PINEAPPLE THIEF

Musically, TPT should appeal to anyone who likes Radiohead, The Muse or Pink Floyd. The songs are well constructed, layered and melodic (often in a melancholic way). They vary from the 4-5 minute less progressive songs through to 15 minute wonders that build up and slow down like a roller coaster, taking you on a wonderful journey.

This compilation is a great introduction - 2.5 hours of the very best of their first 7 albums. All songs have been lovingly remixed by Bruce Soord (founder, singer, guitarist, writer, producer and all round good egg) with help from Steve Kitch (keyboardist). The job has been done very well, as has the thought that has gone into the ordering of the songs - not the traditional chronological listing, but one that works as an album in its own right (so rare for compilations).

The old albums are difficult to get these days following TPT's move to K-Scope from Cyclops, so this is a great introduction that will have you scouring eBay or Amazon to find the back catalogue. Warnings - some of the old albums are offered at obscene prices, that is how good and popular they justly are with a small (but growing) group of true band/music lovers.

Not true prog, but truly progressive.

No other than usual: same melancholically stuff. Same average rock music. Little wonder is achieved in here: just a collection of "déjà vu" songs are recorded.

This album is no better than any of its predecessor. None of them being weak, but at the same time, to try and find some great feeling is quite alien as far as I'm concerned. Average music: that's it.

Some songs do feature some prog feel like the good "Shoot First"; but these sort of songs are quite scarce on this album.

This band has never scored pretty high on my scale, and this album won't be any different. To listen to the same old stuff, year after year is just boredom. Nothing new, nothing creative. Just the same old stuff; unfortunately.

Don't get me wrong: these guys do know how to play, how to perform. But IMHHO, they just don't know how to write VERY good songs. I have never been under the impression of above average composers. Very few songs could really move me to be honest. And "Tightly Wound" has no real thrill at all.

The band is achieving some more excitement and catchier feel with a track like "My Bleeding Hand". At least some different beat, close to heart feel, genuine rock. THE highlight of course; but this album doesn't hold a bunch of those to say the least. A great song indeed IMHHO. But the only one here.

Even if the short epic "Different World" is not weak of any kind. But it can't compete either with the great ones we all love and know. It features some fine vocal passages, but I can't really consider this song as a great prog moment. Nothing like this, I'm afraid.

On the contrary " And So Say All Of You" is a damned good song which is raising the level of this album quite substantially. If you would expect the closing and languishing epic (sixteen minutes) as a thrilling moment, I have to tell you that you shouldn't be disappointed. No sublime work as the prog giant could deliver of course, but some genuine interesting rock development. There are very fine rock music moments indeed.

Three stars.

The traditional recipes are served back with enforcement ("I Think That's What You Said") and offers little to be surprised. Again, what I like the most (but is this a surprise?) are the fine mellotron lines which provides a feel from the Scandinavian scene. A good idea, even if used scarcely ("Take Me With You").

This conventional PT album would have been better with some more punch. The long instrumental "West Winds" is rather insignificant and its only purpose was to fill the CD I guess.

All expectations are thrown into the epic and title song, but here again no wonder appears. Just a long and gloomy affair. Of course, this piece do have good qualities (the traditional PT or "Radiohead" ones) but I was waiting for some more to be true. Languishing drum play throughout, pleasant keys and invading screaming guitar are the best ingredients.

PT is not a band that surprises (at least I feel so). They are predictable, but lots of bands are, so I won't be too destructive about this criteria. In all, this album is enjoyable and deserves the three star rating without any doubt. It means that I believe that it is a good album. But not an essential one.

I have to say that to listen for about an hour to this melancholic rock album is at times not very rewarding and the feel of déjà vu is increasing along after that each of the track is being played.

Very little originality, no surprise: a conventional PT album should I say. It is hard to be focused all the way through but I consider it as a good album while experiencing a "casual" listening. What I mean is that there is nothing wrong with this album but you can easily do something else while listening to it (I usually don't do that while listening to music, except while I'm driving).

A couple of fine pieces ("Dead In The Water", "Wilting Violet") do increase the quality of this "Little Man" which is a personal and sad affair for Bruce. He puts lots of emotion in his vocal parts but at times he is too languishing like during "Wait" which almost sounds as a "Muse" ballad. I quite like the second instrumental part though which is more upbeat. One of the longest track ("Run A Mile") sounds a bit loose but holds some more upbeat musical sections which are very much welcome to break the sad and melancholic feeling ("Little Man", "November").

The short and heavy "God Bless The Children" is best avoided (but it only lasts for about two minutes) and the end of the album shows again the same "Radiohead" sounds: a moving "Snowdrops" still does belong to the best available. The long and closing "We Love You" is a fine crescendo tune (yes, I like crescendos) that ends up in a very melodic and instrumental section.

A good album after all.

The long opener ''Prey For Me'' is an excellent song: fully in the tradition of ''PTh'': fine and melancholic vocals, repetitive guitar, excellent rhythm. Somewhat derivative of ''Echo & The Bunnymen'' (but I quite like those ones who are maybe ready for an inclusion). An excellent start should I say.

Another highlight IMHHO is the great and rocking ''Wretched Soul'':

The melancholic and ''Radiohead'' sound is of course inevitable. But ''The World I Always Dreamed Of'' is much more than a pastiche. It is a truly strong number which conveys such a nice feeling?A great mix of rock and acoustic music: this is one highlight of the album. As far as I am concerned.

Of course, the mellow vocals might be embarrassing after several songs. But this is PTh. Along with their catchy rock they can also be moving. Don't get me wrong though: this album is not a jewel. Some of the tracks performed are just not on par and sound as fillers (''Start Your Descent'').

Their infectious pop-rock music can be fully appreciated during ''My Own Oblivion''. Catchy vocals, heavy and powerful background music. A strong number indeed. More like this one would have been needed to make this album a real good one. But on the contrary, one has to swallow some weak numbers towards the ends (I'm not talking about the long version of ''Light Up?'').

I am not a deep ''PTh'' fan. I only consider them as a good rock band. As such, three stars for this album is legitimate to my ears.

As it is referenced to, this collector item is hardly impressive, unless you are a PTh frenetic. The second CD ''Eight Days Later'' was supposedly written, recorded and mixed in eight days just as the bonus disc ''Eight Days'' available on the special edition of ''Variations On A Dream''.

It mainly consists in instrumental and ambient music (''Monday August 9th'', ''Tuesday?) although the opener has more texture thanks to its vocal parts which offer a more classic PTh atmosphere while the acoustic and mellow ''Wednesday?'' is sweet, light and melancholic. But in the style, I far much prefer the nice rock ballad ''Friday?''. One of the best track IMO.

''Thursday'' starts with a harder angle, but ends up pretty much in the PT mood (I mean PT here). Repetitive riff, hypnotic beat before the last minute which is again full of wildness.

My favourite is the crescendo type ''Sunday?''. Since I quite like the crescendo structure, I am charmed by this track. Somewhat sad of course (but this a general remark for this work as a whole ? including ''12 Stories'').

The last three tracks from this CD are truly ''PTh'' compliant, especially ''Wretched Soul'' also present on their ''4 Stories Down'' EP. Actually, all these versions of this album makes it quite confusing. Too much is too much!

As an teaser, there is a cut-down version of ''Will Light Your Eyes'' as well. And to conclude, there are some unreleased tracks like ''Slip Away'', ''Watch The World'' or ''Catch The Jumping Fool''. Nothing from the other world, really. One good mention though for ''Take Our Hands''.

Two stars for this ultra long set.

This record lacks probably in variety, but so were their previous works as well. Some highlights or songs that I prefer amongst the other ones : ''Run Me Through''. Even if it sounds somewhat pop; it is more positive, more vibrant. Especially during the closing guitar break.

But this album is a fine way throughout melancholy (''The Bitter Pill'') and deserves a listening. Don't look for complexity, nor to too much prog in here. This is not what it is. A good rock album, with a mid tempo global mood. ''Sooner Or Later'' is also a good tune IMO (but quite in line with their overall production).

The structure of some tracks (the longer ones), is more elaborate: ''Part Zero'' is my fave of the whole: a sustained intro, some subtle acoustic guitar to go along the vocals and the fine melody are really catchy items. They should head more towards this type of composition. Very good song indeed.

Same sort of comments apply to the epic ''Remember Us''. Some sixteen minutes trip into the PT universe. It has it all what you can expect from the band. A excellent way to close this good album although the noisy and uninspired middle part (some might say ''avant-garde'') could have been avoided.

Three stars.

Now, if you're looking for originality and fantasy, you should pass your way, because you won't find so many of these here. Straight-forward pop-rock music: melancholic, sad and maybe somewhat uniform (''Perpetual Night Shift''). These are the ingredients and after some seventy minutes, I have to say that some dull feeling can take place. A long EP would have done the job quite frankly.

Most of the songs have the same look and feel and after such a long treat, I can't say that my first action would be to spin this album again after having listened to it once. Real highlights? Can't find honestly. Just an acceptable rock album.

Two stars.