Steven Wilson Vs. Roine Stolt

Meta wrote:     You don't find early KC uniquely innovative? I consider them to be one of the single most important influences on the development of early prog. I think SW is more than a little self aware. Take this line from postcard for instance:   "I'm lame and self-obsessed, that I will concede"   There are a few other PT and SW lyrics that show the same sort of self-awareness. The man has an ego and it's well deserved, in my opinion. His ego isn't even close to being on the same level as Fripp, though.

Innovation: Yes, I do believe that. Come on, Fripp was only 23 at the time of ITCOCK debut. He already made a statement he was seeking to re-shape the musical world, but it would still take him a few years to get ready for the seismic shift of LTIA, Starless and Red.  

By the way, I am voting with the PA crowd here: If you look at the KC ratings, on average the Wake/Lizard/Islands are  just below the "Excellent" mark,  while the average of the next three albums borders on the "Masterpiece" category. 

Egomania vs. Self-Awareness: I agree in general. I think that these are just the two sides of the same coin, or two different manifestation of the same "imbalance" - like bullies are usually turn out to be cowards. But also, let's not assume that everything Wilson writes is about his core self.  

DisgruntledPorcupine wrote: I can't find a single KC element in any PT song ever written. PF I understand a bit. There's a difference between influence, and being a rehash of the past. SW makes a good point, while he might have been extreme with his wording, it's valid nonetheless.

How about Nil Recurring?

I'd agree, however, that the PT members (apart from the excellent Gavin H) haven't really had the skills and/or ambition to emulate the intensity and sophistication of KC. 

But there are more similarities between KC and PT (or, to be more accurate, between Bobby and Stevie) than many of us notice .. consider these:

- Both passionately nurture and worship their aircraft carrier-size egos. Both will pay attention to the fans and band members for exactly as long as it's necessary for a given ego-worshiping session. 

- Both get bored with the "same old" quickly and predictably, even when the same "same old" has made them rich and famous.

Think of the KC vs. PT incarnations:

(1) The pre-Bruford  KC could be compared to the pre-Harrison PT - innovative, but not uniquely so; not standing out visibly enough on the musical landscape

(2) The Fripp-Bruford-Wetton era is similar to the 21st century PT: The first album indicated a virtual re-birth of the band, resulting in a sharp increase in visibility (LTIA/In Absentia), but the musical contents were a little "imperfect", so to speak. The second album was near-perfect, and the third was immaculate. --- I don't count the 4th album by PT, The Incident, because by that time Wilson's mind had moved on and away. 

(3) The third incarnation of KC may have retained some of the DNA of the earlier band, but received a massive  blood transfusion (+ Belew, - Wetton). This opened the door to the Projekcts phase - for better of worse. I believe Wilson is undergoing the same transformation right now.

Now, as to Wilson's personality: he does come across as a self-important, arrogant person. If you watched the GAYD DVD: during the intro, he thrusts himself onto the stage and promptly strikes the "Cristo Redentor atop Corcovado" pose. It's like saying, 'I come to redeem My flock from the demons of Katy Purry and Justin Beaver'. He proceeds to exorcise the demons by making his peculiar  hand gestures right in front of the musicians' faces. I said to my wife, 'Gee, if Wilson did that to me, I might punch him right into his pallid face'. She replied, 'That's probably what Niko did, for which he got fired'.