NEM#256: Bruce Soord (Pineapple Thief): Heartbreaking Prog by Ear

Bruce started as guitarist for the ’90s for Vulgar Unicorn and started Pineapple Thief as a solo project in 1999, though it quickly became a full band (and has for the last several albums been a true 4-way collaboration featuring King Crimson/Porcupine Tree drummer Gavin Harrison). He’s released 16 studio albums with Pineapple Thief and four solo albums (plus a collaboration album with Jonas Renske from Katatonia). More at brucesoord.com and pineapplethief.com.

We discuss “Pillars” from Ghosts in the Park (his 2026 solo album) and some Pineapple Thief tracks: the title track from It Leads to This (2024), “Clapham” from 10 Stories Down (2005), remixed for 3000 Days (2008), plus to conclude “Alone at Sea” from Magnolia (2014). Intro: “Private Paradise” by from Abducted at Birth (1999, originally called Abducting the Unicorn).

Hear all of “Private Paradise.” (youtu.be/0Bjv6O40z0c?si=rMcOsCOWKxGfzduX) There’s an official video for “Pillars.” (youtu.be/dc3HOoWY5gg?si=_Bvk10XUeCpNCJ6R) Here’s one for another new song “Meet Me On the Downs (youtu.be/I7a7Wkn_v64?si=buFT-_TDEkvPVXJk).” Watch Bruce live solo (youtu.be/0-gZFJfQPjc?si=fwx9Lzm67R1Pl8kb), and live with his “solo band.” (youtu.be/s1f7jUxfA9M?si=iGSoYdg3m3UyNSAc)

Watch the latest Pineapple Thief video (youtu.be/IkjXCyO0fi4?si=oR5ctAGQKgg51T5z), and here’s a nice one from 2020 (youtu.be/O32DMyXN-mI?si=TIxh_FesCW9fX3TI). Here they are live with Gavin (youtu.be/Eeq4HktLg2M?si=DyZL7UcwCsdnZW08). Here’s a whole live show from 2017 (youtu.be/RJWP7hHSvwg?si=Oo9_P_CiLkn1wqVI) shortly after Gavin joined. Watch Bruce talk about his gear (youtu.be/1w_NA9RCz8k?si=_CsapI65aJRyzEt7). There’s much more at their YouTube channel (youtube.com/@ThePineappleThiefTV).

The Vulgar Unicorn albums are Under the Umbrella (youtube.com/watch?v=_A6z-Xzaq-4&list=RD_A6…) (1995), Sleeps With the Fishes (youtube.com/watch?v=Ds7Ing3tpRc&list=RDDs7…) (1996), and Jet Set Radio (youtube.com/watch?v=zQiiammIpr8&list=RDzQi…) (2000). They also put out an album as Persona Non Grata (youtube.com/watch?v=zpBGsktLzpQ&list=RDzpB…) (not released until 2004). Bruce’s partner in that band was Neil Randall, who currently puts out music as Niederrad 16 (niederrad-16.bandcamp.com).

Hear more Nakedly Examined Music at nakedlyexaminedmusic.com. Support us at patreon.com/nakedlyexaminedmusic for access to more Linsenmayer/Soord interaction viaour bonus 2018 partial interview (patreon.com/nakedlyexaminedmusic/posts/bonus-e…).