Steven Wilson: The Raven that Refused to Sing | EPL Ep. 55
Added 2023-11-04 01:48:01 +0000 UTCI'm very pleased to share this episode with y'all. In my opinion, it's the best prog album so far of the 21st century.
This was an odd reaction. There's six songs. I know two very well. I know one just a bit. And, I've never heard the other three. So, I brought along the piano cam for a few references, play-alongs, and teachable moments. I hope you enjoy!
Vimeo Link: https://vimeo.com/882724610/3791afcef2?share=copy
Comments
Definitely among my favorite albums of all time. It's always great listening to your reactions of these, Doug. Speaking of, hopefully we'll get a reaction for Steven's new album The Harmony Codex, which is nothing short of spectacular. Up there with The Raven and Hand Cannot Erase, if you ask me.
Ricardo Chamorro
2023-11-27 20:44:16 +0000 UTCSo great to come back to this album with you Doug it’s been awhile since I’ve listened.. wow you can really hear the influence he had on Mikael and Opeth.. specifically the sections before the closing solo in Drive Home. I could hear Moon Above Sun Below in many ways. Thanks again Doug as always this was a phenomenal experience!!
Jason Gregorius
2023-11-16 06:12:52 +0000 UTCThe other thing I love about the two "themes" in the title track is that the "old man"'s theme expresses that stuckness and disquietude in the way it lands alternatingly on minor and major chords, but also in that the phrase has an extra beat (in 7/4) such that it's as if he can't bring himself to continue right away... Whereas the other theme ("Lily") confidently proceeds forward, waltzing along in 3/4, and harmonically constant.
Jeff Norman
2023-11-12 05:25:50 +0000 UTCDrive Home and The Raven are among my favorite songs, along with another genius piece of misery, Routine, which also needs to be viewed with the accompanying film.
Rolling Ronnie
2023-11-06 14:20:44 +0000 UTCSame!!
Steve Hartke
2023-11-06 04:20:23 +0000 UTCIt had been a while since my last listen of this album. What an amazing piece of art it is.
Jean-Michel LaFontaine
2023-11-05 00:55:49 +0000 UTCI still cannot get FF International without loppingloopinglooping etc....dk
Don K Mal 1
2023-11-04 18:47:03 +0000 UTCPretty much all been said..................greatttttttttt........dk
Don K Mal 1
2023-11-04 18:43:33 +0000 UTCWe listened to The Aristocrats a few times in a council hangout. So much fun.
Arrow2theACL
2023-11-04 14:01:00 +0000 UTCI had to respond in more than words... https://soundcloud.com/axolotl7/raven
ax o'lotl
2023-11-04 10:59:12 +0000 UTCFirst of all, thanks for including your "out take" false start. I laughed out loud! But most importantly, thank you for helping me love this album even more that I already did, Doug. You point out Steven Wilson's real musical genius by showing how he uses modes and fascinating chord structures to make moving, beautifully executed music. Do you know the extent of his musical education, if any? His sure hand as a song writer seems to suggest that he has some; or maybe he simply hears it like that in his mind. Either way, the results are stunning, time after time. I wish you had mentioned something about Marco Minnemann's remarkable drumming. I think he's one of the finest drummers in modern music, and he and Guthrie are two-thirds of The Aristocrats, a band you would love to check out sometime, I'm sure. And by the way, the unique sound of Guthrie's solo in "Drive Home" is due not only to his marvelous ear and knack for finding beautiful melodies in his soloing, but also to the Sustainiac pickups he often uses. As always, thank you, Doug. This was a lovely way to spend an hour-twenty. You are the best!
Bill Brinkmoeller
2023-11-04 08:04:36 +0000 UTCNice. "The raven" and "hand.cannot.erase" are both masterpieces. I tend to favor the latter because of the concept/story. Both are wonderful though...
Martin Broten
2023-11-04 05:25:20 +0000 UTCAdded to my list of albums to buy (yes, I still buy hard media)
Paul Halicki
2023-11-04 04:23:17 +0000 UTCBeing a huge modern prog person myself. What was #1?
Arrow2theACL
2023-11-04 04:13:45 +0000 UTCThe story goes with the solo in Drive Home is that during the studio take, towards the end you can hear a bend where the E-String popped out of the nut. You can hear it on the album with some of the subsequent bends. Steven Wilson decided that despite the popping E-string, the original take of the solo had the perfect feel and emotion, so he kept the original take.
Arrow2theACL
2023-11-04 04:02:06 +0000 UTCMellotron sounds so great. Love love love the atmospheric arrangements. If anyone is a fan of the guitar and drumming in this album and Hand. Cannot. Erase. Gunthrie and Marco formed a band that is currently touring called The Aristocrats. Highly recommend y'all check them out.
Arrow2theACL
2023-11-04 03:53:30 +0000 UTCYes, this one's a winner. I do consider myself a bit of a modern prog specialist - a few weeks ago I drew up a playlist of my favorite albums of the 21st century so far and The Raven came in at number 2. Steven Wilson never sounded better than this.
Philip Briddon
2023-11-04 03:40:31 +0000 UTCagreed... this is a real high point. plenty of proggy twiddly bits, some real heaviness, and ending on the gut-wrenching title track... it's up there all-time. it's a slice in time of prog history that deserves to be right up there in the history of all music.
ax o'lotl
2023-11-04 01:59:59 +0000 UTC
