Steven Wilson v. To. The. Bone.

[mikemangioy]

Wow, this album is really really good! I think I still like Grace and Raven more, but I think it's really hard to top those two. But goddamn, what a great album, I never think that Steven embraced the concept thing so fully, there are even recurring melodies in the record. 3YO, Routine and Ancestral are instant classics, whilist all the other songs are just stunning. Love how the vibe is different, but so familiar too, Home Invasion really reminded me of PT. Like a lot, especially the intro and the chorus. And Regret #9  - never was I this happy of hearing a track that it's basically two solos. Waiting for my copy 

[RoeDent]

Man, all these positive reactions are increasing my excitement for this album. Hopefully it'll arrive tomorrow.

[Outcrier]

I'd say I probably rate the Viet Cong album higher. It's the same with all those rating sites though. You got SW haters who downrates his music, just as you have SW fanboys who downrate other albums. It's really just how the internet works. Same with IMDB and movies.

Most albums ends up within the 3,4-3,6 range nowadays and, looking through SW discography, most of his albums have high ratings there.

[Mladen]

I have to be honest. Not only is this an absolutely amazing album, this has got to be my favorite Steven Wilson solo album so far. In fact, there might be only a couple of Porcupine Tree albums I would consider better than this. It really is that fantastic. I'm too lazy to write more, just felt like joining the hype.

[seasonsinthesky]

what's with the track splitting? seems like the actual CD has split tracking for "3 Years Older," "Regret #9," and "Ascendant Here On..." but the web release combined them with the song before?

One version also crossfades "Regret #9" into the opening of "Transience", while the other (with the combined tracks) has "Transience" apart from "Regret #9". Anyone know why there's such a difference? Did the web release get a different over-all mix?

-Marc.

"Transience" ends side C of the vinyl, so that explains where the lack of crossfade comes from. i wonder if the masters are otherwise different though!

edit: ... woops, i was talking about the transition into "Ancestral," not the one you said. so now there's no practical reason why the "Regret #9" crossfade wouldn't be there. hm... otherwise, the CD version has a lot more time between tracks EXCEPT this crossfade, and it's ever so slightly louder — like, i'm talking a quarter of a dB or less in the difference, just enough for the occasional transient to flatten out slightly (but that's a difference caused by the limiter, so it was a choice).

i love that "Ascendant Here on..." is a piano reprise of "Perfect Life." it was the right choice to end the record.

[countoftuscany42]

knowing that there are ways to listen to this album but trying to wait till my copy arrives on thursday is killing me 
but in my pre-album SW binge i finally got around to listening to Insurgentes.  great album  I think Raven is still my favorite of SW solo albums, but i might like it more than GfD.
Really excited for HCE since this is my first SW release since i started listening to him, then first time seeing him live in Philly in may 

[Mister Gold]

I listened to the new album earlier today. It is quite possibly my new favorite album from Wilson, both solo and in Porcupine Tree. This is just absolutely outstanding!

[YtseJamittaja]

I'm just listening to SW on the train. Wait.. what... 


My favourite tracks are now 3 Years Older, Hand. Cannot. Erase., Home Invasion and Happy Returns.

Gotta love that new SW sound. Much more balanced, poppy and just the way I like it.

[JayOctavarium]

I'm just listening to SW on the train. Wait.. what... 

MIND BLOWN

[Nihil-Morari]

Small spoilers for anyone interested in living through the story the first time listening to the record




Story wise, the end. What happens there? Does she commit suicide? Or does she disappear like the old lady in the story?

[erwinrafael]

Oh my. I am a new convert. Thank you, DTF.

[RoeDent]

My copy arrived this morning!

[BlackInk]

Small spoilers for anyone interested in living through the story the first time listening to the record




Story wise, the end. What happens there? Does she commit suicide? Or does she disappear like the old lady in the story?

The way I see it is that she stops in the middle of writing a letter because she's 'feeling drowsy', and then dies never getting to finish the letter. I haven't read the lyrics, or listened to the album more than once (except for Happy Returns), so that's just what I thought just what I've been picturing. If that's what it is, then it's really sad.

I don't even know what old lady you are referring to, so I might be way off, since the lyrics of Happy Returns are pretty much the only ones I really noticed.

[Nihil-Morari]

Small spoilers for anyone interested in living through the story the first time listening to the record




Story wise, the end. What happens there? Does she commit suicide? Or does she disappear like the old lady in the story?

The way I see it is that she stops in the middle of writing a letter because she's 'feeling drowsy', and then dies never getting to finish the letter. I haven't read the lyrics, or listened to the album more than once (except for Happy Returns), so that's just what I thought just what I've been picturing. If that's what it is, then it's really sad.

I don't even know what old lady you are referring to, so I might be way off, since the lyrics of Happy Returns are pretty much the only ones I really noticed.

Well in the deluxe edition there's a story of a young girl who disappears. Just off the radar. Yeaaaars later, when she's an old lady she reappears and dies at the same moment. The main character always felt like that was a sort of ideal life.
I believe she never finishes the letter because she can't, not after all those years. But the drowzyness is something I glossed over, that's a good point too.

[Sacul]

I think she kind of breaks her isolation and returns to society, just to discover that nothing had changed. And then she meets her brother.


My fav track definitely is Routine - DAT climax .

[GentlemanofDread]

Home Invasion or Ancestral are winning this fight for best song, but Happy Returns is so good too.

[mikemangioy]

BIG SPOILERS



Steven said that the ending is pretty ambiguos, my theory is that since Happy Returns is the last thing we (society) know about her, I think that at this point she completely isolates herself in every way, so we don't really know what happened, although she says "It's time to leave now" in the diary.  I have no idea

[aprilethereal]

Ordering this one as soon as possible!

[Nekov]

I'm curious what some of the prog fans will think of the album, because it isn't very progressive compared to his last few albums. Pretty diverse overall, I like it.

Even though it's not as progressive as his previous albums it still has tons of prog in there so I don't think prog fans will be complaining a lot about it.
Personally I found the album to be very interesting, it keeps being an SW album even though it goes to new territories and I got a good feeling while listening to it this morning going to work.

[TheOutlawXanadu]

Amazing album. Routine is my favorite song so far.

[Nihil-Morari]

It's not prog. It is progressive. But Steven Wilson has always been about progression instead of making prog, in my ears.

[PixelDream]

I had a few instant favorites (Home Invasion / Regret #9, Ancestral), but after a few weeks of listening I have to say there's not one single weak song on the damn thing. Warmed up a lot to Three Years Older and Hand Cannot Erase, and I just recently fell completely for Happy Returns.

Better than The Raven? I didn't think so at first.. but this album just seems to have so much more emotion throughout. Also, I'm not a fan of 'The Pin Drop' at all, and I kind of dislike the ending to 'The Watchmaker'. This album has it all.. SW branching out vocally, catchy songs, orgasmic solos and fortunately and finally some headbang worthy moments as well.

[?]

what's with the track splitting? seems like the actual CD has split tracking for "3 Years Older," "Regret #9," and "Ascendant Here On..." but the web release combined them with the song before?

It looks like the promo version includes combined tracks as well, because I read a magazine review where the writer was talking about "First Regret/3 Years Older" being heavily Rush-influenced (something I agree with btw).

I'm curious what some of the prog fans will think of the album, because it isn't very progressive compared to his last few albums. Pretty diverse overall, I like it.

Even though it's not as progressive as his previous albums it still has tons of prog in there so I don't think prog fans will be complaining a lot about it.

There were some pessimistic comments from disappointed prog fans when Perfect Life was released: https://www.facebook.com/StevenWilsonHQ/posts/890573920962871 I know the rest of the album doesn't sound like that, but I still find it pretty amusing to see people deeming the album a disappointment when they've heard only one or two tracks.

Better than The Raven? I didn't think so at first.. but this album just seems to have so much more emotion throughout.

Definitely! The title-track of Raven is really beautiful, but I found it hard to connect with the rest of the album emotionally, probably due to the ghost story lyrics, whereas HCE feels much more accessible and easier to relate to.

[Sacul]

AOTY

[OsMosis2259]

Really enjoying the female vocals on this.

[PixelDream]

I cannot help but smile everytime I hear 'Transience' and that catchy folk melody (It's only the start) pops up from out-of-nowhere. Genius.

[Tom Bombadil]

After multiple listens now I can say this is easily my favorite SW album, and would rank up there with the best PT albums. Truly amazing.

[Mladen]

I cannot help but smile everytime I hear 'Transience' and that catchy folk melody (It's only the start) pops up from out-of-nowhere. Genius.

Yeah, that melody is beautiful. Even the short transition tracks on the album are tremendous.

[lonestar]

Really enjoying the female vocals on this.

I actually wished there were more. Her voice is stunning.

[Nihil-Morari]

Really enjoying the female vocals on this.

I actually wished there were more. Her voice is stunning.

The version of Routine with only her vocals on the Blu Ray is awesome.

[XB0BX]

Haven't gotten my copy yet, excited to hear all the positive reviews. My only concern is how unprogressive it is and how pop it is. I'm definitely not a pop fan and can't even see how a SW album could be solely of the pop genre. Surely even if it is pop it has that trademark SW sense of melancholy, right?

[PixelDream]

Haven't gotten my copy yet, excited to hear all the positive reviews. My only concern is how unprogressive it is and how pop it is. I'm definitely not a pop fan and can't even see how a SW album could be solely of the pop genre. Surely even if it is pop it has that trademark SW sense of melancholy, right?

Some vocal melodies are a bit more pop or classic rock inspired. That said, there's enough prog on it and the solos play an even bigger part than before.

More than anything though, it sounds more contemporary instead of looking towards the 70's.

[Evermind]

Really enjoying the female vocals on this.

I actually wished there were more. Her voice is stunning.

Yes indeed. I also think on the behind the scenes videos these parts on Ancestral: "You can shut the door, but you can't ignore..." were female and I loved them more than what we've got in the final product. I totally enjoy her voice though, and the way she provides the backing vocals is just incredible; or course, when she's doing the lead ones it's even more incredible.

AOTY

It's a sure contender for it, but until I've heard Nightwish, Kamelot, The Gentle Storm, Mark Knopfler, Dream Theater, possible David Gilmour and a lot of other albums I will reserve my judgement.

Damn awesome album though. Steven didn't disappoint me once again, even though I was a bit anxious when I've heard about the poppy approach.

[seasonsinthesky]

really liking the alt mix of "Perfect Life" more than the album version! the extra few minutes are just stunning.

[Crow]

stop getting me so hyped for this I'm not getting this until like a month from now because I tend to buy albums in bulk omg