Steven Wilson, Prog heritage and legacy

If you examine what Steven Wilson says, particularly in interviews, about progressive music- he will say that it is about artists moving beyond the norm, incorporating different musical styles and creating something new that ‘ shouldn't be looking at the past ‘. In this context for example he attacks the Flower Kings and Transatlantic for being regressive and not moving beyond the classic progressive rock sound. This debate is found in Roine Stolt, V Steven Wilson thread http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=88744&PN=1  . 

However, not to turn this topic into an album review, but what I find with Steven’s latest album, (TRTRTS) is a man running out of ideas and resorting largely to an ‘classic progressive rock’ escapism. ‘Luminol’, ‘The Holy drinker’ and ‘the Watch-maker’ are all complete ‘classic progressive rock’ rip-offs- implicitly and unquestionably referring to the likes of Yes and Genesis for example. Because of this, I personally think the music suffers as a consequence.   His justification for his latest musical direction, from examining interviews, is that ‘we are all influenced by previous musical developments and this comes across when a writer makes music’, yet he wanted to create an album that ‘sounded like it could only be made ‘now’. These seem very poor justifications/ explanations of Steven’s latest ‘classic progressive rock sound’.

I admire both the ‘classic progressive rock sound’ and the ‘new progressive sound’, but whether or not you love Steven’s new record, there is a considerable amount of regression not progression which annoys me considering his previous ‘Flower Kings statement’ on progressive rock.

I suppose this begs the question, has ‘progressive rock’ or progressive music reached its time- or more specifically has Steven Wilson reached his time - being unable to create ‘new’, fresh material that tries hard to break from existing musical clichés and traditions?

Edited by IGNEO1991 - June 21 2013 at 11:01

Not a fan of the baiting title of this thread...but there is no doubt that Wilson is...shall we say, `embracing' the vintage progressive rock sounds of old on his most recent two solo albums.

But there is no way I would dismiss `The Raven...' as being a mere clone of 70's works. Many classic era influences implemented into the material, but more than enough modern and contemporary sounds too. Oh, and it's damn good as well.

I love all of Wilson's work, and am a mad Flower Kings fan as well, but the constant cycle of this `FK's vs Wilson' story popping up again is really tired.

And there is not even the slighest sign that `progressive rock has reached it's time'! There are so many oustanding, cutting edge and fascinating releases so far this year alone, so plenty of life left in the genre!

Edited by Aussie-Byrd-Brother - June 21 2013 at 10:38

There's a lot of modern moments on 'The Raven', one shall be totally deaf not to notice them.

'Drive Home' is a completely britpop track with some folk-ish flute.

'The Pin Drop' is much more like 'In Formaldehyde' and other alternative rock stuff from previous Wilson's works.

Finale of 'Watchmaker' was definitely inspired by death/doom metal.

Guitars in title track are somewhat post-rockish.

Moreover, one man's opinion might change as time passes by.

So before call someone 'hypocrite', take a look at the nearest mirror.

UPD: My message #666, lol.


Edited by ole-the-first - June 21 2013 at 10:53

If his opinion is subject to change, all the more reason he could have waited to grow older and wiser than attacking the choices of an older colleague in the industry.  It is wonderful if Wilson sees himself as the self anointed white knight of modern prog but what on earth would be his problem with somebody else deciding to play, well, what he wants to play.  It may be old now but the fact is Wilson has never said he was wrong to blast retro prog all the while that he is now gushing about the 70s. I suspect he has a bit of a chip on his shoulder.   

lol, offended, much?  I have never met him and have no like or dislike towards him as a person.  These are my observations on his personality based on his own words and if they are too unpleasant for you, that's really not my problem.  

Ok, I will accept that though I don't see any other post in this thread either that expresses dislike for Wilson as a person.

I never implied that i dislike Wilson - or hate him-  on the contrary i love him and his work! it is a discussion of his incorporation of the 'retro' or 'classic progressive rock' sound into his latest material. 

rogerthat wrote: Ok, I will accept that though I don't see any other post in this thread either that expresses dislike for Wilson as a person.

Well, but rather the very situation exists, and it kinda irritates me.

I myslef not the biggest fan of 'The Raven', btw, and find Wilson's previous works more attractive to my ear, so I rather surprised it has better reviews than 'Grace for Drowning'.

If someone dilkises some band or artists, there is best way just to ignore that artist. For example, I'm not a big fan of The Beatles. I might say they're overrated or losing my interest in comparison with someone another, but I'll never run shouting about how I hate them.

But in the case with Steven Wilson, I even don't know how to express that, but there are some people, they... they just hate him in the same way as some 13-years old girls might hate bands like HIM, with which other 13-years old girls are obsessed with. That looks like some kind of latent love, I don't know.

For exaple, look at that review: http://www.progarchives.com/Review.asp?id=929249
There are thousands ways to write a negative review on an album, but to start it with words like 'I decided to finish my hate affair with this musician'... sorry, but that sounds just like Robert Christgau.


Edited by ole-the-first - June 21 2013 at 11:24

Speak for yourself puny human.

There's a difference from having influences from the past and sounding pastoral. Stevens recognizes this line.