TO THE BONE

The first time I listened to "To the Bone", the idea was to apply a rating of 4 stars. After listening to other SW's albums - including the awesome "The Raven Stories That Refused to Sing (And Other Stories)" - I considered the rating of 3 stars as appropriate.

"To The Bone" has indeed a more commercial feel than the previous SW's albums, and that's OK, no problem. However, as the days went by, I felt like listening to it more than other albums, so I thought about changing my initial rating of 3 stars.

Thinking another way, what is the use of an album with very intricate songs, if you don't feel like listening to it one more time?

"To the Bone" (the song) has a chorus that invites us to sing along, and the pace necessary for a title track - at least according to my concept of what a title track should be!

"Permanating" is pop music, it is danceable, and songs like that don't really catch my eye at first. But it is written in a very competent form, celebrating life and making us levitate (as the very lyrics say). When you watch the video (that you can find in Steven Wilson's channel on YouTube), you feel this idolatry of life more pronounced.

Also in a pop mood, but very pleasant to listen to (and repeat) I highlight "Nowhere Now" and "The Same Asylum as Before".

The most beautiful song in the record is "Refuge", where Steven Wilson's vocals stand out at the beginning, leading to an instrumental section that immerses us in an ethereal and spatial environment that in some instances reminds us of Pink Floyd's moments. The song closes in a smooth ambience, mixing piano, harmonica and voice.

The partnership with the Israeli Ninet Tayeb was a very fortunate decision, adding spark to "Pariah" and "Blank Tapes". I can't imagine what they would be like without her! Conversely, "Song if I", with Sophie Hunger, was not as captivating; its best ṕart is the keyboard solo at the end of the song.

The first thing that caught my attention about "People Who Eat Darkness" was its title, and I promptly looked up at the lyrics. They are aggressive, accompanied by a memorable guitar riff, as good old rock and roll should be. It reminds me of Oasis.

"Detonation" is a remarkable example of Steven Wilson's ability to start a song in an intimate way - where the vocals predominate - and enter a section with an energetic and accelerated rhythm - "an angry punk sound" as I saw on an Indian website.

Summing up: it may be pop music, but it is pop music very well done! That is why I made up my mind to increase the rating to 4 stars.