Steven Wilson - Grace for Drowning

richardh wrote: Henry Plainview wrote: richardh wrote: colorofmoney91 wrote: My impression of this album is settled "meh". Am I the only one who finds the over use of this expression very irritating? meh whatever     (thanks for the link!)

Mr ProgFreak wrote: Padraic wrote: Mr ProgFreak wrote: Polo wrote: Sounds really good. I'd say it's better than Insurgentes, The Incident and Deadwing's best songs combined. I like it, but it's not as good as any of those you listed. In PA terms, it's still a solid 4 star album, but IMO it lacks coherence and focus - again, compared to those you listed (especially The Incident). No, Marco's right. No, I'm right. ;-) There are two aspects involved here: subjective objective Subjectively, we're both right. Marco prefers Grace for Drowning, I prefer The Incident. Objectively ... in order to assess music objectively, you must define some criteria and then compare the albums based on those criteria. I mentioned coherence and focus, but there are others (originality, production, musicianship etc). Marco may disagree when it comes to those criteria (for example he may say that GfD doesn't lack coherence and focus), or he may reject the criteria altogether and come up with a new list by which GfD wins according to his assessment. Or he may reject the whole concept of using objective criteria to compare music.

Wow, subjective and objective.  I really learned something today.

^ I guess it's fair to say that Grace for Drowning is more accessible and less experimental than Insurgentes. But as far as prog is concerned: I'd even classify Grace for Drowning as prog-related (in fact I did over at PF). It has some prog songs, what with the 15/8 signature and all ... but especially the first couple of songs are not all that prog. Not that there's anything wrong with that (especially considering that Steven Wilson doesn't like the label "prog" at all) - I'm only mentioning that in response to you bringing it up. 

Mr ProgFreak wrote: Padraic wrote: Wow, subjective and objective.  I really learned something today. Well, if you stopped reading my post at that point I can understand how it might appear to you like simply stating the obvious. However, truly progressive forum members work their way through the entire post - consider it an epic, if it helps.

^ So does GfD in fact *obviously* lack coherence and focus? That seems to be what you're saying here. 

Mike, try not to take things so seriously.  Please.

I apologize for the condescending post.


Edited by Padraic - October 05 2011 at 14:28

You're right, Mike, you're absolutely 100% correct.

We've derailed the thread enough.  If you have anything further to add, send me a PM.


Edited by Padraic - October 05 2011 at 14:47

Padraic wrote: Mr ProgFreak wrote: Polo wrote: Sounds really good. I'd say it's better than Insurgentes, The Incident and Deadwing's best songs combined. I like it, but it's not as good as any of those you listed. In PA terms, it's still a solid 4 star album, but IMO it lacks coherence and focus - again, compared to those you listed (especially The Incident). No, Marco's right.

All of the mentioned albums are coherent and focused IMO.

One can never accuse SW of sitting on his laurels - every album he does introduces something new to his oeuvre. I like most of what he did with PT - obvious exceptions being The Sky... and Voyage 34 - and I love Insurgentes. GfD is - thankfully - not much like any of those. Sectarian does kinda remind me of Tinto Brass, not bad but the least distinguished actual song. Grace For Drowning, Raider Prelude and Belle De Jour are nice little mood pieces - kinda like the bookends of Heritage - but again, not greatly distinguished. The rest though, is variously enjoyable. Deform..., No Part... and Track One are all beautiful, the latter two darkly so. Remainder... is brilliant, almost kicks ass in an obscure knda way. Raider II 'almost tilts as an unmanageable indulgence' to borrow a Morrisssey phrase but there's enough going on there to hold attention. Definitely very Crimsonesque, and slightly reminiscient of Judy Dyble's Harpsong, mostly due to Theo Travis' woodwind contributions.

Oh, and check out this link to antonio seijas blog. Seems SW may have been, ahem, inspired by his artwork for Harvest

http://antonioseijas.blogspot.com/2011/09/harvest-steve-wilson.html