LIGHTBULB SUN

Some say that mainstream is an oximoron for prog music, that those two genres cannot be brought together. "Lightbulb Sun", by Porcupine Tree - a natural 90's prog band - is their most mainstream release (along with "Stupid Dream", that symbols the transfer from "Signify", which was a very un-mainstream, to those albums that was closer to the ear of the average listener).

As expected from an artist like Steven Wilson, "Lightbulb Sun" combines the darkest corners of the soul: the paranoia, hate, disappointment and even self destruction (like in "Russia On Ice"), and finishes with an "optimistic" finale track - "Feel So Low" :)

What makes "Lightbulb Sun" so special, is the pass between progressive songs (such as "Russia On Ice" & "Hatesong") to a catchy radio songs (such as "How Is Your Life Today", "Shesmovedon", "The Rest Will Flow"). But even those mainstream tracks are still keeps the quality of PT (Maybe another Blackfield prophecy). This process is perfectly shown on one of SW's last project, "Blackfield", that started on the year "Lightbulb Sun" was released.

My favorite tracks are - first, the opener & title track - "Lightbulb Sun" - a really good song, which makes me sorry sometimes as an artist for not creating a song like that... :) The other one is "Russia On Ice", the best in my opinion (even on the history of PT), combines beautiful vocal harmony, a pass between a quiet song to a destructive one, which is the end of the album's story.

I can call this one of my favorite PT albums, so 4 stars are realistic.