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.” There’s an official video for “Pillars.” Here’s one for another new song “Meet Me On the Downs.” Watch Bruce live solo, and live with his “solo band.” Watch the latest Pineapple Thief video, and here’s a nice one from 2020. Here they are live with Gavin. Here’s a whole live show from 2017 shortly after Gavin joined. Watch Bruce talk about his gear. There’s much more at their YouTube channel. The Vulgar Unicorn albums are Under the Umbrella (1995), Sleeps With the Fishes (1996), and Jet Set Radio (2000). They also put out an album as Persona Non Grata (not released until 2004). Bruce’s partner in that band was Neil Randall, who currently puts out music as Niederrad 16. Hear more Nakedly Examined Music at nakedlyexaminedmusic.com. Support us at patreon.com/nakedlyexaminedmusic for access to more Linsenmayer/Soord interaction via our bonus 2018 partial interview.