Steven Wilson is, arguably, the central figure in modern progressive rock — a British singer, multi-instrumentalist and producer whose solo career has been one of the most ambitious of the era. Here is our fellow fan’s ranking of his solo albums.

The short version

For the heart of Steven Wilson’s solo work, start with Hand. Cannot. Erase., The Raven That Refused to Sing and Grace for Drowning — his two masterpieces and the sprawling album that pointed the way. The full ranking is below.

Modern prog’s central figure

A British singer, multi-instrumentalist and producer, Steven Wilson launched his solo career in 2008 and quickly became one of the most important voices in modern progressive rock. Best known as the leader of Porcupine Tree — and famous, too, as a remix engineer who has revived classic albums by King Crimson and many others — his solo records range from sweeping, classic-styled prog to glossy electronic pop, always immaculately produced and emotionally direct. His eighth solo album, The Overview, arrived in 2025; the seven ranked here are the records with full write-ups on the site, from his 2008 debut through 2023.

How we ranked them

This is one fan’s order, weighing songwriting, ambition and emotional pull — across an artist who deliberately reinvents himself from album to album, and whose pop-leaning records divide his audience. The facts are accurate; the order is a starting point for the debate.

The essential three

At the top sits Hand. Cannot. Erase. (2015), a deeply moving concept album about urban isolation and his most acclaimed solo record — the moment everything in his sound clicked into place. Just beside it comes The Raven That Refused to Sing (2013), his cinematic, classic-prog masterpiece, and Grace for Drowning (2011), the sprawling, jazz-tinged double album where his solo ambitions first opened right up.

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Reliably great

The next tier is excellent too. The Harmony Codex (2023) is a rich, expansive return to atmospheric prog after his pop detours, while his debut Insurgentes (2008) remains a dark, gorgeous, shoegaze-tinged statement of intent.

For completists

Two more albums show his restless, pop-leaning side. To the Bone (2017) embraces bright, accessible song-writing and divides fans, and The Future Bites (2021) pushes further into sleek electronic pop — his most polarising record, but a fascinating one. Both reward listeners who already know the prog peaks above.

A selection, in order

A selection of Steven Wilson’s solo albums, in chronological order — his proper solo studio records from 2008 to 2023, each with a full write-up here. Click through on any of them.

Where to start

Begin with Hand. Cannot. Erase. — his most celebrated solo album and a perfect entry point. From there, The Raven That Refused to Sing and Grace for Drowning show the full reach of his early solo run.

The artist

Steven Wilson is a singer, multi-instrumentalist and producer, and one of the busiest figures in modern music. Beyond his own bands — Porcupine Tree, No-Man, Blackfield and Storm Corrosion, his collaboration with Opeth’s Mikael Åkerfeldt — he is a celebrated mixing engineer who has remixed classic albums by King Crimson, Jethro Tull and Yes for a new generation. His solo work is where all his many sides come together most fully.

Why they still matter

Few artists have done more to keep progressive music alive and evolving in the twenty-first century than Steven Wilson. As bandleader, solo artist and producer, he has shaped the modern scene — his fingerprints are on Porcupine Tree, on the prog-metal of Opeth, and on a wave of younger acts like Riverside. Meticulous, ambitious and endlessly curious, he is modern prog’s defining figure.

Go deeper

Keep exploring: read about the best Steven Wilson songs. You can also place him in the bigger picture with our list of the best progressive rock albums of all time.

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