Dystopian Dreamland

So I put together this playlist of all my favorite Porcupine Tree songs that would fit on a 80-minute CD. I realized afterward that, unintentionally, they all deal with tragedies of various sorts, from the personal to the planetary (more often the latter), though with a particularly British sense of detachment and even whimsy, and always with great music. I guess these guys just like writing songs about the end of the world!

You can stream it for free with an iMeem account (they have agreements with the major labels) or download on iTunes.

1. Stars Die

"The Moon shook...." There actually was a monk in the 13th century who witnessed a large impact on the Moon, and watched the surface ripple. But in this song, we're confronted with the fact that, yes, stars die, civilizations end, or are forced to flee their solar systems. A nice touch is the audio of the greeting from Richard Nixon to Apollo 11; imagine it radiating outward ahead, endlessly, ever more faint....

2. A Smart Kid

Another beautiful song, almost a lullaby... about escape from the end of the world!

3. Even Less

What a subtle touch of genius, to take the audio of a numbers station (cryptographic messages sent in the clear) as a metaphor for the mystery of a suicide, for hidden reasons that rational minds cannot comprehend?

4. Last Chance To Exit Planet Earth...

Is that Ti or Do (the cult leader of Heaven's Gate)? Anyway, what a great, weird song. I heard this first on Radio Paradise and it sparked my interest in Porcupine Tree. (And, FWIW, read about Radio Paradise in Linux Journal!)

5. Time Flies

"I was born in '67, the year of Sgt. Pepper...." I recognize riffs in this song from Dark Side and Animals, but hey, take from the best!

6. Radioactive Toy

"Give me the freedom to destroy...." A precautionary tale?

7. Space Transmission

Creepy. Lovecraftian?

8. Every Home Is Wired

Very Twilight Zone. You think it's utopian, but then the theme is twisted and turned on its side....

9. The Sound Of Muzak

"One of the wonders of the world is going down..." the heat death of independent radio?

10. The Sky Moves Sideways

This is the live version from the album Coma Divine.