Back in 2018, The Pineapple Thief released “Dissolution”, an album that I dislike to this day. The band is often inconsistent, so I had hope that their next release, “Versions of the Truth”, would be one that I could appreciate. The album releases on September 4th, and, unfortunately, it is something of a snore.
The band comes to us from the UK. The current line up is Bruce Soord on guitars and vocals, Steve Kitch on keyboards, Jon Sykes on bass, and Gavin Harrison on drums. This is Gavin’s third—yes, third—album with the band, and his presence continues to mean nothing.
I’ve been a TPT fan for over ten years. Albums like “Someone Here is Missing” and “All the Wars” are still near masterpieces in my book. However, in 2014, the band released “Magnolia”, an album that was as stale and uninspired as you can imagine. I accepted that bands of this status can’t always produced top tier offerings. Well, the band seemed to think the record was dull, too, as they shook things up and brought in the legendary Gavin Harrison for “Your Wilderness” in 2016. And what an album that was! The band had found their energy, emotion, and diversity again. With 2018’s “Dissolution”, the band returned to a leaden, lifeless format, and Gavin was left performing in a way that almost any amateur drummer could produce.
“Versions of the Truth” is a continuation of this monotony. At least on “Dissolution”, there were bright moments. With this album, from beginning to end, I can’t tell the difference between songs. Every single song has the same stuttering repetition of words and phrases. I guess Bruce calls them “choruses”. The verses that surround them are comatose and lack any sort of color. In fact, in the newest music video “Driving Like Maniacs” (in which no one drives like a maniac), Gavin looks bored out of his ever-loving mind! I think I even noticed him nod off halfway through the song.
The most infuriating thing about this album is that it actually is beautiful in a very base fashion. The melodies are “pretty”, I suppose, and Bruce has a good voice. I like his voice. For what it’s worth, Gavin’s cymbal work here is also great, as usual. The problem is that these are a foundation, and this album builds absolutely nothing on that. In fact, some of the songs seem like they are going to go somewhere, but then they just don’t. They finish with an anti-climax. Nothing ever rouses me, interests me, or wows me. Nothing at all.
And this isn’t just my opinion. With “Dissolution”, I received some heated feedback, but also received private messages from fans who agreed with me. I’ve already seen fans expressing disappointment with these new singles, as well, and I just want to caution everyone that the rest of the album is exactly more of the same. If you don’t like the singles, you won’t like the album. If you love the singles, then you must appreciate bland, personality-free music. These songs could literally have been composed and performed by any half-rate indie band in the world.
I have no favorites on this album. Not a single track stands out, although all of them are beautiful to some degree. This record is rather like background music that could help me focus on something else entirely. It doesn’t engage me in any way, whether intellectually or emotionally. If I absolutely were forced to choose a favorite song, it would probably be “The Mire”, the only song on the album that gets going with any sort of purpose. The guitars on it are nice, and Gavin is able to unleash himself ever so slightly more than on the other songs. It’s like a tease for what the band could be doing, but it ends up sounding like the weakest song on an actual good TPT album.
Look, I get it. “Dissolution”, if I remember correctly, was one of the band’s biggest records to date. It sold well and spawned a successful tour. I can understand why the band would want the follow-up to sound similar. At this point, though, I don’t think The Pineapple Thief are gaining more fans, only keeping the ones that refuse to admit that the band has lost something. And they are bleeding fans, like me, and I’m trying to decide if I’m even going to bother with the next record. I have no doubt, though, that this album will again sell well, and I wish the band all the best.
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The PROG Mind 
Your review sounds more like a 3/10 than a 6. It seems like 6 would mean that about half the album is good/great.
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Harsh but so very true. Pineapple Thief has become the epitome of blandness, the music is so faceless that it’s even hard to dislike it. And Gavin Harrison’s role is akin to Gaudi being asked to design a garden shed.
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I’m really enjoying it. It’s very chilled with some beautiful, sad pieces and sometimes angry pieces. Perhaps they could change the dynamic once in a while but I certainly don’t think it’s dull.
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It’s odd that I can agree with you do much regarding All the Wars, Your Wilderness and Dissolution, but not so much on Magnolia and the new one. (both of which I like a lot). All the Wars to me is simply superb, and hasn’t been bettered, though often overlooked by others. Gavin is fantastic, and a great asset, but to me he would not have improved ATW, which is aided by heavier, muscular drumming. Despite the sometimes over fussy drumming on Versions of the Truth I am liking the songs. They could do with being a bit longer and better developed though.
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I agree with a lot of what you express. I’m a big fan of the earlier releases from TPT, but the last few albums has left me unimpressed. They are great musicians, but it has become very monotonous and repetitive. Not being able to tell the songs apart is a good way to put it.
I think Disillusion has some good tracks and I would put it above this album.
I hope they find some new inspiration next time.
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Not gonna lie, I was a bit dissapointed with this review the first time I read it. But now I have to agree with you. It’s kindda boring when you listen it several times and as you said, it’s hard to know when a song ends and other beggins. My favorite song of this one is “Stop Making Sense” despite the fact is just a loop of like three phrases.
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