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Limited Edition of One
The more I thought about it, the more I realised my career has been unusual. How did I manage to do everything wrong but still end up on the front cover of magazines, headlining world tours and achieving Top 5 albums? How did I attract such obsessive and fanatical fans, many of whom take everything I do or say very personally, which is simultaneously flattering but can also be tremendously frustrating? Even this I somehow cultivated without somehow meaning to. My accidental career.
Limited Edition of One is unlike any other music book you will ever have read.
Part the long-awaited memoir of Steven whose celebrated band Porcupine Tree began as teenage fiction before unintentionally evolving into a reality that encompassed Grammy-nominated records and sold-out shows around the world, before he set out for an even more successful solo career.
Part the story of a twenty-first century artist who achieved chart-topping mainstream success without ever becoming part of the mainstream. From Abba to Stockhausen, via a collection of conversations and thought pieces on the art of listening, the rules of collaboration, lists of lists, personal stories, professional adventurism (including food, film, TV, modern art), old school rock stardom, how to negotiate an obsessive fanbase and survive on social media, and dream-fever storytelling.
Limited Edition of One is unlike any other music book you will ever have read.
Part the long-awaited memoir of Steven whose celebrated band Porcupine Tree began as teenage fiction before unintentionally evolving into a reality that encompassed Grammy-nominated records and sold-out shows around the world, before he set out for an even more successful solo career.
Part the story of a twenty-first century artist who achieved chart-topping mainstream success without ever becoming part of the mainstream. From Abba to Stockhausen, via a collection of conversations and thought pieces on the art of listening, the rules of collaboration, lists of lists, personal stories, professional adventurism (including food, film, TV, modern art), old school rock stardom, how to negotiate an obsessive fanbase and survive on social media, and dream-fever storytelling.
369 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 7, 2022
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53 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 8, 2022
I 'discovered' Steven Wilson by total chance. I was into Dream Theatre at the time, and I asked youtube music to play a radio station based on a song by DT. I guess the 'algorithm' was playing progressive rock and a track from 'The Sky Moves Sideways' was played. I loved it immediately! I then started going down the rabbit hole of all SW and I have now collected all (but one) PT and SW albums.
What I like about Steven Wilson is his uncompromising integrity. He speaks about that in this book, which I'd say is 'for fans only.' (He also discusses the concept of 'music fan' in the book). He poses the 'artist dilemma' between doing what the fans want and expect, or doing what you want (artistic freedom). Of course he is an artist that does whatever he wants, whenever he wants, with whomever he wants. And that is what makes it great. Every album of his (except maybe the PT albums, where he found 'a sound' as he discusses in the book) is a new Steen Wilson. I do appreciate an artist who is willing to take risks and publish whatever he wants despite of what people want. Interestingly so, and as an example of this, take 'In Absentia,' one of PT's most acclaimed albums: it was a total failure at the time! He discusses this album in great detail in chapter 18, and according to that (and to this documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Eoq-...), it's clear this is SW's favorite PT album.
In page 243, he ranks his 10 favorite albums of his own catalogue:
1. PT In Absentia
2. PT Fear of a Blank Planet
3. PT C/C
4. SW Insurgentes
5. SW Hand. Cannot. Erase
6. SW The Future Bites
7. Bass Communion, Ghosts on Magnetic Tape
8. Storm Corrosion, Storm Corrosion
9. No-Man, Together We're Stranger
10. No-Man, Schoolyard Ghosts
11. SW, The Harmony Codex (2023).
The list is called '10 Favorite Albums of My Own,' but Steve includes 11, with the addition of this 'new' Steven Wilson album I have not heard anything yet. (This review is written Nov 2022, and Steven Wilson 4CD Box Set 'Intrigue-Progressive Sounds in UK Alternative Music 1979-89' -releasing date 2/10/23- has just been announced).
As a side note to the above list, SW has some very rash words for 'The Raven,' ranking it as a kind of a mediocre album. He basically claims it was a very predictable album as it repeats cliches of progressive rock music that have been overly used. I think this is quite interesting, because for me (and most fans) 'The Raven' is among the best stuff he's put out in his own catalogue. But the piece of his work he is more harsh about is 'The Incident,' which he criticizes as an album done kind of to get through the motions, an album put together by assembling little pieces of material he had at the time. It is a very good album in my view, and that of many fans. But Wilson goes as far as to admit that the criticism his song 'Time Flies' as being a copy cat of Pink Floyd 'Animals' is deserved because has as he admits, it is 'true,' and that is what hurts him the most. The book actually starts with Wilson speaking about 'The Incident' and the one and only Royal Albert Hall performance PT had at the tour, a performance he said he did not enjoy a bit, and one in which he realized PT was over.
In the book he discusses how he is an obsesses person when it comes to lists, and he publishes other list, some more interesting than others (TV shows, record stores, best songs in music history, books -he loves Joyce's Dubliners, great call here!)
The book also presents some personal aspects of Steven Wilson, most interestingly his father (a music engineer gig), and his wife, who he met she was 18, but who he married after she was married to someone else for 15 years and had two children with. Steven Wilson proudly discusses his role as a step father, and that is a good, unknown side of him we get to learn by reading this book.
Steven Wilson admits he is not a very good musician (I disagree, though!), this meaning he is not a virtuoso by any means, nor he even knows the difference in engineering as it applies to instruments, amps, etc. Despite of this, I would have appreciated a chapter where he tells the reader how he learned to play music (he kind of tells us how he started playing the piano, but not in depth), especially guitar, because IMHO, he is a very accomplished guitar player.
In conclusion, this is a book that will probably appeal to Porcupine Tree/Steven Wilson fans (like me), but I doubt other music aficionados may be interested in reading. Regardless, if you are someone who grew up in the 60s, 70s or 80s, you may be for a good treat in reading this book.
What I like about Steven Wilson is his uncompromising integrity. He speaks about that in this book, which I'd say is 'for fans only.' (He also discusses the concept of 'music fan' in the book). He poses the 'artist dilemma' between doing what the fans want and expect, or doing what you want (artistic freedom). Of course he is an artist that does whatever he wants, whenever he wants, with whomever he wants. And that is what makes it great. Every album of his (except maybe the PT albums, where he found 'a sound' as he discusses in the book) is a new Steen Wilson. I do appreciate an artist who is willing to take risks and publish whatever he wants despite of what people want. Interestingly so, and as an example of this, take 'In Absentia,' one of PT's most acclaimed albums: it was a total failure at the time! He discusses this album in great detail in chapter 18, and according to that (and to this documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Eoq-...), it's clear this is SW's favorite PT album.
In page 243, he ranks his 10 favorite albums of his own catalogue:
1. PT In Absentia
2. PT Fear of a Blank Planet
3. PT C/C
4. SW Insurgentes
5. SW Hand. Cannot. Erase
6. SW The Future Bites
7. Bass Communion, Ghosts on Magnetic Tape
8. Storm Corrosion, Storm Corrosion
9. No-Man, Together We're Stranger
10. No-Man, Schoolyard Ghosts
11. SW, The Harmony Codex (2023).
The list is called '10 Favorite Albums of My Own,' but Steve includes 11, with the addition of this 'new' Steven Wilson album I have not heard anything yet. (This review is written Nov 2022, and Steven Wilson 4CD Box Set 'Intrigue-Progressive Sounds in UK Alternative Music 1979-89' -releasing date 2/10/23- has just been announced).
As a side note to the above list, SW has some very rash words for 'The Raven,' ranking it as a kind of a mediocre album. He basically claims it was a very predictable album as it repeats cliches of progressive rock music that have been overly used. I think this is quite interesting, because for me (and most fans) 'The Raven' is among the best stuff he's put out in his own catalogue. But the piece of his work he is more harsh about is 'The Incident,' which he criticizes as an album done kind of to get through the motions, an album put together by assembling little pieces of material he had at the time. It is a very good album in my view, and that of many fans. But Wilson goes as far as to admit that the criticism his song 'Time Flies' as being a copy cat of Pink Floyd 'Animals' is deserved because has as he admits, it is 'true,' and that is what hurts him the most. The book actually starts with Wilson speaking about 'The Incident' and the one and only Royal Albert Hall performance PT had at the tour, a performance he said he did not enjoy a bit, and one in which he realized PT was over.
In the book he discusses how he is an obsesses person when it comes to lists, and he publishes other list, some more interesting than others (TV shows, record stores, best songs in music history, books -he loves Joyce's Dubliners, great call here!)
The book also presents some personal aspects of Steven Wilson, most interestingly his father (a music engineer gig), and his wife, who he met she was 18, but who he married after she was married to someone else for 15 years and had two children with. Steven Wilson proudly discusses his role as a step father, and that is a good, unknown side of him we get to learn by reading this book.
Steven Wilson admits he is not a very good musician (I disagree, though!), this meaning he is not a virtuoso by any means, nor he even knows the difference in engineering as it applies to instruments, amps, etc. Despite of this, I would have appreciated a chapter where he tells the reader how he learned to play music (he kind of tells us how he started playing the piano, but not in depth), especially guitar, because IMHO, he is a very accomplished guitar player.
In conclusion, this is a book that will probably appeal to Porcupine Tree/Steven Wilson fans (like me), but I doubt other music aficionados may be interested in reading. Regardless, if you are someone who grew up in the 60s, 70s or 80s, you may be for a good treat in reading this book.
August 27, 2022
Great artist, producer and performer. Dull book. The idea of trying to reinvent the biography is great but a lot of the time for me it is self-indulgence. Of all music biographies read (and I’ve read a lot), this one is rather weak. You learn almost nothing new of his creative process.
Hopefully Martin Popoff writes a book about him, because this one does not do the job.
Only for the fanboys and girls who adore each fart of this artist. Mr Wilson deserves better than this.
Hopefully Martin Popoff writes a book about him, because this one does not do the job.
Only for the fanboys and girls who adore each fart of this artist. Mr Wilson deserves better than this.
June 21, 2022
4.75 stars, rounded up.
Autobiographies are interesting to try to rate. Who could know more about the subject matter than the author himself, who, presumably, has communicated exactly what he wanted to say? How, then, can an autobiography be rated anything less than five stars? I'm honestly not sure. I've taken off .25 stars only because I reserve a perfect 5 stars for works that are life-changing (and while this book is interesting and enlightening, I expect my life will go on the same way it always has).
The quality of the writing is very good; Steven Wilson is obviously an intelligent man, and the cameos from Mick Wall reveal him to be an incisive and thoughtful writing partner who no doubt coaxed the very best out of Wilson. The short story near the very end is especially evocative, and brings to mind an entry on the SCP Foundation wiki, albeit far more lyrical.
As an amateur musician, I've spent years discovering my personal style when it comes to songwriting. Sometimes I listen to a piece of music for the first time and am delighted by the way it unfolds, because the choices the songwriter made feel like the same choices I would have made if the song were mine: a chord progression that goes exactly where I'd hoped it would, or a melody that just clicks. Steven Wilson's music, both solo and as Porcupine Tree, often gives me that sensation. I found it interesting that as I listened to the audiobook, I found that the modalities in which Wilson seems to think (though not his experiences or opinions, which of course are very different) give me that same sensation. "Oh? That's how it is for me, too." It's a banal observation, but celebrities are people too. Who'd have thunk it. Not that I'll ever get the chance, but I feel like we'd get along if we ever had the chance to chat.
Looking forward very much to seeing Porcupine Tree live in September.
Autobiographies are interesting to try to rate. Who could know more about the subject matter than the author himself, who, presumably, has communicated exactly what he wanted to say? How, then, can an autobiography be rated anything less than five stars? I'm honestly not sure. I've taken off .25 stars only because I reserve a perfect 5 stars for works that are life-changing (and while this book is interesting and enlightening, I expect my life will go on the same way it always has).
The quality of the writing is very good; Steven Wilson is obviously an intelligent man, and the cameos from Mick Wall reveal him to be an incisive and thoughtful writing partner who no doubt coaxed the very best out of Wilson. The short story near the very end is especially evocative, and brings to mind an entry on the SCP Foundation wiki, albeit far more lyrical.
As an amateur musician, I've spent years discovering my personal style when it comes to songwriting. Sometimes I listen to a piece of music for the first time and am delighted by the way it unfolds, because the choices the songwriter made feel like the same choices I would have made if the song were mine: a chord progression that goes exactly where I'd hoped it would, or a melody that just clicks. Steven Wilson's music, both solo and as Porcupine Tree, often gives me that sensation. I found it interesting that as I listened to the audiobook, I found that the modalities in which Wilson seems to think (though not his experiences or opinions, which of course are very different) give me that same sensation. "Oh? That's how it is for me, too." It's a banal observation, but celebrities are people too. Who'd have thunk it. Not that I'll ever get the chance, but I feel like we'd get along if we ever had the chance to chat.
Looking forward very much to seeing Porcupine Tree live in September.
September 23, 2023
I love his music but most of this was dull to the point of being unreadable. Exceptions were the details of the origins of Porcupine Tree and some of the later chapters about In Absentia, his solo career and the Porcupine Tree reunion. The short story at the end (presumably the concept for his new album) was not my cup of tea either.
March 15, 2024
Steven Wilson eschews the typical memoir in favor of a detailed look at his thought process around music, the artists that influenced him, the way the industry's changed, how his career has evolved, and much more. It gets a bit pontifical in parts, but if you enjoy his music, it's definitely worth a read.
May 15, 2022
For Steven Wilson fans
Lovely book. Sheds light on the opinion of one man and he may not care if you agree. Thanks Steven.
Lovely book. Sheds light on the opinion of one man and he may not care if you agree. Thanks Steven.
January 22, 2023
you can read my full review on my blog here :-) https://deadletteroffices.substack.co...
January 21, 2023
A Fascinating Musician
An atypical musician's story. Not one single cliche to be found. An excellent read about a very talented and humble man.
An atypical musician's story. Not one single cliche to be found. An excellent read about a very talented and humble man.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews