Grace for Drowning
Steven Wilson · 2011
83 min · 12 tracks · alternative rock
A sprawling sonic journey blending progressive rock with haunting melodies and intricate arrangements that evoke deep emotional landscapes.
Top tracks — play these first
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Grace for Drowning Start here — establishes the sonic palette early
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Sectarian — This track combines heavy instrumentation with poignant lyrics about division, making it a standout exploration of societal themes within the album's context.
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Raider II — As the album's longest track, it encapsulates Wilson's progressive rock ambitions with its multifaceted structure and dynamic shifts, showcasing his compositional prowess.
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Deform to Form a Star — This song features rich textures and emotional resonance, reflecting the album's overarching themes of transformation and self-discovery in a deeply personal way.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases intricate compositions and strong thematic continuity, making it a notable entry in progressive rock.
What we noticed
- The album features multiple extended tracks, with several exceeding six minutes, allowing for intricate musical developments and shifts in dynamics.
- Each track often transitions seamlessly into the next, creating a continuous flow that enhances the thematic cohesion of the album.
- Composition 25% of the score
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8/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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7/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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8/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- long, immersive listening sessions
- dynamic emotional journeys
- gradual builds and payoffs
- atmospheric background focus
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Critical Peak — Showcases Wilson's artistic evolution and received critical acclaim for its ambition.
- Career context
- Grace for Drowning is Steven Wilson's second solo studio album, following his successful debut, Insurgentes. Released in 2011, it showcases his artistic evolution post-Porcupine Tree and explores themes of loss and introspection at a time when Wilson was solidifying his position as a prominent figure in progressive music.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Porcupine Tree· Opeth· Anathema
Tracklist
Disc 1
- 1 Grace for Drowning Start here 2:05
- 2 Sectarian 7:41
- 3 Deform to Form a Star 7:50
- 4 No Part of Me 5:44
- 5 Postcard 4:28
- 6 Raider Prelude 2:23
- 7 Remainder the Black Dog 9:26
Disc 2
- 1 Belle de jour 2:59
- 2 Index 4:48
- 3 Track One 4:15
- 4 Raider II 23:21
- 5 Like Dust I Have Cleared From My Eye 8:01
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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