So I had this idea last night for this poll. These 3 gentlemen have been around since the mid-to-late 80's as working musicians in various stages of being known, but it wasn't until the early 90's that they gained more fame through their bands: Neal Morse with Spock's Beard, Roine Stolt with The Flower Kings, and Steven Wilson with Porcupine Tree. Not all three of them are the same type of musicians or person, but there are a lot of similarities between any two of them, but all three are 3 of my favorite musicians and people in progressive rock right now.
Currently, Steven Wilson is putting Porcupine Tree on hold, and has been since 2009, while working on side-projects and solo work, much in the same way Roine Stolt was when he put TFK on ice for about 5 years after releasing their 10th studio album. Like TFK, Steven Wilson had released PT's 10th studio album and has since decided to work on various other projects involving a ton of other people not quite related to Porcupine Tree. While Roine worked with Transatlantic, 3rd World Electric and Agents Of Mercy, Steven had No-Man, Bass Communion, Blackfield, Storm Corrosion and his solo work. Both artists are also the leading contributors for their main bands, as well as guitarists and vocalists.
Neal and Roine are quite well acquainted having been in Transatlantic together, and because of that, also recorded on each other's solo albums (Roine on Neal's ? and Neal on Roine's Wall Street Voodoo). Their music is uplifting and tinged with Christian values, offering lyrics that are positive and spiritual, sometimes deliberately blunt, other times being incredibly subtle. Both can play multiple instruments and sing while being the main contributors for their first main bands in the 90's. They both share many influences, such as classic 70's prog bands Yes and Genesis, while Steven Wilson seems to prefer the other side of the 70's Prog Coin with King Crimson and Pink Floyd (band's with colored names, rather than single word names? lol).
And while it remains to be seen whether or not Steven will return to Porcupine Tree, if he does not, he and Neal will have left their band's in order to pursue a solo career with musicians not from their former bands. Like Neal, Steven has recorded with many guest musicians, but has also put together a large touring ensemble that allows him to work with a band that can perform the music he writes (in Neal's case, he had string and wind players on stage, along with extra guitar and key players; for Steven, just about the same, minus the string players). Both have taken a solo career that is tangent to their work in their bands, while still sounding a bit similar, has become something quite different. Both are in-touch with their fans, as Neal has the Inner Circle Fanclub and Racket Records, while Steven has ties with KScope and Burning Shed and other labels/record companies/stores that allow him to release his own special/limited editions. They both know what their fans want and often give it to them, albeit at a price.
TL:DR?
All three are very prolific writers and amazing musicians, but I want to know, which TWO out of these THREE do you like the most, or do you prefer? This includes their ENTIRE discographies, with their main bands, their solo output, and their side-projects, but only things they have written and/or recorded on as a major member of the recording (so minor guest spots won't count).
-Marc.
Poll
Topic: Neal Morse VS. Roine Stolt VS. Steven Wilson - Which two do YOU like? (Read 7441 times)