Let's Talk Steven Wilson

infandous wrote: Strangely enough, I don't care for Insurgentes at all.  I love Grace For Drowning and The Raven albums though, and would say I probably prefer the former, for it's off the wall jazzy flavor and more interesting compositions.  The Raven is very concise and well crafted, but because of that seems a bit cold.  There is no denying the brilliance of it though.I also love Porcupine Tree, mostly the early albums, but In Absentia and Deadwing are great albums as well.  Didn't care for the last two PTree albums, though The Incident was not bad, just not up to their usual standards (and Fear Of A Blank Planet just doesn't do much of anything for me).I have not heard any of Wilson's other projects though, aside from a couple Blackfield songs which were okay, but nothing that made me want to listen any further.Oh, I do have the Storm Corrosion album and really enjoy that one, as it seems a nice blend of Grace For Drowning and Harvest.

I find it strange that possibly one of the most emotionally responsive CD's I have in my collection can be considered 'Cold'.....The title track is so atmospheric it makes the hairs stand up on my neck and arms, all this track needs is an extension out to 20 mins and a Stolt style hair-raising guitar solo in an extended reprise of the main themes and you would have a top 10 tracks of all time contender.....

Last couple of months I've been almost obssessing about SW, that's how hard The Raven hit me, and I've considered myself a massive fan of his work for many years now, mind you. There's just this one thing that I can't really get comfortable with: WHAT'S WITH THE FLUTE, STEVEN? I mean really, I love me some flute but this is definitely too much, I know he was aiming for a folk-murder-ballad atmosphere but all I get is images of leprechauns dancing around pots full of gold. Anyone back me up on this?

adenauer wrote: Last couple of months I've been almost obssessing about SW, that's how hard The Raven hit me, and I've considered myself a massive fan of his work for many years now, mind you. There's just this one thing that I can't really get comfortable with: WHAT'S WITH THE FLUTE, STEVEN? I mean really, I love me some flute but this is definitely too much, I know he was aiming for a folk-murder-ballad atmosphere but all I get is images of leprechauns dancing around pots full of gold. Anyone back me up on this? P.s. Also hello everyone, this is my first post here and apparently I've started with some very elegant whining.

I really like the flutes and winds he uses, and I feel I wouldn't like the album as much without them.

Hi,

Mirror Image wrote: I wish Wilson would record another Porcupine Tree album. I didn't like The Incident much at all. One problem I have with Porcupine Tree is the lack of a real soloist. Wilson is a capable guitarist, but he's just not in the realm of Hackett, Gilmour, Rothery, Howe, etc.

Edited by richardh - July 07 2014 at 01:13

The problem with The Incident was purely aesthetical for me. I'm not a musican (except maybe some xylophone in the kindergarten) so I don't focus on the technical side of the tracks, I've listened to the album now and then and for a long time it just seemed... boring. I couldn't find anything interesting to stick with, no tune no lyric line, nothing. It felt like it didn't stand out and I was dissapointed because that was never the case with earlier PT albums. And then one day I woke up with 'Blind House' stuck in my head, so I gave it one more try, hit shuffle and guess what. So I'm thinking maybe he went too far with the idea of an album as one piece of music? Instead of a sense of integrity I got the sense of thesameness.

Edited by adenauer - July 07 2014 at 04:18

adenauer wrote: The problem with The Incident was purely aesthetical for me. I'm not a musican (except maybe some xylophone in the kindergarten) so I don't focus on the technical side of the tracks, I've listened to the album now and then and for a long time it just seemed... boring. I couldn't find anything interesting to stick with, no tune no lyric line, nothing. It felt like it didn't stand out and I was dissapointed because that was never the case with earlier PT albums. And then one day I woke up with 'Blind House' stuck in my head, so I gave it one more try, hit shuffle and guess what. So I'm thinking maybe he went too far with the idea of an album as one piece of music? Instead of a sense of integrity I got the sense of thesameness. That being said I grew to like The Incident very much, but it still remains my least favourite PT album. As for Fear Of A Blank Planet, it had a stronger idea behind it and that gave it more emotional impact. I mean, dude, Anesthetize! I liked what the other guys brought into PT, and am also hoping for them to get back together but as recommended by SW, I don't hold my breath. He's now embracing his new career path as a 'music director', going back to being a member of a democratic band seems like a step back to him and I guess I can understand that. I wish one day he'll stop thinking of it as a regress but even I can't find any reasons in my head apart from sentimental ones

^Afraid I'm not with you on this on R,(and I usually am on posts) but TRTRTS seemed to me to have a deliberate 'post PT' vibe as if Wilson was trying to force a marked difference in tone from PT's work and his own. The album left me cold but I'm certainly in the minority on this one.

Edited by SteveG - July 07 2014 at 14:29

Mirror Image wrote: I wish Wilson would record another Porcupine Tree album. I didn't like The Incident much at all. One problem I have with Porcupine Tree is the lack of a real soloist. Wilson is a capable guitarist, but he's just not in the realm of Hackett, Gilmour, Rothery, Howe, etc.

richardh wrote: Mirror Image wrote: I wish Wilson would record another Porcupine Tree album. I didn't like The Incident much at all. One problem I have with Porcupine Tree is the lack of a real soloist. Wilson is a capable guitarist, but he's just not in the realm of Hackett, Gilmour, Rothery, Howe, etc. The general negative reaction to The Incident seemed to force Wilson's hand on PT. Basically you are saying that he decided to go in a direction that you don't like and wish he would go back to FOABP style music? For me I like to see artists at least try to grow and expand their horizons. I know its a matter of opinion and taste but I do like all his solo albums very much and more so than the last two PT albums. Deadwing was and will probably remain my favourite PT album. PT was perhaps stalling from an artistic point of view and I suspect Wilson wanted to keep the band intact so he could return to it a later stage while working with different musicians who themselves would bring a different dynamic. What's wrong with this?

Edited by Mirror Image - July 07 2014 at 15:38