4 CHORDS THAT MADE A MILLION

This was a single taken from the "Lightbulb sun" album. It's suitably commercial while retaining much of what makes Porcupine Tree so appealing.

The version I have replaces the other two tracks listed above with a 14 minute demo of "Even less" from the "Stupid Dream" album. This version is much more in keeping with the Porcupine Tree which recorded "The sky moved sideways" and "Voyage 34", being longer, looser and more progressive than the finished album track. The lyrics too have since been toned down somewhat from the controversial ones this demo contains.

Out of all the wonderful and decent Porcupine Tree EP's available to a customer, this is probably the worst. Take note that I am rating the one with three tracks, not the title track and the magnificent full version of 'Even Less'.

I liked the title track a lot, it came from one of my favorite albums of all time so any track from 'Lightbulb Sun' thrown on to an EP would make me happy. The two tracks thrown in with it are nothing special at all...a waste of money.

Both of the tracks sound like acoustic b-sides that were not good enough to make an album. 'Disappear' is just a very laid-back track like most of the 'Lightbulb Sun' album. The thing that made these instrumentally 'boring' songs were the dynamics, adding 'exotic' instruments, effects and most importantly, moving vocals. This song lacked all of the above and could have been put out by any pop sensation nowadays by the likes of Fall out Boy and Taking Back Sunday.

'In Formaldehyde' is more the same. Except this time we are given a disgusting treat. Can you imagine Steven Wilson doing a clean 'blues' solo. Good. Stay away from this EP.

For serious collectors only.

Note: This version I am rating DOES NOT contain 'Even Less'.

This is a charming song from 'Lightbulb Sun,' and seemingly perfect for a single. Ironically enough, the song revolves around the shallowness of the music industry and record labels, so I can't imagine any executive would take kindly to the tongue-in-cheek criticism that Steven Wilson gives with this song. Tipping the hat to the likes of psychedelic pioneers like the Beatles, the song is all about being catchy and playfully trippy. Reminiscent of any poppy song from the late '60s, 'Four Chords' is upbeat but doesn't wear thin after only a few listens, like most songs of it's ilk. If only for the great production and psych-raga trippiness, 'Four Chords That Made A Million' is a great choice of single, and a song to hopefully get more people into this wonderful band.

The other 'b-sides' will be familiar to people who have given 'Recordings' a listen. Neither of these two tracks really stand out to me, but they both work well to reinforce the main attraction here. Of these however, the atmospheric 'In Formaldehyde' beats its acoustic counterpart by a fair bit in my books.

A good single from a great album.