A lot of Golems in prog hahahahaOriginally Posted by chalkpie
A lot of Golems in prog hahahaha
This change in style had been tipped off when he presaged the move by changing his name to Wislon.
So Porcupine Tree or crappy eighties-like pop music are his only options? It might be. Wilson really is not so versatile as a composer.
My progressive music site: https://pienemmatpurot.com/ Reviews in English: https://pienemmatpurot.com/in-english/
I think a lot would disagree.
As someone who played in a very odd time complicated trio, after while you just want to do simpler arrangements. I fully support his change in styles and genres
Its not my cuppa, this direction does nothing for me. I could barely get through the last one and sadly am not so interested in buying this one given what him hearing. He's made some comments about this one being out of the box in terms of presentation, so I AM interested in what he has in mind in terms of packaging and live...however:
I have no qualms with him taking himself into a wider range of music/listeners with this direction, I'm just not a fan of it. I wasn't with To The Bone either.
Its obvious he'll get a wider audience with more accessible music like this than he did with his earlier pieces or PT. And good for him, no one in my estimation has worked harder or deserves it more. So the idea of him selling out/making bank is pure unadulterated nonsense.
Im not sure what he's on about...I saw an interview around the release of the last album where he was smashing an iPod again, I'm not feeling what he's saying about all this commercialism when he appears to be courting it himself!! It feels rehashed plastic and hollow to me.
He always mentions the great pop writers, he loves to name-drop, but I have never liked his 'pop' efforts, either with PT or his solo work. Blackfield was different, he was writing with a pop singer/writer. I don t see him as a good pop writer. (I'll never understand the love of Trains and Lazarus)
He's always been interested in writing film scores, this last video could be a snippet from a full length movie. Im sure he's angling at that market as well.
My biggest gripe comes with the inconsistency of his album/touring bands. Infuritating to me actually. I think getting Wackerman and Kilminster were feathers in his cap, but not necessarily good fits or as good live relative to the album bands. My opinion.(I didn't see TTB)
If TTB was all that great, why did he drag out old PT material on the last tour??
I think he's still trying to find himself!
Anyone thinking PT will EVER have another go has a long wait. Kohoutek returning will happen sooner. (Its next apparition will be in about 75,000 years.)
I never thought I would fall off the fan boy wagon but the last one did it...this hasn't put me back on...I wish him luck, he deserves it!
Personally, I don't mind POP if the songwriting is good and I don't blame him for wanting to change direction in his music. It's less appealing for my tastes than his previous solo efforts and Porcupine Tree but he's totally expecting that response from most people who like his previous work. In fact, the whole thing seems like a deliberate test of his fans or even something to rile up the controversy. That may be marketing genius but I find that sort of thing annoying... and you'll have to forgive me if I ever do that for my music. We're all hypocrites.
The video for the new one is pretty cool. I look for redeeming qualities. That guitar solo at the end is my favorite part of the song. Not crazy about the chorus. Anyway, it'll be interesting to see how this all goes with the fans. Will he gain lots of new fans or just thin out the support from his existing Prog-loving fanbase? Curious.
Desperate.
But not serious.
Imagine him coming out with a very traditional bluegrass album a la 50s Flatt & Scruggs....would that be considered progressive because he never did it before? I'd probably buy it over The Future Chews.
Yes indeed, I look forward to all the interviews where he explains what he's thinking. It's like he is deliberately trying to alienate his long term fans but he seems to have a lot of fanboys on Instagram & Youtube, will be interesting to see if he gathers enough new fans to carry him through. I can't help thinking he's dodged a bullet by having the 02 show cancelled by covid, it may have been a rather empty arena.Personally, I don't mind POP if the songwriting is good and I don't blame him for wanting to change direction in his music. It's less appealing for my tastes than his previous solo efforts and Porcupine Tree but he's totally expecting that response from most people who like his previous work. In fact, the whole thing seems like a deliberate test of his fans or even something to rile up the controversy. That may be marketing genius but I find that sort of thing annoying... and you'll have to forgive me if I ever do that for my music. We're all hypocrites.
The video for the new one is pretty cool. I look for redeeming qualities. That guitar solo at the end is my favorite part of the song. Not crazy about the chorus. Anyway, it'll be interesting to see how this all goes with the fans. Will he gain lots of new fans or just thin out the support from his existing Prog-loving fanbase? Curious.
Agreed. And I've looked at the comments on Instagram, YT, etc. and they mostly seemed to trend negative. Lots of "I love the guy and his work in the past but I'm just not digging this."
But who knows. He may tap a nerve in the larger commercial market and TFB will become one of the hits of 2021. He certainly deserves it (although I'd say he deserves it more for his PT work circa 1999...)
Last edited by Paulrus; 09-24-2020 at 02:38 PM.
I'm holding out for the Wilson-mixed 5.1 super-duper walletbuster special anniversary extra adjectives edition.
The funny thing is that in 1999 Stupid Dream was considered a commercial move. Just like Signify in 1996. Or In Absentia in 2002. Or Fear of a Blank Planet in 2005... Or....
The one good thing about hearing SW's single with all the derivative early 70s Motown bass lines and strings is that I exited listening to SW after a couple minutes and immediately cued up The Temptations' "Papa Was A Rolling Stone", which I hadn't heard for a few years.
"And your little sister's immaculate virginity wings away on the bony shoulders of a young horse named George who stole surreptitiously into her geography revision."
Occasional musical musings on https://darkelffile.blogspot.com/
If Steven Wislon keeps releasing camples, PE will get in arms.
What can this strange device be? When I touch it, it brings forth a sound (2112)
How's that going? Surely he's a big star by now?The funny thing is that in 1999 Stupid Dream was considered a commercial move. Just like Signify in 1996. Or In Absentia in 2002. Or Fear of a Blank Planet in 2005... Or....
If radio had a soul, he would be...along with Andy Rinehart in 1995! Imo. I mean, david torn and mick karn played on every song AND andy was a great artist.
Well, hang on now. I heard "Shallow" on my local pop/rock radio station back in 2005 when Deadwing came out. Can't think of too many (or any) contemporary "prog" artists/bands who got airplay like that where I live (except for Tool). This wasn't an experimental/alternative/college radio station.
I absolutely think that Deadwing and In Absentia (and even Stupid Dream) were much more commercial/accessible than what he was doing before. Doesn't mean that he was successful in hitting it big at the time though.
If you think this sounds like eighties pop music, you need to have your ears cleaned.
But have you listened to any of Wilson's other projects besides Porcupine Tree, such as Bass Communion or Continuum? Sheesh...
Last edited by aith01; 09-24-2020 at 06:12 PM.
Actually, it would be progressive since Porcupine Tree is progressive rock. Playing another genre is not progress. Nor is playing in a style he used to play regress. Not sure why you're trying to change the meaning of the word.
You do know what the word "progressive" means, right?
He's not.
Yes, and it’s inane to assert people shouldn’t actually want him to play progressive rock because he’s already done that, and therefore that wouldn’t be progressive. The only progressive being spoken about is progressive rock. And even if people wanted him to be “progressive” and broaden his music to incorporate other styles and elements, this still isn’t it. Simply playing a different genre or style isn’t being progressive.
You do know what the word "progressive" means, right?
Just listened to the single for the fourth time. Like it or not I find myself perplexed by the comments about how he will surely "find himself a bigger audience" and that this is pop or mainstream. Like it or not this does not sound like anything that will be popular....who's the target audience?
Who's going to buy (or stream) this that is not already a Wilson fan? I've a 18 year old daughter and 25 year old son who inundate me with current popular music. This track wouldn't last two minutes before they begged me to shut it off...
I'm not particularly enjoying this new stuff but I respect the hell out of him and will buy it - I'm sure there will be plenty to appreciate.
For his sake I would love for him to have a massive success with this record. But I'm not hearing this "pivot to the mainstream" that others are...
adjective
1.
happening or developing gradually or in stages; proceeding step by step.
If you don't like what Wilson is doing. You could listen to Pineapple Thief, Riverside or about 40% of the Kscope catalog and hear that same Porcupine Tree sound from them.
Change for a musician is needed. I would never expect a guy like Steve Wilson to remain stagnant in one style of his whole career. That's like eating the same meal three times a day, every day.
I don't hear the mainstream thing either. I hope the album takes even more directions and twists and turns...and none of it sounds like previous releases
Dave, is that you?
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