VARIATIONS ON A DREAM

A very somber and very acoustic effort from Pineapple Thief. A sort of cross between older Porcupine Tree and the Smashing Pumpkins, this album is easily the best the Thief have produced. There are many elements that make this album tasteful and enjoyable. One is that the music isn't terribly complex, but it still is intricate enough to please a complexity freak's needs. Second is that each song is fulled to the brim with rich textures, offering a very mellow environment.

The musicianship, while not terribly, complex, is top quality. Bruce Soord does a great acoustic job on every track, and also gives off Gilmour-esque solos, which is a very welcome feature. Adrian Soord also gives a great overall job on the keys, creating rich environments and stellar piano work on each song. One could not ask for anything more musically.

The stand-out track is the finally, the 16 minute opus Remember Us. It begins with quiet and inventive acoustic work, and as the piece expands, the moods and tempos expand and create what could be the best song that they've ever put on tape.

Overall, I was very impressed with my first album outing with Pineapple Thief. This album is their crowning achievement. Recommended to those who like the genre. 3.5/5.