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Variations on a Progressive Theme

Eugenius Dobson | from a global perspective I'm right here. | 06/02/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Pineapple Thief are generally labeled as a "progressive" rock band, although this label is commonly misconstrued as meaning, "sounds like old Genesis, E. L. P. and YES music." I think many people forget that Pink Floyd were labeled a progressive rock band, and yet they sound nothing like Genesis, E. L. P. or YES. The progressive rock tag was actually meant to imply that the band were not just writing simple three minute tunes about something mundane like the most trivial aspect of a boy meets girl relationship. Being Progressive meant literally to progress song structured concepts, musically and/or lyrically, into something with perhaps more depth and meaning. Sometimes this simply meant that there were more layers to the music, or more meaning behind the lyrics, so that even if the song did happen to be about a boy meets girl relationship, there would be more exploration into something like the psychological aspects of that relationship rather than just how they want to kiss each other and/or bed each other down for the night. Progressive also meant that the music itself was presented in a different way, sometimes taking the full spectrum of what is out there musically and molding that extensive range of sound, shape and colour into something unique. With this in mind you could easily say that The Beatles did their share of progressive rock music (think Tomorrow Never Knows. Eleanor Rigby and all of Sgt. Peppers to name just a few things). Steve Wilson of Porcupine Tree seems reluctant to label his band as progressive, but again I think he sees the tag having that same old archaic reference to Genesis and YES. There is no question that Porcupine Tree progresses the concepts of rock music by exploring the many different styles of rock and forging music from it that is their own, as does Radiohead, who also explore new ways to present musical ideas (they also feel disinclined to be associated with that old Progressive rock label). Regardless of what they feel, the label applies. The Pineapple Thief also fall into this same category, and I used both Porcupine Tree and Radiohead as examples, because it is with those two bands that The Pineapple Thief share the most in common. The Thief do not constrain themselves to one musical idea, but rather take in the full spectrum of what is out there and mold it into their own image while always searching for new ways to express those musical concepts. Songs like "Subside" and "Vapor Trails", do not follow any conventional means of communicating musical ideas in a radio friendly manner, and yet they manage to just as successfully convey their tunes, without sounding like they are trying to force them into some different mold, like trying to fit a jigsaw puzzle piece in where it doesn't belong. The Pineapple Thief's songs sound natural the way they are, not contrived in such a way as to be different just for the heck of it, and that is the sign of a truly great progressive band, which The Thief certainly are. That said I do not hold to the opinion that Variations of a Dream is their best record. While it most certainly is an excellent record (CD, whatever), I feel that their 2007 release, "What We Have Sown" is better. Nevertheless, you can't go wrong with a Pineapple Thief album, and Variations of a Dream is a worthwhile addition to any music lovers collection who wants more from their music than the one dimensional, same old same old."