I had actually planned to buy this one based on my approval of Steven Wilson's live DVD from a few weeks ago. BKP also sent the band's "Signify (Expanded Version)" from the mid-90's, which I believe was when this configuration of PT debuted. I had not gone back quite that far in the catalog when I first discovered the band ten years ago. I played this live CD through once and thought.....meh. Gave Signify a spin and went back to Twisted Octane for another cycle. Then it dawned on me...Porcupine Tree HAS run its course, as it has been rumored. Now I hear the rehashed riffs and themes, and in this concert recording, that's indifference in Wilson's voice, not an off night. The first hour of the show from Chicago is basically a Hard Rock Classic Albums Live version of the last (and, God forbid, final) album, "The Incident." I'll just go back to play the studio version. Hour two was better, but not by much. One nice segueing of a couple of favorites but overall uninspiring.
My heart is saddened that this chapter of Wilson's creativity may be closing, as is his work in Blackfield, according to reports. Lord knows he needs to slam the book shut on Storm Corrosion. I anxiously await his next solo project, "The Raven That Refused To Sing (and other stories)," which arrives in late February. Trust me, it will go straight to the front of the line, even if I have fifteen other records in front of it. I also plan on asking...no, telling...Mrs. Rocker to buy me a ticket to his concert in St. Pete in April as my birthday gift. Correct, that's A ticket...there is absolutely zero chance she would go with me.
I honestly had no plans at all to buy this. The other mini-reunions had been so.....Porcupine Tree-like. Where BKP said it sucked, that Page had phoned it in, I was pleasantly surprised once I got past the opening three songs. I turned it off after those first fifteen minutes, nearly junking the whole project without further review. Somewhere on Facebook, I commented as such on a post, and my old M4L buddy, Doxey, chimed in and said it truly improved after the quarter-hour warm up. And he was right. I'll give it a 7 on a 10 scale.
BULLSHIT! Page still phoned it in! I have tried several times to get through the whole damn recording at one sitting and just cannot complete it in one single listening. I agree that it does get a little better after the first 15 minutes, but still the whole thing seems to be intersprinkled with fleeting glimpses of Pages past glory only to find him slipping back into being slightly off on his timing. It really shows that he failed to rehearse at the levels the other participants obviously put into this show. I realize that Plant performs this material to some extent on a regular basis, and that Jones was is the market to get some sort of regular gig stirred up (He scored with the vultures project) and Bonham was also looking for something of a regular gig (Hello Black Country Communion), and the rehearsal time on their part shows. It became obvious on the promotional interview tour that Plant had no interest in rehashing that performance on the promotional stage let alone actually taking this on tour. Page even in his prime had more off shows than on shows. If your really interested in what Led Zep should sound like, check any of the recent live shows that Plant has made available on the internet, he still performs the Zep hits, but in a more eclectic modern style that was previewed on the Page Plant un-ledded release form the early 90's. I've heard rumors that Page is now trying to put together a new project for early this year. He should have no problem finding a huge laundry list of great artists willing to perform on stage with the great Jimmy Page. Afterall he was and should still be considered the dark prince of rock guitar. As a suggestion to Mr Page though, maybe let the young guns take the spotlight and the journeymans work of your new project and just step in at just the right time to remind the listener that you still can impress on the Les Paul. Kind of a master mentor role. Find the right new guy (or gal) and turn the listening world on its ear!
ReplyDeletePage was 63, I think, when this was recorded. Doubt I'll be able to do the same things as well when I'm 64 as I did when I was half that age. I'm guessing JP is much more sober now, too. I recall closing out a cricket points game in nine darts at 3AM, sleepy, drunk & stoned, when I was 30. Doubt I could do that today... ;)
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