Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
Some older fans looked askance at Lightbulb Sun, feeling it was verging on overt commercialism (and admittedly, the near power ballad solo on "Where We Would Be" is a bit odd!). Then again, given Wilson's own explorations of avant-garde pop with No-Man, who's to say why a slightly more radio-friendly stance can't work? "Shesmovedon" may have been a single, but there's no question who wrote and performed it -- the elegant cascade of backing vocals on the chorus shows that much. Certainly Wilson hasn't turned into Max Martin or anything -- it's still very much Porcupine Tree, in its lyrical turns of phrase and general sense of exploration. One of the best tracks on the album is the brilliantly titled "Four Chords That Made a Million," a barbed cut on some unnamed "emperor in new clothes" beset by a "moron with a cheque book." The lead riff is a majestic hit of flange and feedback, while the hints of sitar and Indian percussion give the song even more attractive heft. But there's a definite bent towards calmer art pop throughout Lightbulb Sun -- those who preferred the sheer surge of Stupid Dream will find this album tamer in comparison. Still, it's hard to resist the beautiful, understated tension about a fractured friendship or relationship on "Feel So Low" or the gentle, string-touched roll and build of "The Rest Will Flow," flat out two of Wilson's best tunes anywhere. Those who prefer the lengthy explorations won't be disappointed, though -- "Hatesong" unfolds its sharp message over eight minutes and the string-swept, slow time explosion of "Russia on Ice" over 13. Slyest title of the bunch -- "Last Chance to Leave the Planet Earth Before It Is Recycled," which samples the videotape made by the leader of the Heaven's Gate cult before its mass suicide in 1997.
© Ned Raggett /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From €13,50/month
Porcupine Tree, MainArtist - Richard Barbieri, ComposerLyricist - Colin Edwin Balch, ComposerLyricist - Orange Asylum Music, MusicPublisher - Hands Off It's Mine Publishing, MusicPublisher - Monokotunes, MusicPublisher - Steven John Wilson, ComposerLyricist - Christopher James Maitland, MusicPublisher, ComposerLyricist
(C) 2010 Snapper Music Ltd (P) 2000 Kscope, a division of Snapper Music Ltd
Porcupine Tree, MainArtist - Hands Off It's Mine Publishing, MusicPublisher - Steven John Wilson, ComposerLyricist
(C) 2010 Snapper Music Ltd (P) 2000 Kscope, a division of Snapper Music Ltd
Porcupine Tree, MainArtist - Hands Off It's Mine Publishing, MusicPublisher - Steven John Wilson, ComposerLyricist
(C) 2010 Snapper Music Ltd (P) 2000 Kscope, a division of Snapper Music Ltd
Porcupine Tree, MainArtist - Richard Barbieri, ComposerLyricist - Colin Edwin Balch, ComposerLyricist - Orange Asylum Music, MusicPublisher - Hands Off It's Mine Publishing, MusicPublisher - Monokotunes, MusicPublisher - Steven John Wilson, ComposerLyricist - Christopher James Maitland, MusicPublisher, ComposerLyricist
(C) 2010 Snapper Music Ltd (P) 2000 Kscope, a division of Snapper Music Ltd
Porcupine Tree, MainArtist - Richard Barbieri, ComposerLyricist - Colin Edwin Balch, ComposerLyricist - Orange Asylum Music, MusicPublisher - Hands Off It's Mine Publishing, MusicPublisher - Monokotunes, MusicPublisher - Steven John Wilson, ComposerLyricist - Christopher James Maitland, MusicPublisher, ComposerLyricist
(C) 2010 Snapper Music Ltd (P) 2000 Kscope, a division of Snapper Music Ltd
Porcupine Tree, MainArtist - Hands Off It's Mine Publishing, MusicPublisher - Steven John Wilson, ComposerLyricist
(C) 2010 Snapper Music Ltd (P) 2000 Kscope, a division of Snapper Music Ltd
Porcupine Tree, MainArtist - Colin Edwin Balch, ComposerLyricist - Hands Off It's Mine Publishing, MusicPublisher - Monokotunes, MusicPublisher - Steven John Wilson, ComposerLyricist
(C) 2010 Snapper Music Ltd (P) 2000 Kscope, a division of Snapper Music Ltd
Porcupine Tree, MainArtist - Richard Barbieri, ComposerLyricist - Colin Edwin Balch, ComposerLyricist - Orange Asylum Music, MusicPublisher - Hands Off It's Mine Publishing, MusicPublisher - Monokotunes, MusicPublisher - Steven John Wilson, ComposerLyricist - Christopher James Maitland, MusicPublisher, ComposerLyricist
(C) 2010 Snapper Music Ltd (P) 2000 Kscope, a division of Snapper Music Ltd
Porcupine Tree, MainArtist - Richard Barbieri, ComposerLyricist - Colin Edwin Balch, ComposerLyricist - Orange Asylum Music, MusicPublisher - Hands Off It's Mine Publishing, MusicPublisher - Monokotunes, MusicPublisher - Steven John Wilson, ComposerLyricist - Christopher James Maitland, MusicPublisher, ComposerLyricist
(C) 2010 Snapper Music Ltd (P) 2000 Kscope, a division of Snapper Music Ltd
Porcupine Tree, MainArtist - Richard Barbieri, ComposerLyricist - Colin Edwin Balch, ComposerLyricist - Orange Asylum Music, MusicPublisher - Hands Off It's Mine Publishing, MusicPublisher - Monokotunes, MusicPublisher - Steven John Wilson, ComposerLyricist - Christopher James Maitland, MusicPublisher, ComposerLyricist
(C) 2010 Snapper Music Ltd (P) 2000 Kscope, a division of Snapper Music Ltd
Album review
Some older fans looked askance at Lightbulb Sun, feeling it was verging on overt commercialism (and admittedly, the near power ballad solo on "Where We Would Be" is a bit odd!). Then again, given Wilson's own explorations of avant-garde pop with No-Man, who's to say why a slightly more radio-friendly stance can't work? "Shesmovedon" may have been a single, but there's no question who wrote and performed it -- the elegant cascade of backing vocals on the chorus shows that much. Certainly Wilson hasn't turned into Max Martin or anything -- it's still very much Porcupine Tree, in its lyrical turns of phrase and general sense of exploration. One of the best tracks on the album is the brilliantly titled "Four Chords That Made a Million," a barbed cut on some unnamed "emperor in new clothes" beset by a "moron with a cheque book." The lead riff is a majestic hit of flange and feedback, while the hints of sitar and Indian percussion give the song even more attractive heft. But there's a definite bent towards calmer art pop throughout Lightbulb Sun -- those who preferred the sheer surge of Stupid Dream will find this album tamer in comparison. Still, it's hard to resist the beautiful, understated tension about a fractured friendship or relationship on "Feel So Low" or the gentle, string-touched roll and build of "The Rest Will Flow," flat out two of Wilson's best tunes anywhere. Those who prefer the lengthy explorations won't be disappointed, though -- "Hatesong" unfolds its sharp message over eight minutes and the string-swept, slow time explosion of "Russia on Ice" over 13. Slyest title of the bunch -- "Last Chance to Leave the Planet Earth Before It Is Recycled," which samples the videotape made by the leader of the Heaven's Gate cult before its mass suicide in 1997.
© Ned Raggett /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 10 track(s)
- Total length: 00:56:24
- Main artists: Porcupine Tree
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Kscope
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock
(C) 2010 Snapper Music Ltd (P) 2000 Kscope, a division of Snapper Music Ltd
Improve album informationWhy buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.