Steven Wilson - To The Bone

AsSiMiLaTeD

TLDR - Steven Wilson wrote a pop album and it's superb, go buy it

I got an early look at this album and was asked not to post anything on it until it releases, which is today, so here are some quick thoughts. I don't do reviews so this is not that, just a couple quick thoughts and to bring it to people's attention. I'm about half a dozen listens in, so this is not a first impression as I find those generally useless when it comes to evaluating music.

Those of you who know Steven Wilson are probably are already aware of his influence and connections within the music industry, his attention to detail and ability with mastering resulting in albums with generally excellent sound quality, and his superb songwriting ability. Those of you not familiar with him...well see above. He's done great work with Porcupine Tree and Blackfield and has put out several solo albums over the last few years, ranging from good to superb.

He is generally tagged as a prog rock guy, although he has been incorporating more pop rock into his music over the last 15 years or so (think songs with a catchy tune, I'm not talking radio super pop "I'm all about that bass"). This is the first album where those songs probably outnumber the truly progressive tunes, he's been sprinkling those in on albums for years but there are more of them here.

The end result is an album that's going to be more "accessible" to a wider audience, but without "selling out" or sacrificing his typical songwriting. If anything I'd say he's found a way to make progressive pop, if that makes sense. Even though this album is coming along in what is likely to be the second half of his career I'd say it's a great "gateway" album for people to check him out, it's actually similar to "So" by Peter Gabriel in that way for those of you familiar with his career (though you likely won't hear any of these track on the radio).

As much as I'm generally a fan of his stuff, I don't always "get" Steven Wilson's music on the first listen. This album is no exception, there were some songs that immediately jumped out at me, a few others took a listen or two before I was like "Ah, I get it now"...as an aside those songs often end up being my favorites over time.

Songs I immediately liked:
To The Bone
Pariah
Permanating
Song of I
Detonation

Songs that took a couple listens
Nowhere Now
The Same Asylum as Before
Refuge
People Who Eat Darkness
Song of Unborn

[Deleted User]

Thanks for the heads up and mini review!

MrBuhl

How does this compare to say - "Fear of a Blank Planet" or some of what I would call his more "rock" influenced stuff? Is it a little harder edged or more pop/progressive?
Thanks!
Ed

AsSiMiLaTeD

This is definitely more pop oriented than Fear of a Blank Planet or really anything put out by Porcupine Tree. Of all their albums I'd say this is closest to The Incident, but even that is not a great comparison.

afterburnt

I have yet to hear any Steve Wilson that I didn't like. Does he have that chick singing on this album?

AsSiMiLaTeD

Ninet Tayeb...yes on two songs

txcoastal1

Here's the story: Steven Wilson - To The Bone (Track-by-Track)
https://youtu.be/dy53tnr7egE

AsSiMiLaTeD

I don't know if I mentioned it, and it's pretty much a given at this point, but the sound quality is quite good. It's about on par with the last few albums, the dynamic range is a little compressed even on the HDTracks version I have, but it's not bad. He seems to get the right balance of not having the sound suffer due to compression but not being obnoxiously quiet like some recordings

rooftop59

And you can test it on tidal FYI.

Although a little out of my usual range, I am digging it overall. Several songs remind me a little of some of My Morning Jackets more psychedelic stuff fwiw...

txcoastal1

This may be a little in site for Steve Wilson recordings
https://www.soundonsound.com/people/porcupine-tree

Started investigating recordings from watching David Wilson's Utube videos where he describes choosing his AD gear to transfer his master RTR's

Native DSD and Blue Coast have been pretty honest where the recording originate
If you have questions on tracks or albums they will answer them

I am a hi-res proponent, but want the source...not a fan of upscale...tuurd in tuurd out

That being said I don't have a problem with a recording master ie Hoffman taking the masters and remixing. Of course your at the mercy of that master and rely on his/her ears. Of course Hoffman is one of the best.

When the artists themselves ie Steve Wilson, Mark Knopfler etc understand the art of recording they can influence and sign off on their work, making it a usual trustworthy purchase....they're not artists managed and rushed in and out of studios

This doesn't answer the 96/24 for To The Bone, but a gate way to find the answers

afterburnt

SOLD!

Unknown

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afterburnt

I still wonder why he put's other artist remixes on DVD-A and his on Blew Ray

afterburnt

There is something on there about "my truth" that ruined the whole album!