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| Type | Album |
| Year | 1999 |
| Genre | Rock |
| Style | Pop, Prog |
Nobody saw this coming! I'm curious if any die-hard prog fans got triggered when this dropped back then. Although the album still features more proggy, long and drawn out compositions (namely "Even Less" & "Don't Hate Me") and one ambient interlude (the title track), the majority of songs are very bright, upbeat little tunes, with catchy choruses and sing-along lyrics. It's so cute!
This record makes me think of a warm summer day, but matter of fact, it's not an optimistic and hopeful experience at all. The lyrics are bittersweet and mysteriously dark - this will continue from this album forward, creating a PT vibe staple. This move from psychedelic, eclectic and weird prog to pop rock was decided of course by Steven, who was really into 80s pop at the time. He wanted to make PT an act suitable for radio play, but even after this record, and after the next one too, the radios weren't really interested in this material... Which makes me sad beyond belief, cause the songs like "Piano Lessons", "Stranger by the Minute" and "Pure Narcotic", could've been a radio hits had more people heard them. There's even no need to make a single edit of them, cause they're so self-contained, ear-wormingly catchy and cute, simple compositions.
The record opens with "Even Less" - a hard hitting, proggy banger with loud drop D guitars (a foreshadowing for what's to come...) and cryptic lyrical motifs. There exists an extended version of the song, featured on "Recordings" album, that is much cooler in my opinion, as it features a percussive buildup and the angry lyrical breakdown that melts down into the one last reprise of the instrumental chorus... Good stuff! I used to really enjoy "Piano Lessons", but I kinda overplayed it... Songs like "Slave Called Shiver" and "Smart Kid" while being amazing, sound more powerful and hard hitting one. The former's version on "Warszawa" live album for example, features a different approach to the chorus - it's being screamed rather than sang! This way it's angrier and louder. When it comes to "Smart Kid", I prefer the acoustic version that can be found on YouTube. It's a hauntingly beautiful curiosity! This gig features a simillarly nice rendition of "Pure Narcotic" too. One of my favorites here is "Stranger by the Minute", which soundly so heavenly nostalgic and it generates in the monstrous amounds of anemoia (nostalgia for the events you've never even experienced)... I adore the cute little main melody and the happy guitar solo at the end. "Baby Dream on Cellophane" features a darker, more sinister and weird vibe that fits their previous album. It was also stolen by Megadeth! Just listen to their "Wanderlust" song. It's a banger tho, I prefer it over the "Baby Dream". "Don't Hate Me" and "Tinto Brass" show that the despite the stylistic shift, the band can still deliver some wonderful, hard-hitting complex songs. The sax solo in the former is very unexpected and of course, it sounds very Pink Floydish. "Tinto" on the other hand, showcases more modern and industrial aspects of PT's music. The electronic noises, samples, aggresive drumming, and very loud and evil sounding guitar breakdown hit like a brick wall. About "Stop Swimming", I don't really connect with that one. I've seen it being praised a lot, and it truly is a nice song - it features some wise and deep lyrics and interesting piano instrumentation, but I don't know... The chord progression seems too underwhelming so to say. The song feels like it doesn't want to resolve. Maybe that's the point, but I simply don't connect with it.
That being said, "Stupid Dream" is still definetely one of the best albums you'll ever hear. There's something for everybody in that one!! Whether you're a prog-rock fan, or a 90s alt/pop rock fan, this record has a huge chance of getting to your fav albums lists! :)