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4 CHORDS THAT MADE A MILLION

Porcupine Tree

Heavy Prog


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Porcupine Tree 4 Chords That Made A Million  album cover
3.10 | 71 ratings | 4 reviews | 21% 5 stars

Good, but non-essential

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Singles/EPs/Fan Club/Promo, released in 2000

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Four Chords That Made A Million (3:37)
2. Disappear (3:39)
3. In Formaldehyde (5:09)

Total Time: 12:25

Also released as:
1. Four Chords That Made A Million (3:37)
2. Even Less (alternative demo version) (14:00)

Line-up / Musicians

- Steve Wilson / vocals, guitars
- Richard Barbieri / keyboards
- Chris Maitland / drums
- Colin Edwin / bass

Releases information

SMASCD 111

Thanks to ProgLucky for the addition
and to Snow Dog for the last updates
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PORCUPINE TREE 4 Chords That Made A Million ratings distribution


3.10
(71 ratings)
Essential: a masterpiece of progressive rock music(21%)
21%
Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection(23%)
23%
Good, but non-essential (41%)
41%
Collectors/fans only (10%)
10%
Poor. Only for completionists (4%)
4%

PORCUPINE TREE 4 Chords That Made A Million reviews


Showing all collaborators reviews and last reviews preview | Show all reviews/ratings

Collaborators/Experts Reviews

Review by Easy Livin
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin
4 stars Not these four chords though

This was a single taken from the "Lightbulb sun" album. It's suitably commercial while retaining much of what makes Porcupine Tree so appealing.

The version I have replaces the other two tracks listed above with a 14 minute demo of "Even less" from the "Stupid Dream" album. This version is much more in keeping with the Porcupine Tree which recorded "The sky moved sideways" and "Voyage 34", being longer, looser and more progressive than the finished album track. The lyrics too have since been toned down somewhat from the controversial ones this demo contains.

Review by ProgBagel
PROG REVIEWER
1 stars Porcupine Tree - '4 Chord that Made a Million (Single)' 1.5 stars

Out of all the wonderful and decent Porcupine Tree EP's available to a customer, this is probably the worst. Take note that I am rating the one with three tracks, not the title track and the magnificent full version of 'Even Less'.

I liked the title track a lot, it came from one of my favorite albums of all time so any track from 'Lightbulb Sun' thrown on to an EP would make me happy. The two tracks thrown in with it are nothing special at all...a waste of money.

Both of the tracks sound like acoustic b-sides that were not good enough to make an album. 'Disappear' is just a very laid-back track like most of the 'Lightbulb Sun' album. The thing that made these instrumentally 'boring' songs were the dynamics, adding 'exotic' instruments, effects and most importantly, moving vocals. This song lacked all of the above and could have been put out by any pop sensation nowadays by the likes of Fall out Boy and Taking Back Sunday.

'In Formaldehyde' is more the same. Except this time we are given a disgusting treat. Can you imagine Steven Wilson doing a clean 'blues' solo. Good. Stay away from this EP.

For serious collectors only.

Note: This version I am rating DOES NOT contain 'Even Less'.

Review by Conor Fynes
PROG REVIEWER
3 stars 'Four Chords That Made A Million' - Porcupine Tree (Single)

This is a charming song from 'Lightbulb Sun,' and seemingly perfect for a single. Ironically enough, the song revolves around the shallowness of the music industry and record labels, so I can't imagine any executive would take kindly to the tongue-in-cheek criticism that Steven Wilson gives with this song. Tipping the hat to the likes of psychedelic pioneers like the Beatles, the song is all about being catchy and playfully trippy. Reminiscent of any poppy song from the late '60s, 'Four Chords' is upbeat but doesn't wear thin after only a few listens, like most songs of it's ilk. If only for the great production and psych-raga trippiness, 'Four Chords That Made A Million' is a great choice of single, and a song to hopefully get more people into this wonderful band.

The other 'b-sides' will be familiar to people who have given 'Recordings' a listen. Neither of these two tracks really stand out to me, but they both work well to reinforce the main attraction here. Of these however, the atmospheric 'In Formaldehyde' beats its acoustic counterpart by a fair bit in my books.

A good single from a great album.

Latest members reviews

3 stars 3 SONG VERSION This is the only single i could find from the LIGHTBULB SUN album, unfortunately i haven't been able to get the other one: Shesmovedon. This cd i have is the 3 song one which has "4 Chords That Made a Million" in its original version, "Dissapear" and "In Formaldehyde", these ... (read more)

Report this review (#133092) | Posted by FranMuzak | Tuesday, August 14, 2007 | Review Permanlink

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