STUPID DREAM

During Porcupine's transition from pure psychedelic/ambient music to rock/metal, several key album mark the transition period. Stupid Dream is one of the first to begin this transition, after Signify, of course. This album is similar to Lightbulb Sun, in many respects, but it is a bit more balanced, I find. This album has many good songs, and a few decent songs, whereas Lightbulb Sun had many excellent songs, and many horrible songs. The production, album art, musicianship, sound quality, et cetera, is all up to par with Porc's other albums.

There are numerous comparisons to be made between this album and Lightbulb Sun: for example, both lack a certain spark to truly compel me and capture me. The drenching atmospheres throughout Porcupine Tree's albums is a little bit deficient on the two, though still existent. However, despite its dryness in terms of atmosphere, the songwriting and lyrics are excellent. With its sort of passive anger, Stupid Dream evolves from basic rockers, to near-ambient tracks, with spacey keyboard and effects, and cosmic guitar. The volume scale is varied, happily. This, along with Lightbulb Sun, are Tofu Bush's best pop/prog albums.

Some songs are upbeat (yet still surreal) pop/rock songs (Even Less, This Is No Rehearsal, Piano Lessons), and some are still very experimental and progressive (Baby Dream In Cellophane, Don't Hate Me, A Smart Kid...et cetera). Don't Hate Me is a very beautiful song, excellently layered, with catchy melodies and sympathetic lyrics. I don't find this album quite as dynamic and diverse as some of Porc Tree's others, but still very much so.