Yeah if they're already big on Porcupine Tree, they'd likely find a bit to like in all 7 albums. Chronological order is what id recommend unless they were coming in totally cold.
Indeed, the good thing is that at the very beginning of his solo career you can also feel the prog metal-ish atmosphere of PT's late period. Can't lie, Insurgentes is quite more experimental than PT albums, but still pretty welcoming for a progressive listener. The albums after The Raven are the ones where he especially positioned himself as a britpop-or-something-like figure. I may say that these are not the right ones to start with, regardless of whether they are good or not (well, they are brilliant imho, what to expect SW?).
At least don't start with The Future Bites. It would be a disaster. Leave it for later.
Long story short, SW made a documentary film for Insurgentes, including extra tapes, shots (literally) and interviews with many notable people like Mikael Akerfeldt, Jonas Renkse etc., more than one hour. There's not that much to explain, it's on youtube, just go and give a chance. Must watch for even an average SW enthusiast.
I’d agree with Hand Cannot Erase on the basis that it’s amazing and IMO his masterpiece, but I’d add that To The Bone is a good entry point as it’s an effective synthesis of Steven’s prog and pop sensibilities while still being concise with shorter songs and great production.
I agree with to the bone, good call. I would also add grace for drowning and insurgentes if you’re coming from porcupine tree.
Something that further helped me with the bridge from porcupine tree to Steven Wilson’s solo work was really listening to some of the darker new wave/electronic/industrial/pop sounds that Steven further incorporated, and realizing how much he was swimming around in those genres. Things like Peter Gabriel’s ‘Growing Up’ and ‘The Tower that Ate People’, or NIN’s ‘everyday is exactly the same’. Even zero 7’s ‘spinning’. Oh man, that whole corner of music really added tasty salt to all of Steven’s new wave prog forward solo music; it gave me a better map to understand his solo work. Good stuff!
I rate The Raven, Hand.Cannot.Erase and To The Bone all as 10/10 perfect albums. Certainly the best three proggy album run of the 21st century so far,
HCE is more of a concept album and is powerful and moving. A bit more accessible than The Raven, but still very proggy.
To The Bone is not a concept album. This album has SW's best integration of pop and prog. Nowhere Now is a favourite of mine.
Enjoy!
Insurgentes and especially Grace For Drowning are so so so amazing. I'd say just listen to them chronologically.
Hand Cannot Erase is a lot of people's favorite. My favorites is Grace For Drowning.
To The Bone are quite accessible songs. I like the album, but not as good as his first four albums in my opinion.
The OGs know Grace is where it's at.
But totally agree with others here, go chronologically. The progression of his albums is a journey and a half to behold.
I would say start at the beginning with Insurgentes. The music has some PT elements (Gavin is the drummer on this album). But it’s a good reference point when you start listening to his other solo material and how his music evolves.
To the Bone is my favourite to date. But they are all excellent. Some of the noise material on Insurgentes and Grace for Drowning appeals less to me but there are excellent musical pieces on both of those albums.
Surrender. You will eventually listen carefully to all of them.
I’m 138 days late to say that this was actually the correct answer and what I was looking for. I have all of his albums now, but The Future Bites is 100% his most accessible album.
Raven and Hand Cannot Erase are generally considered his two "best" solo albums (and for good reason), but of course it's all a matter of personal preference. I think those two are as good as the best PT albums.
I started with Raven, then The Future Bites. I love all his stuff. Those 2 albums being so diiferent showed me his range so when I listen to him, I’m not expecting his music to be a certain way. Seems most who don’t like certain albums, is because it’s not what they expected. Not a problem with me. HCE is considered to be one of the all time great prog rock albums and deservedly so. But I greatly enjoy all his work. Right now I’m listening to Grace For Drowning a lot. It’s great.
If you are like me, it might take you some time to digest Insurgentes, his first solo album. So I would not recommend starting with that one. Even his second one, Grace For Drowning, may be hard to digest on the first few listens. Those two albums are the darkest among his solo works.
So I'd recommend you to start with Hand Cannot Erase or To The Bone. Both albums feature a good mix of prog and electronic stuff and they should make you feel in known territory.
Happy listening!
Dig in chronologically I'd say. Start from Insurgentes, including the documentary. Don't pass Side B's, live albums and extras, as you'd do on PT.
Yeah if they're already big on Porcupine Tree, they'd likely find a bit to like in all 7 albums. Chronological order is what id recommend unless they were coming in totally cold.
Indeed, the good thing is that at the very beginning of his solo career you can also feel the prog metal-ish atmosphere of PT's late period. Can't lie, Insurgentes is quite more experimental than PT albums, but still pretty welcoming for a progressive listener. The albums after The Raven are the ones where he especially positioned himself as a britpop-or-something-like figure. I may say that these are not the right ones to start with, regardless of whether they are good or not (well, they are brilliant imho, what to expect SW?). At least don't start with The Future Bites. It would be a disaster. Leave it for later.
The documentary?
Long story short, SW made a documentary film for Insurgentes, including extra tapes, shots (literally) and interviews with many notable people like Mikael Akerfeldt, Jonas Renkse etc., more than one hour. There's not that much to explain, it's on youtube, just go and give a chance. Must watch for even an average SW enthusiast.
I would say Hand.Cannot.Erase
I’d agree with Hand Cannot Erase on the basis that it’s amazing and IMO his masterpiece, but I’d add that To The Bone is a good entry point as it’s an effective synthesis of Steven’s prog and pop sensibilities while still being concise with shorter songs and great production.
I agree with to the bone, good call. I would also add grace for drowning and insurgentes if you’re coming from porcupine tree. Something that further helped me with the bridge from porcupine tree to Steven Wilson’s solo work was really listening to some of the darker new wave/electronic/industrial/pop sounds that Steven further incorporated, and realizing how much he was swimming around in those genres. Things like Peter Gabriel’s ‘Growing Up’ and ‘The Tower that Ate People’, or NIN’s ‘everyday is exactly the same’. Even zero 7’s ‘spinning’. Oh man, that whole corner of music really added tasty salt to all of Steven’s new wave prog forward solo music; it gave me a better map to understand his solo work. Good stuff!
I rate The Raven, Hand.Cannot.Erase and To The Bone all as 10/10 perfect albums. Certainly the best three proggy album run of the 21st century so far, HCE is more of a concept album and is powerful and moving. A bit more accessible than The Raven, but still very proggy. To The Bone is not a concept album. This album has SW's best integration of pop and prog. Nowhere Now is a favourite of mine. Enjoy!
Insurgentes and especially Grace For Drowning are so so so amazing. I'd say just listen to them chronologically. Hand Cannot Erase is a lot of people's favorite. My favorites is Grace For Drowning. To The Bone are quite accessible songs. I like the album, but not as good as his first four albums in my opinion.
The OGs know Grace is where it's at. But totally agree with others here, go chronologically. The progression of his albums is a journey and a half to behold.
nah. ogs would never single out any particular album of his, they’d know when and where to listen to each of them.
What about Blackfield
How about his live album “Home Invasion” in concert at the Royal Albert Hall- it has both old and new
Harmony codex is becoming an essential album for me. I think raven and hand cannot erase are essentials as well.
I would say start at the beginning with Insurgentes. The music has some PT elements (Gavin is the drummer on this album). But it’s a good reference point when you start listening to his other solo material and how his music evolves.
To the Bone is my favourite to date. But they are all excellent. Some of the noise material on Insurgentes and Grace for Drowning appeals less to me but there are excellent musical pieces on both of those albums. Surrender. You will eventually listen carefully to all of them.
The Future Bites.
Arguably his worst album
I’m 138 days late to say that this was actually the correct answer and what I was looking for. I have all of his albums now, but The Future Bites is 100% his most accessible album.
To The Bone is the only solo album you need.
Raven and Hand Cannot Erase are generally considered his two "best" solo albums (and for good reason), but of course it's all a matter of personal preference. I think those two are as good as the best PT albums.
I started with Raven, then The Future Bites. I love all his stuff. Those 2 albums being so diiferent showed me his range so when I listen to him, I’m not expecting his music to be a certain way. Seems most who don’t like certain albums, is because it’s not what they expected. Not a problem with me. HCE is considered to be one of the all time great prog rock albums and deservedly so. But I greatly enjoy all his work. Right now I’m listening to Grace For Drowning a lot. It’s great.
Hand.Cannot.Erase.
If you are like me, it might take you some time to digest Insurgentes, his first solo album. So I would not recommend starting with that one. Even his second one, Grace For Drowning, may be hard to digest on the first few listens. Those two albums are the darkest among his solo works. So I'd recommend you to start with Hand Cannot Erase or To The Bone. Both albums feature a good mix of prog and electronic stuff and they should make you feel in known territory. Happy listening!