Steven Wilson - The Raven That Refused To Sing (and other stories)

This thread reminds me that I need to check out his solo stuff. I'm just now looking into Porcupine Tree more in-depth.

I FINALLY bought Grace For Drowning a couple of weeks ago!

chewie wrote:

I FINALLY bought Grace For Drowning a couple of weeks ago!

That one probably takes the longest to really sink in of his solo albums, very rewarding though. The live versions of that material are even better.

Insurgentes is probably the easiest for people coming directly from the Porcupine Tree stuff.

The first video has been released, another amazing animated film from the same director as the Drag Ropes video. This is the title track and is coincidentally the mellowest song on the album.

Link below:

http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/video-gaga/exclusive-porcupine-tree-steven-wilson-releases-debut-video-180525498.html

Eh. Boring. And God, I hate that autotune warble.

Eyesore wrote:

Eh. Boring. And God, I hate that autotune warble.

That's not autotune it's an older voice box synthesizer that has been in use since the 70s.

This is the final song on the album and is the mellowest track, it's not indicative of the overall sound of the record. Each song varies widely in style and instrumentation. Personally I think it's a lovely song and the arrangement is exceptional.

S.D. wrote:

Eyesore wrote:

Eh. Boring. And God, I hate that autotune warble.

That's not autotune it's an older voice box synthesizer that has been in use since the 70s.

Oh. Vintage autotune. My bad.

Think of it as a Talk Box used with keyboards instead of a guitar.

I really like it, actually. And the video was pretty cool too.

so i had some time to finally watch the video and i enjoyed the song. I am interested to hear the other songs.

Awesome. Another creepy, depressing video.

Not bad actually, but I'd want to hear more songs before I'd get it. I know you said that that particular track is the mellowest on the album, but I'd need something slightly more upbeat. Listening to a whole album of this might cause me to open a vein in a warm tub.

Musically the rest of the album is complex progressive rock, lyrically each song is a "tale of the macabre" so don't expect anything too happy.

S.D. wrote:

Musically the rest of the album is complex progressive rock, lyrically each song is a "tale of the macabre" so don't expect anything too happy.

I really enjoy the Storm Corrosion album, but it's definately "mood music". I wouldn't expect Mr. Wilson to all of the sudden switch to "kittens & sunshine", but his stuff has to be taken in small doses.

MG, I would still recommend getting the album "Insurgentes", it's one of his best overall.

S.D. wrote:

MG, I would still recommend getting the album "Insurgentes", it's one of his best overall.

Hmmmmm. Maybe.

I have actually owned Grace For Drowning for several months, but finally cracked it open the other day (you fellow CD addicts know how that goes). Great album, but what really struck me was the amazing production. Man, I can't remember the last CD I heard with actual dynamics!

Infinite wrote:

I have actually owned Grace For Drowning for several months, but finally cracked it open the other day (you fellow CD addicts know how that goes). Great album, but what really struck me was the amazing production. Man, I can't remember the last CD I heard with actual dynamics!

Wilson has become an amazing producer/engineer who loves having lots of dynamic range in his recordings. At least there are a few people out there that still know what an album should sound like.

MetalGuy71 wrote:

S.D. wrote:

Musically the rest of the album is complex progressive rock, lyrically each song is a "tale of the macabre" so don't expect anything too happy.

I really enjoy the Storm Corrosion album, but it's definately "mood music". I wouldn't expect Mr. Wilson to all of the sudden switch to "kittens & sunshine", but his stuff has to be taken in small doses.

the Storm corrosion is very good but it is definitely mood music.

MetalGuy71 wrote:

Awesome. Another creepy, depressing video.

Not bad actually, but I'd want to hear more songs before I'd get it. I know you said that that particular track is the mellowest on the album, but I'd need something slightly more upbeat. Listening to a whole album of this might cause me to open a vein in a warm tub.

I just ordered me a copy of Raven.... I need me a good dose of "mood music".

It's on sale ($5.99) here if anyone else is so inclined...
EDIT: Sales over. Move along.

got the cd/dvd version for $8. Sounds great in Quad!

I've decided this is my favorite of Wilson's solo work, as much as I enjoyed HCE. Each track possesses its own flavor yet fits within that 70's prog mold perfectly. None of it drags--what I like about Wilson's craft is that each section is meant to be carefully composed, made profound and direct as a result. I always find myself humming pieces of this album.

Luminol - The proggiest of the tracks; you could list of over a dozen names in referencing influences here. The bass line is infectious. The synths add a rich ambience. My favorite section is the half-time rondo toward the end. It sounds immense on the Blu-Ray surround mix.

Drive Home - A bit more radio-friendly (hey, I wouldn't mind if they played this on the radio) with a haunting melody, and Govan's solo is a building madness (is that an e-bow he uses?).

The Holy Drinker - Some fantastic hard rock motifs here with a heavy organ. This is the heaviest track on the album. The final section is scary as hell with a patch from hell promoting all sorts of darkness.

The Pin Drop - The most straight-forward track and honestly my least favorite, although it is enjoyable. Basically it's verse-chorus-verse-chorus and sounds more like Porcupine Tree material. Instantly memorable.

The Watchmaker - Now, here is a song that is breathtaking in the way it changes mood with each section at the drop of a hat. We start of hauntingly light and mellow, move to a jazzy Kansas-like set of solos, introduce a major-key verse of ethereal beauty, and BOOM it becomes disturbing and atonal as hell (okay, not really atonal because it has a melody but still) and ends like that. Full of arpeggios that are innovative and hooky, it's hard to forget this one.

The Raven that Refused to Sing (I just noticed how many "The" songs their are) - Like I said in a different thread here, this is the most beautiful song to come around this century. When Wilson hits the refrain ("Sing for me Raven, I miss you so much") I get goosebumps. Taking it even further in the coda is his double-picking of the instrumental melody in a way that would bring envy to The Edge. Wilson actually closes his set this tour with this song; at first it's an odd choice but makes complete sense upon witnessing it. This is how mainstream music should be written these days.

I can't recommend this album enough. Or the artist.

Nice write-up and I agree with all those points. I might rank HCE just slightly higher, but it depends on my mood.

Cool thx. What I do love is how HCE works as a continuing whole. Whenever I throw it on, I most likely go start to finish. With Raven I throw on whichever track sounds right to me in the moment. Must be the whole concept album thing with HCE works so well.

There is also a bonus track from the Raven sessions (included on the Drive Home EP)