Review of The Raven That Refused To Sing (and other stories)

The Raven That Refused To Sing (and other stories) is my favorite Steven Wilson solo album yet. The collaboration between Steven Wilson and his amazing band this time around is really what pushed this album over the top, musician-ship and composition wise. The concept of this album is so well done at every angle - through the music, the pictures, the stories, and the powerfully emotional video for the title track. Everything is seamlessly interwoven so that you almost can't imagine one aspect without the others- the artwork fits the music so perfectly. And, it almost doesn't even need to be said, but the sound on this album is outstanding.

Starting with the opening track of Luminol, we are thrust into the power of all these top notch musicians combining. I feel this song really showcases their creativity and energy. This song may just be one of my favorite songs ever. It starts off with so much kick and vigor you can't help but simply rock out with it. It seems to soar and float from one segment to another until you reach the middle, which gently transitions you into a beautifully quiet and dreamy stretch of sonic landscape and story telling. The harmonies are exquisite, which they most always are with Steven Wilson behind them. Finally, the song builds and builds until it reaches a spectacular finish that ties everything all in again...how could a song like that end any other way, really?

Drive Home is gorgeous. Some parts of it remind me of renaissance times...actually, there a few moments that remind me of renaissance times throughout the album, but I digress. There seems to always be one catchy, pretty little song like this in SW's work...but the ingeniously done solo at the end is really what sets it apart. I know comparisons can be annoying, but I have to say it: certain pieces Guthrie Govan's solos and guitar work/phrasing remind me very much of the late, great, Dimebag Darrel. A guitarist that I feel nobody would mind being compared to!*Edit - uhhhh....after seeing Guthrie live and educating  myself on his work I have to say he is beyond comparison. Yes, Dimebag was a very versatile guitar player as well...but not like Guthrie! My face was melted off by him.

The Holy Drinker is a very dark and heavy song, it starts off very ominously but then has what I wold call a funk rhythm beating underneath somewhere when it gets into the first lyrical part of the song. The song just plain rocks out, but also takes you on a roller coaster journey of highs and lows...speeding up and slowing down..becoming very quiet and brooding, before blasting a downright nasty guitar riff out to end the song. The story is of a self righteous religious man who has his own evil vice in the form of a drinking problem. As the story goes on, this man challenges the devil to a drinking match. Of course he loses the challenge and is dragged into hell.

The Pin Drop. It is one of my favorite songs on the album. Steven must have been working on his vibrato, or maybe he has been waiting to break it out for just such a song as this, because his vocals in this song are very different, unique and refreshing to listen to. It almost doesn't sound like him as he belts out the beginning lyrics. Just as you are settling into the verse the song bursts forth into a lovely and almost frantic chorus that you may not quite expect. And just when you think you have a handle on the whole song...it ends. It's perfect.

The Watchmaker. I know how overused this word is, but..what an epic song. Another favorite. It is a complex song with many different segments, but they all need each other to tell this story. It is a massive, sweeping song that builds to a dark crescendo of a ghostly message repeating over and over again: "I'm still inside you." The story in this song is particularly defined to me, and really gets its point across from beginning to end - not to say the other songs don't, but this one just seems more thorough to me.

The Raven That Refused To Sing. Oh! What a powerful, emotional journey this song takes me on. Paired with that truly creative and impactful video- the feeling that song evokes from me is almost too much to take. The story for this song is particularly heartwrenching and really draws you into the characters and their sorrows. I personally feel like this is the most touching, beautiful, and delicate song Steven Wilson has yet written. Once again, when you add in the art work and/or video, the emotions are really enhanced. I love when music can make you feel such strong emotions and really touch you to your core as Raven does...it is a rare and elusive feeling that I'm glad I discovered through SW's work.

So, though in my eyes Steven Wilson can do no wrong, this album is beyond expectations. I happened to be lucky enough to procure the deluxe limited edition 128 page edition of this album- which was worth every penny. The illustrations, the stories, and of course the music was so carefully and thoughtfully put together it spoils you for any other artist's work.