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Steven Wilson - Insurgentes review



Reviewer:
8.5

213 users:
8.38
Band: Steven Wilson
Album: Insurgentes
Release date: February 2008


Disc I
01. Harmony Korine
02. Abandoner
03. Salvaging
04. Veneno Para Las Hadas
05. No Twilight Within The Courts Of The Sun
06. Significant Other
07. Only Child
08. Twilight Coda
09. Get All You Deserve
10. Insurgentes

Disc II [DVD-A 5.1 Mix]
01. Harmony Korine
02. Abandoner
03. Salvaging
04. Veneno Para Las Hadas
05. No Twilight Within The Courts Of The Sun
06. Significant Other
07. Only Child
08. Twilight Coda
09. Get All You Deserve
10. Insurgentes
+ "Insurgentes" film material

Disc III [Limited Edition Boxset]
01. Port Rubicon
02. Puncture Wound
03. Collecting Space
04. Insurgentes (Mexico)
05. The 78 [hidden bonus]

Everybody knows Steven Wilson, the charismatic leader of the famous British band Porcupine Tree. Despite the fact that the first Porcupine Tree albums were more or less some kind of solo projects, "Insurgentes" is only his first official solo album. A lot of you are probably expecting a lot of this record and I can tell you that you'll not be disappointed. If you like all Steven's projects, this new release will satisfy your hopes?

"Insurgentes" is a Spanish word which means "insurgent", "rebels" but this is also one of the biggest streets of the world in Mexico City. Even if the name can sound aggressive and even weird for someone like Steven Wilson (who is not some kind of "dirty" rock star) you'll not find anything violent in the album. Its name simply comes from the name of the street because Steven traveled a lot (including Mexico of course but also Japan etc?) during the recording and writing process of the album. Like with Porcupine Tree music, this new release is an interesting piece of dark and sad Progressive music. The main difference between this album and the last PT is that "Inusrgentes" is clearly not Metal. Sure some guitars are a bit over-drived but all in all we're more into the Pink Floyd and Radiohead category than anything else. It doesn't mean of course that it's not good, "Inusrgentes" is just different of what you can know and that's good actually. I doubt that it could be good to have a new kind of Porcupine Tree album under the name of Steven? Here at least we have good melodies with some Pop tunes that's right but the Progressive aspect that we can hear on each songs is just delicious. This is not some kind of commercial music, the songs are all long, deep, complex not especially technical but we have a real spirit, a real soul under each writings. Plus the general sad ambiance of the record is just excellent and probably a lot more touching than a lot of pseudo Gothic releases? Be aware that "Insurgentes" is not a Metal release but if you like Porcupine Tree you'll like this different release.

The album was recorded all around the world but the production is exceptional anyway. The sound is amazing and the performance of Steven (vocals like guitars) is perfect. Of course if you just have a look at the names of the guest featured on the album, you'll not expect anything wrong and you'll be right (how come someone like Rudess or Harisson could be bad?). No really "Insurgentes" is a great album of melancholic rock and I'm quite sure that a lot of people will like it. The only reproach that I could do is that the album is maybe a bit too cold sometime but after all that's how Steven Wilson like to write and play music and if you're already addicted to his music, you'll not find any problem there.

"Inusrgentes" is not an easy of access album but the more you'll listen to it, the more you'll like it. This release is beautiful and its melancholic aspect is just wonderful if you like to listen to dark music of course. Steven Wilson is someone who knows music and I like the fact that this guy never changed anything in his way to write his songs from the beginning until today without being redundant and always giving the possibility to surprise us. "Inusrgentes" is highly recommended to the ones who like slow Prog Rock and Steven Wilson's music in general.


Rating breakdown
Performance: 8
Songwriting: 8
Originality: 8
Production: 10

Written by Jeff | 14.03.2009




Comments

Comments: 18   Visited by: 233 users
14.03.2009 - 16:28
MetalManic

Said wonderfully!
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14.03.2009 - 17:39
iaberis
Advice Troll
Weird cover
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Bitch! Please
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14.03.2009 - 19:00
Talvi

IMO Steven Wilson should stick with Porcupine Tree
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My account on other musical pages:
http://www.last.fm/user/Pozito/
http://rateyourmusic.com/~Talvi
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14.03.2009 - 19:20
MetalManic

Variety is key on this album. It is quite difficult to swallow. I unfortunately was expecting a bit more out of it but there is no question of the sad atmosphere. Wilson will a genius when it comes to this. I find it a very difficult album to review and I feel that comparing it to PPT is unfair. PPT is definitely a big shadow to get out of.
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14.03.2009 - 20:57
Damnated
Churchburner
definitely a hard album to review, but you missed out on some key features, like the big electronic music influence, and the less prominent noise/drone one. also, this is most certainly not the average Porcupine Tree listener's cup of tee, as, unlike Steven's main band, this music isn't that accessible and catchy, it is also less progressive and more experimental.

i would rather recommend this to experimental music lovers, and fans of Bass Communion rather than to slow rock lowers. this album may not be fast but it is heavy and has a thick atmosphere, something few slow rockers share.
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Blessed is he that murders Christ in himself and in his fellow men.



Written by TheBigRossowski on 10.02.2009 at 16:01

if my wife and I can't conceive, I want a medical shipment of your sperm so our baby will be just like you.
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14.03.2009 - 22:16
Rating: 10
Corwin

I've first heard what Steven released in his Myspace, and actually it was pretty much disappointing.
Yesterday, a package with his album came to our CD Store, so I opened it any first thing listened to the album. It was much better, I mean, I hate to listen to singles or different songs not in order.
It is an album that is hard to swallow. I bought 2 copy's (For my girlfriend too of course (: ) and I've listened to it and it is much better, although I think there's nothing new there, only a bit heavier in some parts and different "experimental" sounding (because porcupine tree isn't just progressive, IMO).
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15.03.2009 - 23:36
Spyroid
Rosetta Stoned
Not bad guest musicians! I haven't heard many songs from the album, but I agree that he should stick to PT.
Porcupine Tree is my favourite band, but strangely enough I don't really enjoy any other of Stevens projects. It's not really the lack of heaviness in the other bands/albums that puts me off, I simply think the songs he's writing for Porcupine Tree are so much higher in quality.
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16.03.2009 - 10:19
Rating: 9
LostBoy

It's been the only cd i've heard since i bought it last week!!! by the way, there's an exclusive edition at FNAC that includes the booklet signed by Steven Wilson, great present for any fan ^^
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If listening manson + rammstein + him + the rasmus + nightwish + within temptation = Goth, then... Cradle of filth = Black Metal ?
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16.03.2009 - 11:22
Daggon
Underpaid M.D.
I'll try to check this sooner or later, so thanks for the review.
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"Les vers savent qu'ils n'ont pas d'ailes, c'est pour cela qu'ils se cachent sous terre"
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16.03.2009 - 21:52
dancingdecember

This is great great news.I didnt even know he was working on a solo project. Must check it out ASAP.
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i'm super, thanks for asking
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17.03.2009 - 22:15
ItalktotheWind
Wood Troll
It is a very good album and takes many listens for it to sink in. No Twilight in the courts of the Sun is my favorite track ad is the most progressive/experimental track I've heard from Wilson in a long time.
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"A witty saying proves nothing."
-Voltaire
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21.03.2009 - 11:35
RockeRoy

Tony Levin and Jordan Rudess plays on the album:) Cool
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You found god? If nobody claims him in thirty days, he's yours

Walk with me in hell
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27.03.2009 - 01:08
Herzebeth

Amazing album...for real!
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01.04.2009 - 19:07
Rating: 8
Case #2010920195

What the hell is up with the 'postcard' thing ? Call me a noob, but I can't make sense of the postcard references, or "...is that "Insurgentes" is clearly not Flower". Flower ? Maybe I missed a class in metal-slang 101, but i'm confused. Anybady care to englighten me ?
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It was only when I got funky, that the monkey seemed a junky.
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01.04.2009 - 19:08
Rating: 8
Case #2010920195

Might add by the way, good .album. (or postcard, whatever you wish to call it). I have the normal retail version, as well as the limited pre-order vinyl edition.

uh...only just noticed the april fool's thing going on here.....*slaps own head*....nevermind...
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It was only when I got funky, that the monkey seemed a junky.
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02.04.2009 - 18:42
Rating: 8
ioannisk

Written by ItalktotheWind on 17.03.2009 at 22:15

It is a very good album and takes many listens for it to sink in. No Twilight in the courts of the Sun is my favorite track ad is the most progressive/experimental track I've heard from Wilson in a long time.

JAZZ!!!!! Gavin is the man!!! I like the album a lot!!!
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20.04.2009 - 07:45
Rating: 9
duro

An amazing album.
i think it's the best album that Steven Wilson has ever done IMO (and i really like PT), this one is just in a whole other level of depth.
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02.08.2012 - 23:30
Panterica

This album is something else for me. Very bleak and disturbing, just how I like Steven's work!
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Li'ed - Prog-Metal from Jerusalem
https://open.spotify.com/artist/7aZWDrAAvDSLMaSmDSE8zA
https://www.facebook.com/LiedBandMusic
http://lied-band.bandcamp.com/
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