Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Radioactive Toy
2. Nine Cats
3. And The Swallows Dance Above The Sun
4. Nostalgia Factory
5. Voyage 34
6. Synesthesia
7. Phantoms
8. Up The Downstair
9. Fadeaway
10. Rainy Taxi

Disc 2:

1. Stars Die
2. Sky Moves Sideways
3. Men Of Wood
4. Waiting
5. Sound Of No One Listening
6. Colourflow In Mind
7. Fuse The Sky
8. Signify II
9. Every Home Is Wired
10. Sever
11. Dark Matter

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5512 in Music
• Released on: 2008-08-25
• Number of discs: 2
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Dimensions: .28 pounds

Amazon.co.uk Review
Stars Die is a 2CD compilation spanning Porcupine Tree's stint with Delirium Records between 1991 and 1997 and consists of the best album tracks and singles as well as previously unheard rarities. Porcupine Tree began life in as a one-man vehicle for multi-instrumentalist Steven Wilson, eventually morphing into a full band line-up. Intent on dispensing with the 1970s mothballs, Porcupine Tree have carted the stale fabric of prog-rock off for treatment at the trance-and-dance-beat-drycleaners and--not entirely unsuccessfully--shifted the antique, astronomical black vacuum of space-rock on a few years from the era of blurry images of Buzz Aldrin on black and white telly.

Whilst Stars Die hardly constitutes a giant leap for mankind, it exudes a certain eccentric freshness, not least of all on the trippy trance of "Voyage 34", the closet thing to Star Trek on LSD, and "Synesthesia", on which they manage to delude themselves into believing they are the techno-prog Stone Roses. At its best, this is a fine introduction to a band who may appeal to people who know this is the 21st century, enjoy a bit of Radiohead, probably even The Orb but--to their credit--can't quite bring themselves to stick those old Steve Hackett albums in the attic. --Kevin Maidment

CD Description
STARS DIE is a 2-CD retrospective of Porcupine Tree's evolution from 1991 to 1997. It's a perfect starter for the curious as well as a choice collector's piece for the diehard fan, as it follows the chronological history of Tree--from Steve Wilson's Pink Floydian, psychedelic, one-man-band origins to the group's evolution into the atmospheric, progressive rock icon it is today. Besides a healthy selection of tracks from all the albums, there are also nine rare tracks that are either exclusive to this compilation or were released on out-of-print EPs (such as MOONLOOP and STAIRCASE INFINITIES).The collection also includes extensive liner notes and bandhistory information with quotes from Porcupine Tree's members.

Customer Reviews

Classic compilation for fans and newcomers alike
If you are worried about buying an album from a band labeled "progressive" - forget it in this case. Porcupine Tree are a rock band that are broader than that particular genre , as you might expect with an ex mebmer of Japan on keyboards. This band are capable of music that is in turn beautiful and contemporary.

So , I have to admit it , I am a big fan of this band.

I started much like many people buying the "Signify" Album without any idea of what it was and four years later I am hooked.

I was wary of buying a "best of" assuming that I had most of the tracks already - but here I was wrong. Delerium Records have produced a quality balance between unreleased tracks, b sides and classics updated or remixed.

This is no fan only collection either,"Stars Die" - the wonderful title track, is worth the purchase alone - a beautiful melody that wraps itself around you and you cannot get out of your head for many days afterwards(and suprisingly this has only ever appeared on an ep !)

The other highlights are the amazing "Voyage 34" ,a track that fans of the Floyd will appreciate as well as the ever present "Dark Matter" and "Every Home is Wired" from the exellent Signify Album, claustrophobic but quality tracks.

However ,it is the whole package that entrances - from the booklet that accompanies this set , explaining each track as well as a history of the band to the wide range of unreleased tracks and alternative mixes.

If you like quality rock music,lush soundscapes and great guitar, buy this album (and if you are new to the band listen to Disc 2 first).I guarantee you will be back to buy find out more about Porcupine Tree very quickly.

Prime Porcupine Tree!
This pair of well filled discs would make a good entry point into Porcupine Tree's much underrated world. It contains highlights from all their pre-Stupid Dream albums, along with a number of tracks that haven't appeared on albums before (singles, remixes, extended versions etc), so it contains something for everyone! With coverage of so many albums it is very varied in style.
Others might suggest starting with the albums Signify, Stupid Dream or Lightbulb Sun, but for me this is a great place to start exploring some excellent music. Buy it!

Summary of Chris Maitland years
This album works out as a great tribute to the Chris Maitland years - for those of you who don't know he was the drummer with the band, leaving just after Lightbulb Sun. There are some incredible tracks in here, highlighting a band with diversity, originality and a shed load of raw talent. It works as a greatest hits, and is a cd that any fan of not-so-mainstream-rock should have in their collection. Brilliant!