Steven Wilson is arguably the most important figure in 21st-century progressive rock — a songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer whose solo work spans intricate prog epics, aching balladry, electronic pop and cinematic soundscapes. After founding Porcupine Tree, he launched a solo career in 2008 that has grown into one of modern prog’s defining bodies of work. Here is our fellow fan’s ranking of his finest solo songs.

The short version

If you only hear a few, make them “Routine”, “The Raven That Refused to Sing”, “Luminol” and “Drive Home” — the devastating emotional heart of Hand. Cannot. Erase., the ghostly ballad he once called his best song, the dazzling jazz-prog opener of The Raven, and its beloved, heartbreaking single. The full ranking is below.

Prog’s modern renaissance man

After two decades leading Porcupine Tree and projects like No-Man and Blackfield, Steven Wilson began releasing music under his own name in 2008. His solo albums move restlessly across styles — the dark experiments of Insurgentes and Grace for Drowning, the classic-prog peak of The Raven That Refused to Sing, the emotional concept album Hand. Cannot. Erase., and the pop-leaning The Future Bites — always built on his gift for melody, atmosphere and immaculate production. Backed over the years by virtuosos like Guthrie Govan, Marco Minnemann, Nick Beggs and Adam Holzman, he has become the standard-bearer for modern progressive music. These fifteen songs are the best of his solo catalogue.

How we ranked them

This is one fan’s order, weighing melody, ambition, musicianship and lasting impact. The facts are accurate; the order is a starting point for the debate.

The essential six

At the very top sits “Routine” (2015), the shattering emotional centre of Hand. Cannot. Erase., matched to one of the most moving music videos in prog. With it: “The Raven That Refused to Sing” (2013), the ghostly ballad Wilson has called the best song he ever wrote; “Luminol” (2013), the dazzling, jazz-tinged opener of The Raven; “Ancestral” (2015), a dark, sprawling Hand. Cannot. Erase. epic featuring Ninet Tayeb; “Drive Home” (2013), a beautiful, heartbreaking single; and “Deform to Form a Star” (2011), a soaring highlight of Grace for Drowning.

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Reliably great

The next tier is essential too. “Happy Returns” (2015) closes Hand. Cannot. Erase. with quiet devastation; “Pariah” (2017) pairs Wilson with Ninet Tayeb for a slow-building triumph; “The Watchmaker” (2013) is an intricate, dynamic Raven epic; “Personal Shopper” (2021) is a wry, disco-tinged The Future Bites centrepiece; and “Impossible Tightrope” (2023) is a thrilling instrumental tour de force from The Harmony Codex.

Deeper cuts

For the dedicated, these reward repeat listens. “Harmony Korine” (2008) is the driving signature of his debut Insurgentes; “Permanating” (2017) is an unabashed, ELO-style pop gem; “Raider II” (2011) is the twenty-three-minute avant-prog monster at the heart of Grace for Drowning; and “Objects Outlive Us” (2025) is the sweeping, cosmic epic that opens his return-to-prog album The Overview.

Every song at a glance

All fifteen songs, in chronological order — each linked to the album it comes from, so you can hear it in context.

Where to start

Begin with the two towering albums, the prog masterpiece The Raven That Refused to Sing (2013) and the emotional concept album Hand. Cannot. Erase. (2015). From there, Grace for Drowning (2011) shows his darker, experimental side, To the Bone (2017) his love of progressive pop, and The Harmony Codex (2023) and The Overview (2025) his ongoing evolution.

The players

Steven Wilson writes, produces and plays much of his music himself, but his solo albums are lifted by an extraordinary cast of collaborators. His touring and recording band has featured guitar virtuoso Guthrie Govan, drummers Marco Minnemann and Craig Blundell, bassist and Chapman Stick player Nick Beggs, keyboardist Adam Holzman and multi-reedist Theo Travis, while Israeli singer Ninet Tayeb has become a key vocal foil on his most powerful tracks. Wilson is also one of the most in-demand mixing engineers in music, having remixed classic albums by King Crimson, Yes, Jethro Tull and many more.

Why they still matter

More than anyone, Steven Wilson has kept ambitious, album-length progressive music alive and relevant in the 21st century, reaching new audiences without diluting his vision. His solo work bridges the classic prog he grew up on and the electronic, pop and cinematic sounds of the present, and his influence — as artist, producer and remixer — runs through much of modern progressive rock, from bands like Haken to the wider scene. For newcomers and lifelong fans alike, his catalogue is one of the richest in contemporary music.

Go deeper

Keep exploring: rank his records with our guide to the best Steven Wilson albums, or place him in the bigger picture with the best progressive rock songs of all time.

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