Steven Wilson- The Future Bites

**Paulrus** · 02-22-2021

Originally Posted by Poisoned Youth

This is my observation as well.

I'd go a step further and say that it's a real stretch to call TFB "Prog Pop" at all. In my experience (not saying you are doing this), adding "Prog" to anything in our circles is to add credibility and even validation for liking a "guilty pleasure". While I generally like my pop/rock/alt/indie music to have an element of sophistication to it - and TFB does - there's very little about it that is progressive or "proggy" imo.

That said, it's also in my experience that if the artist's name was Wilson Stefan and was alien to these parts, this album would be largely panned by the majority of the audience here or much more likely completely ignored. It's only because it's an artist that many have an investment in that it even gets listened to and "given the benefit of the doubt" in the first place.

Yeah, it was my understanding that the music he's trying to champion these days is "Art Pop", not "Prog Pop". But he's also mentioned a recent fascination with electronic disco-pop a la Donna Summer. Club music, essentially.

And I agree with the litmus test of "Would I give a rat's ass about this if it was under the name of someone I wasn't familiar with?"

**Frumious B** · 02-22-2021

My bias isn’t so much “prog” vs “not prog” as it is that I very strongly prefer conventional instrument based music over electronics and software.

**3LockBox** · 02-22-2021

I count myself among his fans and have purchased all of his solo albums (I've even kept a couple). I have no problem with his art-pop leanings because I'm also a fan of many of the artists that have influenced Wilson. But there are things he says that make me roll my eyes at times. But these aren't indictments just observations. And this is a message board, not a fan club. I agree with the sentiment made a few posts that an album like TFB might be shown a great deal of indifference if it were anyone else. Wilson's association with prog, whether performing or producing, remixing, etc is why there's even a thread about TFB on this site. Sure, some art-pop artists do get mentioned here from time to time (Gotye a few years ago) but they don't get multiple page threads, let alone multiple threads.

**JKL2000** · 02-23-2021

Originally Posted by Poisoned Youth

I'd go a step further and say that it's a real stretch to call TFB "Prog Pop" at all. In my experience (not saying you are doing this), adding "Prog" to anything in our circles is to add credibility and even validation for liking a "guilty pleasure". While I generally like my pop/rock/alt/indie music to have an element of sophistication to it - and TFB does - there's very little about it that is progressive or "proggy" imo.

Originally Posted by Paulrus

Yeah, it was my understanding that the music he's trying to champion these days is "Art Pop", not "Prog Pop".

The reason I called it "Prog Pop" is that I don't really consider it to fit any other category very well. I don't consider it EDM or Techno or anything like that. And to me it just sounds like a variant of what SW already sounded like. I don't really "recognize" the terms "Art Rock" or "Art Pop." I kind of hate the term Art Rock, not that the term "Progressive Rock" is perfect by any means. I also don't distinguish between "Progressive" and "Prog." Really what it sounds like is "simplified Steven Wilson music." Which is fine by me as long as it sounds good to me, which it does.

**Paulrus** · 02-23-2021

Originally Posted by JKL2000

The reason I called it "Prog Pop" is that I don't really consider it to fit any other category very well. I don't consider it EDM or Techno or anything like that. And to me it just sounds like a variant of what SW already sounded like. I don't really "recognize" the terms "Art Rock" or "Art Pop." I kind of hate the term Art Rock, not that the term "Progressive Rock" is perfect by any means. I also don't distinguish between "Progressive" and "Prog." Really what it sounds like is "simplified Steven Wilson music." Which is fine by me as long as it sounds good to me, which it does.

Yeah, "Art Pop" was my term. He's repeatedly said (and I'm paraphrasing): "I like pop music, but pop music that's got a bit of art to it." Then he usually name checks Prince, Tears for Fears, blah blah blah.

**mozo-pg** · 02-23-2021

I'm not sure how to label it based on what I've heard on the samples. I just consider it decent music. Would i prefer prog, certainly. Is all I really care about his something decent, yes.

**markwoll** · 03-25-2021

a treat

**JKL2000** · 03-25-2021

What about the Vogon poetry?

**Sunlight Caller** · 03-25-2021

That's a pretty good alternative version of a great song, and takes me back in time to Porcupine Tree shows when they were still quite an underground word of mouth thing.

**mozo-pg** · 03-25-2021

Originally Posted by Sunlight Caller

That's a pretty good alternative version of a great song, and takes me back in time to Porcupine Tree shows when they were still quite an underground word of mouth thing.

SC - you're lucky that you experienced those early shows.

**AncientChord** · 03-27-2021

I've been browsing SW's Facebook page just to see what's happening in his world. And it seems that The Future Bites is a success. I'm glad for him, but not for me. As I am a true definition of the term "Prog Snob," and realize more and more that my musical likes are very limited. But that's ok because as the song said "I know what I like, and I like what I know." And I will always embrace progressive rock. SW is certainly a musical giant and I wish him continuing success. However I miss his massive prog output, and can only hope that he'll come around full circle in the future. And I sorely miss Porcupine Tree. Who knows ? I also wish he'd say hello on this forum the way he used to as username SWILSON. C'est la vie.

**boilk** · 03-27-2021

Originally Posted by AncientChord

I also wish he'd say hello on this forum the way he used to as username SWILSON. C'est la vie.

I did not know that. No offense to us, but if I were him, I wouldn't want to come on here, lol.

neil

**MudShark22** · 03-27-2021

We should be offended by ourselves sometimes.
Only way to grow.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

**moecurlythanu** · 03-27-2021

I don't recall SW ever posting here either.

**spacefreak** · 03-27-2021

Originally Posted by moecurlythanu

I don't recall SW ever posting here either.

Neither do I.

**mozo-pg** · 03-27-2021

He didn't.

**Dok** · 03-27-2021

He did for awhile on the Hoffman forum.

**3LockBox** · 03-27-2021

He did post here a long time ago under the pseudonym Blue Vino

**Sean** · 03-27-2021

That explains it.

I've heard from reliable sources that he did at one time. When I met him and mentioned PE though he just played dumb and said he does not read fan reviews (good or bad ones). I told him that's probably a good idea, though the majority here seemed to really liked his new album at the time (The Raven). Also, that in a place like this where people are allowed to freely express all opinions about an artist's work, he might not like seeing both sides of the coin.

**moecurlythanu** · 03-27-2021

^ He's probably OK with the coin.

**Sean** · 03-27-2021

In his pocket... Who wouldn't be?

**mozo-pg** · 03-27-2021

I didn't know he posted here.

**SteveSly** · 03-27-2021

Originally Posted by boilk

I did not know that. No offense to us, but if I were him, I wouldn't want to come on here, lol.

neil

Quite a few artists have been here and been roasted over the coals. They have come and gone unfortunately. People on this forum can sometimes be cruel and say things that they would never say face to face. Roger Waters called it "the bravery of being out of range".