2017 was a pivotal year. Vinyl sales surpassed digital downloads for the first time. Meanwhile, platforms like Qobuz and Tidal (then offering MQA) were fighting for the FLAC streaming market. To The Bone rode this wave perfectly.
Steven Wilson released the album in every possible format:
The Blu-ray remains the holy grail. Ripping that Blu-ray to FLAC gives you the highest available resolution. For a Wilson fan, owning the FLAC is not about piracy; it is about archival purity. FLAC files are future-proof. You can transcode them to any format without generational loss.
To The Bone is Wilson’s love letter to the progressive pop albums of his youth—records by Peter Gabriel, Talk Talk, and Kate Bush. These were albums that treated pop music with an art-rock sensibility. The tracks are shorter, the choruses are massive, but the intellectual weight remains.
The album opens with the title track, "To the Bone," a driving, aggressive opener that sets the stage. But it is the second track, "Nowhere Now," that signaled to fans that the rules had changed. It is a sleek, radio-friendly rock anthem with a soaring chorus that burying itself into the listener's brain instantly.
However, Wilson did not abandon his prog roots entirely. Tracks like "Detonation" and "The Same Asylum as Before" bridge the gap, offering complex rhythmic shifts and atmospheric textures that satisfy the die-hard Porcupine Tree fanbase while remaining accessible to newcomers.
Wilson is a pioneer of surround sound mixing. The Blu-ray edition of To The Bone includes a 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio mix. Ripping this to multi-channel FLAC (MLP) allows you to hear the album as an immersive experience—keyboard swells circling behind you, backing vocals isolated in rear channels. This is the definitive version for home theater setups.
Steven Wilson, renowned as a multi-instrumentalist, producer, and remastering engineer (having worked on King Crimson, Jethro Tull, and Yes), is a vocal advocate for high-fidelity audio. To the Bone is his fifth solo studio album, co-produced with Paul Stacey. Unlike the sprawling, metal-influenced Hand. Cannot. Erase. (2015), To the Bone embraces concise, hook-driven songs influenced by Peter Gabriel, Tears for Fears, and Kate Bush.
Wilson has publicly criticized the “Loudness War” – the practice of dynamically compressing music to maximize average volume at the expense of clarity. Thus, the mastering of To the Bone prioritizes dynamic range, making a lossless format like FLAC essential for full appreciation.
Steven Wilson - To The Bone -2017- -FLAC- is not just a file name—it is a commitment to musical integrity. Wilson himself has spoken out against the “loudness war” and the degradation of streaming codecs. He once noted in an interview: “I spend weeks on panning a single harmony vocal. When I hear it on a 128kbps stream, it’s like smearing a painting.”
By seeking out the FLAC version of To The Bone, you hear the ghost notes in the guitar solo of “Detonation,” the actual size of the room on the drum recordings, and the fragile, human tremor in Wilson’s voice during “Song of I.” In an era of convenience, FLAC demands intentionality—a better DAC, more storage, a hardwired connection. But for this album, that effort is rewarded with one of the finest-produced rock records of the 21st century.
Whether you are a longtime Porcupine Tree fan or a newcomer drawn by the pop hooks, do not settle for lossy. Find the FLAC. Turn off the lights. Turn up the volume. And let To The Bone reveal its true, uncompromised self.
Have you listened to To The Bone in FLAC? Share your favorite detail or production moment in the comments below. For more audiophile deep-dives into progressive rock and surround sound mixes, subscribe to our newsletter. Steven Wilson - To The Bone -2017- -FLAC-
Released on August 18, 2017, To The Bone is the fifth solo studio album by British musician Steven Wilson
. Moving away from the high-concept progressive rock of his previous works, Wilson described it as a "modernist pop record" inspired by the ambitious 80s art-pop of Peter Gabriel’s , Talk Talk’s The Colour of Spring , and Tears for Fears’ The Seeds of Love Musical Direction and Reception
The album represents a shift toward more accessible, song-focused structures rather than extended instrumental suites. While it retains Wilson’s signature layered production and darker themes, it is marked by catchy melodies and electronic textures.
Released on August 18, 2017, To the Bone is the fifth studio album from British musician Steven Wilson
. It marked a significant stylistic shift from his previous progressive rock masterpieces, like Hand. Cannot. Erase., toward a more accessible "modernist pop" sound inspired by 80s art-pop giants like Peter Gabriel, Kate Bush, and Tears for Fears. Album Overview & Technical Specs
The album was released through Caroline International in various high-fidelity formats, including a FLAC digital version often mastered at 96 kHz / 24-bit. Genre: Progressive Pop, Art Rock. Total Runtime: ~59:46.
Key Production: Produced by Steven Wilson and Paul Stacey; mixed by Wilson, Stacey, and Cenzo Townshend. Tracklist & Notable Highlights
The album features 11 tracks, balancing catchy melodies with Wilson's trademark complex arrangements: The Raven That Refused to Sing (And Other Stories)
The following overview details the technical and artistic specifications for Steven Wilson's 2017 progressive pop masterwork. Album Overview: To The Bone
Released on August 18, 2017, To The Bone marked a significant stylistic shift for Steven Wilson, moving toward a sophisticated, expansive "progressive pop" sound inspired by 80s icons like Peter Gabriel, Kate Bush, and Tears for Fears. Technical Specifications (FLAC) Artist: Steven Wilson Album: To The Bone Year: 2017 Format: FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec)
Sample Rate: Typically available in 44.1kHz/16-bit (CD Quality) or 96kHz/24-bit (High-Resolution)
Channels: Stereo (Note: 5.1 Surround mixes were also released as Blu-ray exclusives) Track Listing 2017 was a pivotal year
To the Bone (6:41) – Features a harmonica intro and sets the sociopolitical tone.
Nowhere Now (4:03) – An uplifting, cinematic track exploring themes of perspective.
Pariah (4:46) – A powerful duet with Ninet Tayeb focusing on isolation and empathy.
The Same Asylum as Before (5:14) – Notable for Wilson’s use of falsetto vocals.
Refuge (6:43) – A somber, building piece inspired by the refugee crisis.
Permanating (3:34) – An unashamedly joyous, ABBA-esque pop track.
Blank Tapes (2:08) – A short, haunting duet with Ninet Tayeb.
People Who Eat Darkness (4:51) – Driving, guitar-heavy track about hidden urban dangers.
Song of I (5:21) – An electronic-leaning, atmospheric exploration of obsession.
Detonation (9:19) – The album's longest piece, featuring complex guitar solos and rhythmic shifts.
Song of Unborn (5:55) – A lush, orchestral closing ballad. Critical Reception
The album was a major commercial success, reaching #3 on the UK Albums Chart. It was praised for its high production values and Wilson's ability to blend accessible melodies with complex, thought-provoking arrangements. The Blu-ray remains the holy grail
Released in August 2017, To The Bone is the fifth solo studio album by Steven Wilson. A major stylistic shift from his previous progressive rock works like Hand. Cannot. Erase., this album is a tribute to the ambitious progressive pop of the 1980s, drawing inspiration from artists like Peter Gabriel, Kate Bush, and Tears for Fears. Audio Specifications & FLAC Details
For audiophiles seeking the highest quality, the album is widely available in 24-bit / 96kHz FLAC format.
Stereo Mix: High-resolution 96/24 LPCM stereo is the standard for hi-res digital downloads.
Surround Sound: A 5.1 Surround Sound mix (96/24) was created by Wilson himself. While originally released on Blu-ray, multi-channel FLAC versions are available through high-resolution audio retailers and Wilson's own Headphone Dust platform.
Instrumentals: High-resolution instrumental versions of the entire album are available in the deluxe and Blu-ray editions.
Dynamic Range: The album is noted for maintaining a high dynamic range (DR10 average), avoiding the "loudness war" common in modern pop. Steven Wilson: The Future Bites - Tape Op
Released in 2017, To the Bone is the fifth solo studio album from British musician Steven Wilson
. Departing from the long-form progressive rock of its predecessor, Hand. Cannot. Erase.
, this record is Wilson's "hat-tip" to the ambitious, sophisticated progressive pop of the 1980s. Musical Style and High-Fidelity Sound For audiophiles seeking the album in or high-resolution formats, To the Bone
is a production masterclass. Wilson, renowned for his remixing work for legendary bands like King Crimson and Pink Floyd, co-produced the album with Paul Stacey
, aiming for a vibrant, organic sound that avoids modern "brick-walling". Steven Wilson: The Future Bites - Tape Op