Pages

Friday, June 9, 2023

The Pineapple Thief - 'How Did We Find Our Way' : 1999 – 2006’

 

The Pineapple Thief - 'How Did We Find Our Way' : 1999 – 2006’

by Pete Clemons


Record buying is very different nowadays from when I was a youngster. Back then you had huge record companies chucking obscene amounts of money attempting to get singles and albums into the charts.  Groups were given vast amounts of money up front. Back then it also felt like the whole country enjoyed and, took an interest, in the music scene.

I began this piece with the words 'record buying'. Even that term is alien nowadays. You don't even have to buy music now. It is there in the ether for free. We are now in a world where 'platforms' allow you, for a cost, to stream fresh air. The artists effectively give their life's work to these 'platforms'. In return the artist receives a miniscule of a penny/cent for each download or stream. What on earth has gone wrong!. How did we get to this point?. How was this ever allowed to happen?.

Pop music in its early days, I guess, was taken for granted. A positive of today, that I have noticed, is that music fans, despite their low numbers compared to the past, are more dedicated and passionate. But of course that leads to endless debates, for example, which line up of a band was the best, the amount of reissues, box sets and such like.

Nowadays, and with all its pitfalls, it is increasingly difficult for a band to make any kind of income through music. The music business has become more of a cottage industry. A band, may begin by releasing enough CD copies to satisfy an initially low fan base (although this model now appears to be old hat). The financial risk belongs to the band. They are the ones putting their own money, time and effort in.

New music and a follow up album may appear and that initial audience has hopefully grown. If that happens some of those newly acquired fans inevitably begin to examine the back catalogue.

This increased interest demands re-releases of albums in a multitude of mediums. And so it goes, release by release, until who knows what develops and in how long a time-frame.

Who could possibly begrudge a band or musician that 'makes it' nowadays. And gets to a point where they can a modest income (feel free to take 'makes it' with the pinch of salt that phrase demands).

One such band who have gotten to the point where each new release considerably outsells the previous one is The Pineapple Thief. And of course that continually growing audience has taken more than a passing interest in the bands early days.

 And that interest has fuelled enough energy for a lavish box set titled 'How Did We Find Our Way' : 1999 – 2006’ which focuses on the bands humble beginnings with a release in 1999 called 'Abducting The Unicorn' through to the bands 'Little Man' in 2006. So essentially it covers the first 5 official album releases. But of course there are lots of extras.

This box set has been produced to the highest qualities of sound currently available. It also contains what looks like a magnificent book. It is a complete one off release that, I think, is very good value for what you are getting.

I, for one, hope this box set sells out. And that looks quite possible at the moment. It is particularly great for the legions of fans new to the band and who might be having difficulty sourcing the early music. It is nothing more than The Pineapple Thief, (active now for almost 25 years), deserve.

Much has changed over the course of The Pineapple Thief's existence. None more-so than when, possibly the most sought after drummer of the modern era, Gavin Harrison, hooked up with the band. This was long after the release of any of the music included within this box set.

Commercially, bringing Gavin in was a brilliant move. But it was one that in an ideal world, and where music fans are not turned on by celebrity, would never have happened. Or would it?. Did the music improve?. It certainly developed an edge. This release, I suspect, will only reignite and re-energise that debate. After a quarter century The Pineapple Thief are certainly a band with a contrasting career.

Once the listener, particularly those new to The Pineapple Thief, immerse themselves in these 5 albums and all its extras they will find that it is not only their eyes that will light up. Indeed, all their senses will have been illuminated.


No comments:

Post a Comment