They're nothing like Dream Theater!

PT started out psychedelic and gradually went in a more prog direction, and added metal influence as Wilson discovered bands like Meshuggah, Opeth, Morbid Angel, Esoteric etc.

I suppose they're poppier than your average prog band. They're a combination of a fair few genres and there's no technicality for the sake of technicality with PT.

...And that psychedelic band is Pink Floyd. Porcupine Tree is pretty much the only band who can get a sound close to Pink Floyd and still not copy Pink Floyd. I admire them for that,

I guess I judged them to quickly. the snippet of music I heard Had Metal riffs overlayed with "synth pads" which immediately brought Dream theater to mind, but upon hearing other stuff it didn't sound like that at all. I still don't quite like it, but its hard to judge a prog band from a 30 sec. itunes preview.

Deadwing has some of the heaviest riff-writing on a prog album ever.

TBH there are riffs galore from Lightbulb Sun and onwards.

Way Out of Here has to be one of the most powerful tracks I have heard in awhile. I can't stop listening.

Way Out of Here is my favourite track from Fear of a Blank Planet. The lyrics aren't really poetic, but they're so effective in their bluntness - it really gives you a representation of the character being portrayed, as does the whole mood of the song itself.

Porcupine Tree are awesome, and they are nothing like Dream Theater...just listen to tracks like 'Open Car', 'Trains', 'Don't Hate Me' or 'Lazarus'. I agree that along with Pure Reason Revolution they are as close to Pink Floyd as you can get this days.

soo wat would be ur guys top 5 albums written by pt?

I don't particularly like the heavier side of Porcupine Tree. Kinda urks me that it's bookended by two such tracks but the middle 3 are beyond great.