I enjoyed TFB more than I thought it would. I think it has some real standout moments, like King Ghost. It's clear listening to The Harmony Codex that The Future Bites was a necessary stepping stone. I love that there are callbacks to Insurgentes, Grace for Drowning, and even Voyage 34 in melodic ideas and sounds. I might not love everything he does equally, but more than any other artist it's fascinating to hear his musical evolution because there actually is one - each experiment with different genres folds back into and informs his sound from that point forward, not overtaking it, but blending in like it was always meant to be there. I don't think there's anyone who can take seemingly disparate influences and mash them together in such a cohesive and natural sounding way. I really love this album. I suspect I'll be returning to it far more often than I have the previous two records.
I've already listened to this one about 5 times as much as I did TFB!! I need to think about ranking his solo albums at some point, feeling this one might nestle in-between To the Bone and Grace for Drowning for me :)
What an articulate and incisive review - thanks! You're right, we SW fans are a funny lot ... personally, I love To The Bone, which, aside from 'Permanating', hasn't got a duff track on it. I rank it alongside Hand. Cannot. Erase. and Raven. I can't say the same for The Future Bites, I'm afraid, which didn't tickle my fancy at all. I have only just received The Harmony Codex (I live in Australia), so I cannot comment fully on it yet, but I like what I have heard so far ...
What hate... its just opionions about liking it or not. And by the way the album reaches nr 1 in the Netherlands so it does well. For me it has some time to fully understand the album in its entirety😉but a great review of the album!
Love the album more and more, as a huge fan of Steven since 1996, I'll always figured he never wanted to repeat himself to please the fans.TFB wasn't for me too, but this one, gosh, it grow s on me listen after listen, a masterpiece. Anyway, HCE and Raven still a on my top 3, but this one can easily take the 3d place before TTB that I adore too, but less innovative.
I definitely found raven and HCE more immediate than THC, this requires patience and time, similar to how GFD did, and like you say, this one keeps on growing more and more on me!
"Immune to criticism?" Well, I might travel in different circles, but the last two albums we certainly met with a resounding "meh." Clearly, his immune system failed on those occasions. :) - Apologies...replied before I finished the video. Bad habit, that. One of the most literate video reviews I've ever seen. If you did all of this without a script, I'm deeply envious. Even with a script, I'm impressed!
It's rather tricky to recommend this album to a non-fan of Steven cause it have to be followed with the sidenote 'but make sure to listen on a good setup'. More and more people are now satisfied with mobile phone speakers and it drives me nuts
Yeah, the art of album appreciation does feel like it's dying, with more people enjoying listening to songs vicariously from whatever tik tok throws at them 😓
I still don't know how I feel about this album but I love economies of scale and inclination. As a whole it's a step up from the future bites but no song on thc comes close to the majesty of King Ghost.
I've been on the Wilson train since I purchased the first Porcupine Tree album in the early 90s. I grew up with Wilson. Each album seemed to get better. My adoration spread to No-Man. I stayed on the train through an amazing solo period. Then came The Future Bites. I hated it. If The Harmony Codex was released by another artist...would your review be as positive? Would the community even notice the album? I haven't heard it. I don't want to see Wilson fail. That said, Steven Wilson doesn't owe anybody another great record.
I'll be honest, if this came from someone else, I'd probably be more favourable to it, as I'd be listening to it unburdened of any assumption or expectation If an unknown released this album, I'd be standing to attention and be very excited to hear where they would be going next!
Did you see Niamh @the_prog_nerd at the Signing? per, she posted photos like you did. Staircase for me is the standout part of this. Impossible Tightrope, What Life Brings, Economy of Scale, Inclination, and Time is Running Out I like all for the most part. TIRO the vocal line sounds an awful lot like the Self-Titled Blackfield song at points. The title track, Actual Brutal Facts and Beautiful Scarecrow I like moments on, but I seem to have more issues with, than things I like. I will try and do some kind of review/commentary in a Vlog soon about it.
Would be cool to hear your thoughts on this album! I'm finding it very interesting just how differently people are reacting to this one, and I did see Niamh's photos! He was a very cool guy to chat to :)
Very well put. I've played THC in the car, on headphones on the train and in 5.1 at home and can confidently say this album is so epic in scope and detail, more so than anything he's ever done, that it demands undivided attention. When Steven introduced 'The Sound of Muzak' on the recent PT tour he said he'd predicted the state of music 20-odd years ago and he wasn't wrong. The THC is SW's middle finger to the elevator prozac stretching on for miles and music only meant to repress and neutralize your brain and it's purely him. I love it. P.S. TFB was, I think, good, but some of the song choices were wrong - a good few of the deluxe box set version songs should have been on it to make it stronger.
I enjoyed parts of The Harmony Codex,, but found it to be a mediocre offering. It feels to me like Wilson is concentrating so much on the idea of 'spatial audio' and how he can put sounds in there that he's lost the basics of overall good song writing.
I'd argue it "is" prog, just not progressive rock, by virtue of the term itself, the music pushes past what has been expected from a major release like this, and does "progress" Steven's sound. So even if it may be considered by many to be his weakest, to dismiss it as "not progressive" feels a little disingenuous, but hey ho, strokes for folks and all that!
Ho sure.. the expectations bs.. and the freedom of the artist to become a dancing superstar.. yes.. cool topic, but its not even this or that sound, the album is just as uninspiring as i would never expect Steven to be.. thats it. :)
I enjoyed TFB more than I thought it would. I think it has some real standout moments, like King Ghost. It's clear listening to The Harmony Codex that The Future Bites was a necessary stepping stone. I love that there are callbacks to Insurgentes, Grace for Drowning, and even Voyage 34 in melodic ideas and sounds. I might not love everything he does equally, but more than any other artist it's fascinating to hear his musical evolution because there actually is one - each experiment with different genres folds back into and informs his sound from that point forward, not overtaking it, but blending in like it was always meant to be there. I don't think there's anyone who can take seemingly disparate influences and mash them together in such a cohesive and natural sounding way. I really love this album. I suspect I'll be returning to it far more often than I have the previous two records.
I've already listened to this one about 5 times as much as I did TFB!!
I need to think about ranking his solo albums at some point, feeling this one might nestle in-between To the Bone and Grace for Drowning for me :)
This is a stunning new album, and your review of it is really insightful.
Thank you so much! I'm still discovering new things with every listen
Here we go!!!!!!!
🥳🥳🥳
I wasn’t won over by Wilson until this album. Now I’ve gone back and gave time to his older stuff too and became a fan.
His back catalogue is crazy good, everything from the solo career, everything from Porcupine Tree, the man's a genius!
Genius is over used, Wilson is no genius.
This album was my gateway into Wilson. I love it!
Totally agree with you that this is one of these albums you have to really listen to.
It's so unique which is what I love so much about it!
What an articulate and incisive review - thanks! You're right, we SW fans are a funny lot ... personally, I love To The Bone, which, aside from 'Permanating', hasn't got a duff track on it. I rank it alongside Hand. Cannot. Erase. and Raven. I can't say the same for The Future Bites, I'm afraid, which didn't tickle my fancy at all. I have only just received The Harmony Codex (I live in Australia), so I cannot comment fully on it yet, but I like what I have heard so far ...
Thank you so much, I really appreciate your kind words ❤️❤️
Definitely one of my favourite Wilson solo works.
I Hated the future bites so much, but I absolutely love the harmony codex.
Great review by the way
Thank you so much! Felt like I put a lot into this one, happy you enjoyed it
Great review! I don’t get the hate on this album. For me it’s a clear album of the year contender
It's definitely the most ambitious record of the year for me, and certainly a top 10 contender :)
What hate? All I see is people liking it🤔
What hate... its just opionions about liking it or not. And by the way the album reaches nr 1 in the Netherlands so it does well. For me it has some time to fully understand the album in its entirety😉but a great review of the album!
Hate? Seriously??
Love the album more and more, as a huge fan of Steven since 1996, I'll always figured he never wanted to repeat himself to please the fans.TFB wasn't for me too, but this one, gosh, it grow s on me listen after listen, a masterpiece. Anyway, HCE and Raven still a on my top 3, but this one can easily take the 3d place before TTB that I adore too, but less innovative.
I definitely found raven and HCE more immediate than THC, this requires patience and time, similar to how GFD did, and like you say, this one keeps on growing more and more on me!
I am a massive prog fan, this album is his best so far IMO. What a range of songs and what a production. Staircase is perfect IMO
Absolutely agreed on Staircase, it's one of his best ever songs!
lol
I agree totally.
Still getting the song titles right in my head - I usually listen while working - but I believe I probably agree. How's that for a clear opinion!
"Immune to criticism?" Well, I might travel in different circles, but the last two albums we certainly met with a resounding "meh." Clearly, his immune system failed on those occasions. :) - Apologies...replied before I finished the video. Bad habit, that.
One of the most literate video reviews I've ever seen. If you did all of this without a script, I'm deeply envious. Even with a script, I'm impressed!
Don't sweat it! I appreciate the kind words
@@RhymeSignatures You have a way with words, Brother!
I'm not a prog fan but I have a few porcupine tree and Steven Wilson his new album is good
It's rather tricky to recommend this album to a non-fan of Steven cause it have to be followed with the sidenote 'but make sure to listen on a good setup'. More and more people are now satisfied with mobile phone speakers and it drives me nuts
Yeah, the art of album appreciation does feel like it's dying, with more people enjoying listening to songs vicariously from whatever tik tok throws at them 😓
I still don't know how I feel about this album but I love economies of scale and inclination. As a whole it's a step up from the future bites but no song on thc comes close to the majesty of King Ghost.
I feel it's aging poorly? It's a perfectly good record, but I'm not coming back to it very often
I've been on the Wilson train since I purchased the first Porcupine Tree album in the early 90s. I grew up with Wilson. Each album seemed to get better. My adoration spread to No-Man. I stayed on the train through an amazing solo period. Then came The Future Bites. I hated it.
If The Harmony Codex was released by another artist...would your review be as positive? Would the community even notice the album? I haven't heard it. I don't want to see Wilson fail. That said, Steven Wilson doesn't owe anybody another great record.
I'll be honest, if this came from someone else, I'd probably be more favourable to it, as I'd be listening to it unburdened of any assumption or expectation
If an unknown released this album, I'd be standing to attention and be very excited to hear where they would be going next!
Did you see Niamh @the_prog_nerd at the Signing? per, she posted photos like you did.
Staircase for me is the standout part of this.
Impossible Tightrope, What Life Brings, Economy of Scale, Inclination, and Time is Running Out I like all for the most part.
TIRO the vocal line sounds an awful lot like the Self-Titled Blackfield song at points.
The title track, Actual Brutal Facts and Beautiful Scarecrow I like moments on, but I seem to have more issues with, than things I like.
I will try and do some kind of review/commentary in a Vlog soon about it.
Would be cool to hear your thoughts on this album! I'm finding it very interesting just how differently people are reacting to this one, and I did see Niamh's photos! He was a very cool guy to chat to :)
I don't like it despite the nice contribution from Ninet, but never mind, there's still a lot in his catalogue I do like.
Very well put. I've played THC in the car, on headphones on the train and in 5.1 at home and can confidently say this album is so epic in scope and detail, more so than anything he's ever done, that it demands undivided attention. When Steven introduced 'The Sound of Muzak' on the recent PT tour he said he'd predicted the state of music 20-odd years ago and he wasn't wrong. The THC is SW's middle finger to the elevator prozac stretching on for miles and music only meant to repress
and neutralize your brain and it's purely him. I love it. P.S. TFB was, I think, good, but some of the song choices were wrong - a good few of the deluxe box set version songs should have been on it to make it stronger.
The album is ridiculous in 5.1, the amount of hidden detail is honestly breathtaking at times
I enjoyed parts of The Harmony Codex,, but found it to be a mediocre offering. It feels to me like Wilson is concentrating so much on the idea of 'spatial audio' and how he can put sounds in there that he's lost the basics of overall good song writing.
THC is not prog and the weakest he has ever done. Thats what life brings i guess..
I'd argue it "is" prog, just not progressive rock, by virtue of the term itself, the music pushes past what has been expected from a major release like this, and does "progress" Steven's sound.
So even if it may be considered by many to be his weakest, to dismiss it as "not progressive" feels a little disingenuous, but hey ho, strokes for folks and all that!
Ho sure.. the expectations bs.. and the freedom of the artist to become a dancing superstar.. yes.. cool topic, but its not even this or that sound, the album is just as uninspiring as i would never expect Steven to be.. thats it. :)
You know nuthin, John Snow.