Released: 2017

Genres: Progressive Pop, Progressive Rock, Art Rock, Art Pop

The Musiquarium’s To the Bone Review Score: 8 out of 10

After a strong run of four solo albums that leaned hard into progressive rock, To the Bone finds Steven Wilson fusing together a hybrid of both prog and pop, inspired by the 1980s works of artists like Peter Gabriel, Kate Bush and XTC.

The title track successfully evokes the eighties art pop/prog pop sound that Steven Wilson seems to be going for. Nowhere Now has a hint of country in it. Pariah and Blank Tapes both feature the return of Israeli singer, Ninet Tayeb, who had previously appeared on Wilson’s previous album, Hand. Cannot. Erase.

The Same Asylum as Before and People Who Eat Darkness are radio-friendly rockers. Permanating sounds like an attempt at an ABBA song. Song of I leans into a moody, electronic direction. The 9 minute-long Detonation proves that even a more accessible version of Steven Wilson isn’t willing to omit longer, more experimental compositions from the album.

While To the Bone might not rival any of Steven Wilson’s many masterpieces (including Porcupine Tree albums), it’s still an under-appreciated album that is far from selling out or dumbing down his sound.

For credit breakdowns and historic release details, view Steven Wilson on Discogs.

Back to the 2017 Album Guide or the Steven Wilson Reviews page.

Written by Brett Nippard