LIGHTBULB SUN

"Lightbulb Sun" is the sixth studio album of Porcupine Tree and was released in 2000. This album, along with their prior fifth studio album "Stupid Dream", is considered to have a more commercial approach and a poppier sound, opposed to the more abstract and psychedelic instrumental sound of their earlier studio albums, or the heavier metal sound in their subsequent studio albums of the 2000's, which is paticularly noted on their album "Fear Of A Blank Planet".

The album is divided into two distinct parts between "Rest Will Flow" and "Hatesong". The first part is concentrated more on the melodic and pop elements of Porcupine Tree's style, while the second part has a more experimental side. Lyrically, it seems that Wilson was tired of writing about abstract concepts like war or religion. So, on "Lightbulb Sun" it seems he felt that he had the confidence to write more personal and emotional lyrics. Musically, Wilson stated that he wanted to bring back some of the musical experimental aspects that they had moved away from on "Stupid Dream".

The line up on the album is Steven Wilson (vocals, guitars, piano, Mellotron, hammered dulcimer, banjo, harp and amples), Richard Barbieri (synthesizers, Hammond organ, fender Rhodes, clavinet and Mellotron), Colin Edwin (bass guitar, drum machine and guimbri), Chris Maitland (backing vocals and drums), Stuart Gordon (violin and viola), Nick Parry (cello) and Eli Hibit (backup rhythm guitar). The album has also the participation of The Minerva String Quartet.

"Lightbulb Sun" has ten tracks. All songs were written by Steven Wilson, except "Hatesong" written by Wilson and Edwin, and "Russia On Ice" written by all band's members. The first track is the title track "Lightbulb Sun". It's a Porcupine Tree's regular ballad with a catchy refrain, a great guitar solo and, as usual, with figurative lyrics. All over the track the peaceful and dreamy sections alternate with heavy rocking parts. The combination of acoustic and electric guitars is nice. The second track "How Is Your Life Today?" is a short piano ballad, very cool, and I simply love it. This is a very strange song with only some piano chords and vocals. Sometimes it gives me the impression of some of Syd Barrett's musical compositions. The third track "Four Chords That Made A Million" is another Porcupine Tree's regular song. It has a heavy rhythm, nice percussion and great bass lines and a regular refrain, in addition of a cool percussion. This is a nice rock song but isn't one of the best tracks on the album. The fourth track "Shesmovedon" is a romantic ballad with great distorted guitar work and a great bass line. It's a mid-tempo piece of music with fine close harmonies and a wonderful melody of the chorus. This is a song that wouldn't have been out of the place on "Stupid Dream". The fifth track "Last Chance To Evacuate Planet Earth Before It Is Recycled" is a mysterious song where the chords are really great, the acoustic guitar solo is very remarkable and the keyboards makes you travel all over the song. It's a very atmospheric piece of music where all the instruments collaborate to achieve that. The sixth track "The Rest Will Flow" is another nice ballad. It's a very short song full of great backing vocals, harmonies, acoustic guitars, wonderful strings, slide guitar and Hammond organ. This is a very nice song but nothing spectacular. The seventh track "Hatesong" is a great lengthy instrumental piece of music with nice bass lines, great guitar work and nice drumming. It's a lengthy and heavy musical composition with lots of deep guitar beating drags up anger in it. The title of the song really shows the true feeling of the music. The eighth track "Where We Would Be" is another nice ballad with good instrumental work. This is a song with good melody, nice vocals and a slightly distorted guitar solo. Personally, I think this is the weakest track on the album and I think they could have made much more of this composition. The ninth track "Russia On Ice" is the epic song, and undoubtedly, the greatest highlight of the album. The instrumental and the orchestral passages are incredible with great lyrics, a magnificent bass line and a wonderful guitar work. This track is a perfect example that Porcupine Tree seems to be on their best when they extend and expand their musical compositions. The tenth track "Feel So Low" is a very simple and melancholic song with just keyboards, vocals, guitar and strings. This is a nice way to close the album, with an intense and beautiful sad song about somebody you love and just doesn't contact you.

Conclusion: "Lightbulb Sun" is an album that takes a while to we can get used to it, and that needs to get the chance to stick in our minds. But, as soon as it does, you can play it as often as you like without getting tired of it. However and particularly in my case, I continue preferring the sound and songs of the magnificent "Stupid Dream", an album that, in my humble opinion, represented a total and innovative overturn in the sound of the group and an excellent contribution to the progressive rock music of the 90's. Maybe the album has some musical inconsistency. However, it has many musical moments of genuine heartfelt emotion. So, in the end, it's perfectly clear that Porcupine Tree will continue to create discussions in the progressive rock scene. But, it isn't this one of the best things we have in the prog world?

Prog is my Ferrari. Jem Godfrey (Frost*)

Share this PORCUPINE TREE review

Social review comments () BETA

---

---

Review related links

• Send comments to VianaProghead
• Report this review (#2481260)
• Buy PORCUPINE TREE music online with PA partners
• Show all PORCUPINE TREE MP3/Stream
• Go to PORCUPINE TREE page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to Lightbulb Sun page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for PORCUPINE TREE related discussions