THE RAVEN THAT REFUSED TO SING (AND OTHER STORIES)

The Raven That Refused to Sing ― an album that I refused to listen for a long time. Actually I am not a Steven Wilson/Porcupine Tree (or other SW projects) guy, I mean Wilson is likely to be the most overrated musician in the prog world and I've been a little frustrated about this. Nevertheless, resistance is futile for some reasons, and I've decided to listen it for a time ago with very little expectations. However something really strange was happened: I've liked the album. Yes, Wilson finally did it, he really achieves a great album. Although the record generally sounds like a typical Wilson album, Marco Minnemann and Guthrie Govan bring an outstanding energy that makes the album different from other Wilson records. The heavy fusion beginning of the album, I mean the first part of the Luminol makes a great start, but I've to say the song also goes well all along. Drive home, the second song, is an incredible ballad that impress me so deeply. I'd like to say that I've never thought SW can compose such a ballad. The Holy Drinker and The Watchmaker are also great song, but particularly the last part of the The Holy Drinker, that is the part that contains the catchy lick and great orchestration, and the first part of the The Watchmaker, the part that makes me cry every time I listen, may be the on the top of the SW music. The Pin Drop and The Raven That Refused to Sing are a bit weaker songs than others. To sum up, this is really a good record, that is one of the best albums in the last years in the prog world: 8.5/10