[TF1216]

Have any of you heard Steven Wilson before?  If you haven't give him a whirl.  He reminds me a lot of the Alan Parsons' music I have heard.  Anyway, Steven Wilson is touring the States right now.  To make things super *insane* Guthrie Govan and Marco Minneman are touring with him.  That is 2/3 of The Aristocrats. 

http://starsdie.com/wp/tag/guthrie-govan/

[FullRangeMan]

Thanks for the tip. As least it is prog rock.
Today we are flooded by a plethora of satanic/masonic rock bands, it is good to see a new face on prog rock.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cx8zxdIUVgs

[Chris Adams]

Appreciate the info. I used to listen to Alan Parsons all the time. Never heard of Steven Wilson but I watched the video and like the tune very much. I'm off to find more of his music.

[PRELUDE]

Thanks for the info.
I have everything by Alan Parson and never heard this guy before now I have to start shopping.
It would be nice to see him on tour with Camel.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlTh6nsJpXw

[Russtafarian]

Also check out Porcupine Tree, SW's group before going solo a few years ago.

[simoon]

I hate to be the 'fly in the ointment' so to speak, but I don't get the comparison to Alan Parsons at all.

I enjoy both artists, but Alan Parsons is much more in the AOR camp, with some tendencies toward progressive music. Steve Wilson, especially with his latest release, The Raven That Refused to Sing is no holds barred progressive music.

A better comparison for The Raven That Refused to Sing would be, King Crimson, Van Der Graaf Generator, Genesis, maybe a touch of the great Italian band, PFM.

The Raven That Refused to Sing is darker, more emotional, deeper, and more complex than anything I've heard from Parsons. It is the best release of 2013.

And yes, Wilson's band is world class. Guthrie Govan is from another planet. Marco Minnemann is one of the best drummers in the world. Adam Holzman is a top fusion keyboard player (he played with Miles Davis). Nick Beggs is a great bass and Chapman Stick player. Theo Travis' flute and sax playing is the equal to the rest of the players.

[TF1216]

Great comments simoon.  I have only listened to The Alan Parsons Project for a few hours over my headphones in the last few years.  I made the comparison because Steven Wilson collaborated/worked with Alan Parson.  Most important to me is that Guthrie Govan is playing with him.  I think the world of Guthrie.  He is supernatural in my eyes.

[jdoyle]

Saw this show last night... incredible.  worth making a road trip to see if you had to (worth the Drive Home Ha Ha).

~jd

[James Romeyn]

Parson is an audiophile (I know, duh).

Someone bumped into him at CES.  He played one of his own CDs and said he likes good audio gear.  I'd say, of all the music I've heard from his era, his own music, like Eye In The Sky must be the best recorded extant.  That song on my system is so over the top.  Maybe I'll play it when I go down tonight. 

[simoon]

By the way, Alan Parsons is the co-producer and engineer on 'The Raven That Refused to Sing', so you can rest assured that the SQ on this release is very good.

Not only that, he plays a very soulful guitar solo on one of the tracks.

[jqp]

I hate to be the 'fly in the ointment' so to speak, but I don't get the comparison to Alan Parsons at all.

I enjoy both artists, but Alan Parsons is much more in the AOR camp, with some tendencies toward progressive music. Steve Wilson, especially with his latest release, The Raven That Refused to Sing is no holds barred progressive music.

A better comparison for The Raven That Refused to Sing would be, King Crimson, Van Der Graaf Generator, Genesis, maybe a touch of the great Italian band, PFM.

The Raven That Refused to Sing is darker, more emotional, deeper, and more complex than anything I've heard from Parsons. It is the best release of 2013.

And yes, Wilson's band is world class. Guthrie Govan is from another planet. Marco Minnemann is one of the best drummers in the world. Adam Holzman is a top fusion keyboard player (he played with Miles Davis). Nick Beggs is a great bass and Chapman Stick player. Theo Travis' flute and sax playing is the equal to the rest of the players.

I would say that Alan Parsons has some pretty dark songs...though I don't consider him as a 'dark' artist. Not having listened to Steven Wilson yet, I am not entirely sure what you mean, but Ammonia Avenue is not complex or dark?

[FullRangeMan]

I see Ammonia Avenue as very deep music and lyrics, great poetry, the same for VDGG and Petter Hammill.
http://www.lyricsfreak.com/a/alan+parsons+project/ammonia+avenue_20005288.html
Is there no sign of light as we stand in the darkness?
Watching the sun arise
Is there no sign of life as we gaze at the waters?
Into the strangers eyes

And who are we to criticize or scorn the things that they do?
For we shall seek and we shall find ammonia avenue

If we call for the proof and we question the answers
Only the doubt will grow
Are we blind to the truth or a sign to believe in?
Only the wise will know

And word by word they handed down the light that shines today
And those who came at first to scoff, remained behind to pray
Yes those who came at first to scoff, remained behind to pray

When you can't hear the rhyme and you can't see the reason
Why should the hope remain?
For a man will be tired and his soul will grow weary
Living his life in vain

And who are we to justify the right in all we do?
Until we seek until we find ammonia avenue

Through all the doubt somehow they knew
And stone by stone they built it high
Until the sun broke through
A ray of hope, a shining light ammonia avenue

[BobM]

Seeing Steve Wilson tomorrow night at the Best Buy Theater in NYC for the "Raven" tour. I missed the show last year (but bought the DVD). From all reports it is (once again) an amazing show for his fans. He incorporates a lot of video, so it's an all encompassing experience.

[jdoyle]

Aside from the numerous accolades, I have to mention one thing here that I feel needs to be said... and that was that the sound and (IMHO) more importantly, the volume level was perfect. 

Long tired of shows that blow out my ear drums, I really appreciated that the S.W. sound crew "got it right". 
Starting my concert career in the mid seventies, yes, I've had my drums ring for days after shows...  (I think Mahogany Rush in '76 invented "turning Amps up to 11"  and it was the high water mark of pain for my precious drums).

Anyway, it was much appreciated and I felt worth mentioning.  While still heart pounding SPL's were felt,  I never stuffed  tissue into my ears.

Just a great concert.  Can't wait 'til the DVD is released.

~jd

[FullRangeMan]

A curious fact about PA volume in live shows:
In the 80s years at the São Paulo Jazz Festival the bass player from Modern Jazz Quartet stop playing on the stage to demand the mix PA guy lowered the channel of this instrument to the public.

So the audience begin scream for up the bass, and the musician ordered again his channel tobe turn down in the PA for the audience.
This was a scandal in the press next day, who supposed the bass player dont want play at all, and try hide it to the public.
Incredible.