The Future Bites
by Steven Wilson

Basically an electronic Steven Wilson album. Very interesting. Have to say it has grown on me after being initially quite nonplussed about it. I liked every song, except for the closer Count of Unease. Personal Shopper is my personal favourite. Well worth a listen. You aren't getting any Porcupine Tree here, it's an experimental SW album that in my opinion was a success.

It's alright. I LIKE some of the choices here, but I feel the album's material is a little lacking on the whole.

Great album, a lot more catchy than I would have thought a Steven Wilson album would be. A lot of great commentaries about the times we're living in, great work.

From ExTeaSea 02/28/2021 02:35 | #266767

Ok I love Porcupine Tree but for some reason I never super got into his solo stuff. I know it might be blasphemy to be more into this album than his more progressive work but it's so dang catchy. I feel like this was an exciting move for him, almost like he pulled a Peter Gabriel approach and went more in a progressive pop oriented direction. I dig the heck out of it. Sure the last song is super slow compared to everything else and feels a bit out of place but man everything else is pretty stellar.

Can't say I've ever been a far of his most acclaimed work either as a solo project or within a band - not that I've given him a fair chance, 2 or 3 hasty listens to each of them at most, I could barely recognise them if I stumbled on any of them. In this case, however, it seems that ignorance is bliss indeed, since the reactions of everyone who is well-versed in his discography range from mild dislike to almost hate. I have to say I found it decent. I mean, when you get vibes reminiscent of 2nd Law era Muse - for example in Eminent Sleaze - and they aren't even the worst part of the album, then you know something is wrong. On the other hand, there were some highly enjoyable moments/tracks, like King Ghost or Personal Shopper that balance it out. Overall, less prog and more pop/synth/electronic - that's fine by me.

From MW19704U 02/05/2021 12:10 | #265807

Great new album with constantly transforming musical approach. This time lesser classical prog than ever, but a deep dive into the best of the 80ties. Catchy, but still sophisticated and equipped with great songwriting and top-notch production.

From Mercury 02/03/2021 18:58 | #265707

60 to 65/100 (Wildly hit or miss, with the more funky or driving bits being quite good, the traditional synthpop bits being consistently fine and the parts that seem to meander and/or feature Wilson's vocals and preachy/in-your-face lyrics being silly and bad to my ears).

This album is getting a lot of hate. This maybe can be expected. Steven Wilson has been the mastermind behind some of the best Prog Rock of the last 25 years. Then he released his last album "To The Bone" to mixed response due to its eschewing of Prog Rock for more Prog Pop/Art Rock styles. I have yet to listen to "To The Bone" so I don't have that context for this 2021 album.

And then that brings us to now, the release of this album. And its a synthpop album which to my ears sounds equal parts inspired and corny. The songs I heard before release "Personal Shopper", "12 Things I Forgot" and "King Ghost" I quite liked and so I was looking forward to this. Sadly a lot of the other cuts here are meandering and vapid (The closer "Count of Unease") or heavy-handed and awkward ("Eminent Sleaze"). The album actually starts out on a little winning streak, and I was consistently enjoying myself and thinking "Maybe I REALLY like this album" throughout the first half or so. Somehow though the album loses steam. The production, though clean and created in a professional way, doesn't lend any depth or punch to the more half-baked synth pop or art pop bits, and by the last 2 songs I am just itching to play something else and wondering why I'm wasting my time with this.

That may be harsh. Again I like a few of these songs a lot. And I respect where Wilson wants to take his sound and explore. I just don't think he nails it here, or really comes close to nailing it. And I'm just not feelin' it.

Lyrically it sums up the times perfectly. Musically, it's such a departure from his other solo stuff, but not in the least bit surprising, knowing how much he loves electronic music. A great album. So much layering to each track. A great listen.