Farewell to Kings, Hemispheres, Permanent Waves and Moving Pictures' are some of the very best prog rock albums ever made.

The thing for me personally about DT is the fact that every single one of their Albums is of an unbelievably high standard, with at least 7 of their 10 albums being bona fined classics (I&W, Awake,Scenes, ToT, 6DOIT,Octavarium and Black Clouds) Unfortunately no other band on the Planet including Rush, can say that..

Nephilim Wolf

waltersobchak wrote: »

The thing for me personally about DT is the fact that every single one of their Albums is of an unbelievably high standard, with at least 7 of their 10 albums being bona fined classics (I&W, Awake,Scenes, ToT, 6DOIT,Octavarium and Black Clouds) Unfortunately no other band on the Planet including Rush, can say that..

I didn't realize that. Even though Rush are a fantastic band they did go downhill a lot after 'Signals' and then got back on track for the rather excellent 'Counter Parts' album. I wasn't that mad about any of the albums after 'Counter Parts' though, including the much more recent stuff.

ChairmanWow

Dream Theatre are too noodly, Porcupine Tree too poncy. Rush are a real man's band

rainbow kirby

I love all of them! In the end, it was a tossup between DT and Rush, and I had to give DT the nod.

Oral Slang

Polls closed but Dream Theater for me. Like both of the others, but a bit obsessed with DT, so no contest!

rgt320q

Hmm, on recent reflection, methinks Opeth should have been added to that list. They can hold their own with any band on there.

Malice

I can reopen and modify the poll if necessary to add Opeth if that's what posters want and if it's okay with waltersobchak since it's his poll after all.

waltersobchak

Malice_ wrote: »

I can reopen and modify the poll if necessary to add Opeth if that's what posters want and if it's okay with waltersobchak since it's his poll after all.

Yeah thats awesome:cool:

Malice

waltersobchak wrote: »

Yeah thats awesome:cool:

Okay, assuming I haven't broken anything, Opeth has been added and the poll has been reset. Anyone that voted before should vote again.

GLaDOS

It's been reset but says I've already voted and wont let me vote again

Malice

ScienceNerd wrote: »

It's been reset but says I've already voted and wont let me vote again

That's odd, I was able to vote just there for Opeth. Having said that, I can't remember if I voted on the original poll!

Rud

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3hJ5-ngUow

Rush are easily the best of them.For Christ sake they have Geddy Lee!!!

Somnus

Adding Opeth really doesn't make the poll any easier to decide on though :P

I love the bands there, despite only getting into Rush and Porcupine Tree more recently.

I suppose I can take it from the perspective that Opeth have influenced me the most in terms of my own song writing. I think Mikael has a beautiful, flowing songwriting style.

So I guess I'll vote Opeth, but as most people on the thread can agree. They're all amazing

Patricide

Rud wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3hJ5-ngUow

Rush are easily the best of them.For Christ sake they have Geddy Lee!!!

Geddy = GOD.

Asphyxia

DREAM THEATRE Well for me anyway!

rgt320q

ScienceNerd wrote: »

It's been reset but says I've already voted and wont let me vote again

Same here. Any chance you can add a vote for Opeth from me, Malice?

waltersobchak

Patricide wrote: »

Geddy = GOD.

"I AM GEDDY LEE .. And I will sing whatever lyric's I want..":pac::pac:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQL6S8Q2RTk

Nea

Yay, now with added Opeth.

Closely followed by PT, I was on a mad PT buzz until The Incident came out, its not a bad album but I suppose it didnt meet my expectations.Great band live, tho in saying that I all 4 bands cut the mustard live.

One of the best songs ever.....

Mushy

As much as I love Opeth, I'd still stick to PT. We all know Opeth's best (arguably) album came from a prominent PT member:D

Somnus

Mushy wrote: »

As much as I love Opeth, I'd still stick to PT. We all know Opeth's best (arguably) album came from a prominent PT member:D

Ah well he just helped in the production of it really :P Not so much the song writing.

Although he did completely save their as in relation to Deliverance.