Hand.Cannot.Erase.
by Steven Wilson
  • Record Label: Kscope
  • Release Date: Mar 3, 2015
User Score
8.8

Universal acclaim- based on 161 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 147 out of 161
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 161
  3. Negative: 11 out of 161
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  1. Noiseblock
    Mar 16, 2015
    8
    Hand.Cannot.Erase is one of those singer-songwriter albums that manages to suck you in right in the first moment and doesn´t lose its grip after multiple listenings, just like every Porcupine Tree/ Steven Wilson album before it. Steven Wilson once again created another typical Porcupine Tree/ Steven Wilson album album centered around the favourite Porcupine Tree/Steven Wilson topics:Hand.Cannot.Erase is one of those singer-songwriter albums that manages to suck you in right in the first moment and doesn´t lose its grip after multiple listenings, just like every Porcupine Tree/ Steven Wilson album before it. Steven Wilson once again created another typical Porcupine Tree/ Steven Wilson album album centered around the favourite Porcupine Tree/Steven Wilson topics: death,technology, fear, isolation and preliminary isolation in our modern society. By now, I guess you understand what I´m trying to say...
    However good his songwriting on Hand.Cannot.Erase might be, Steven Wilson really seems to be treading water. He has said so many things about these topics by now that I would wish he would deal with some other things from time to time. For though Hand.Cannot.Erase is outstanding in terms of songwriting in every possible way, if you have been listening to his former efforts you may find it really hard to discover something new or at least some new approaches. It´s basically same-same on the highest level and if you´re content with that, Hand.Cannot.Erase may possibly be Wilson´s best album of the last few years (Porcupine Tree albums taken into account). However, if you hoped for some changes or experiments on the music, songwriting and guitar-play, you may actually be left a bit disappointed, since there really is almost no change in style. So I guess it all coheres with your expectations; if you wanted more of pure Steven Wilson-Songwriting, here you go. If you wanted a bit of dissociation from the former albums, you´ll be left disappointed to some extent...    … Expand
  2. black_dice94
    Mar 20, 2015
    10
    One of the best albums out this year! Steven Wilson has created something that he himself has never done before. Steven Wilson has showen his great gifted way to write and find a meaning about life and death. But I hope he and his previous bandmates from Porcupine Tree make one great album together one last time just something like this album! That would be great! Anyways, Great jobOne of the best albums out this year! Steven Wilson has created something that he himself has never done before. Steven Wilson has showen his great gifted way to write and find a meaning about life and death. But I hope he and his previous bandmates from Porcupine Tree make one great album together one last time just something like this album! That would be great! Anyways, Great job Steve!! Hope you the better!… Expand
  3. martinex
    Mar 21, 2015
    7
    In his review in Record Collector Steven kind of dismissed his association with Porcupine Tree which is strange because this record sounds like a watered down version of some of his their work together.
  4. Karthik7Nike
    Mar 6, 2015
    10
    And Yet again, Steven Wilson has outdone himself! The concept is sure to resonate with each and every individual feeling isolated in this age of technology. Astonishingly Brilliant Record! It is a Masterpiece of the highest order!!
  5. OhGrimOne
    Mar 6, 2015
    10
    Truly the best album to come out within the last five years. On this album Steven has successful created something which has the grandiosity of a film soundtrack, whilst retaining the beautiful melancholia his other work has been known for. The album contains some of his best lyrical work to date and really pulls on the heartstrings. As a concept it is one of the most cohesive records heTruly the best album to come out within the last five years. On this album Steven has successful created something which has the grandiosity of a film soundtrack, whilst retaining the beautiful melancholia his other work has been known for. The album contains some of his best lyrical work to date and really pulls on the heartstrings. As a concept it is one of the most cohesive records he has ever created.… Expand
  6. cyclonus
    Mar 7, 2015
    10
    This is one of those albums that truly leaves a mark on the listener. It's a fascinating journey filled with layers and subtleties that are not commonly found in music nowadays. Simply a masterpiece.
  7. hamos786
    Mar 13, 2015
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. A Masterpiece from Steven Wilson. It's been really long since I have listened to an album like this. Each and every song is just scintillating. The story of this album is amazing and with a touch of class by Steven Wilson, the whole album becomes Emphatic. Definitely, Hand.Cannot.Erase can never get erased off my head.… Expand
  8. leo00
    Mar 7, 2015
    10
    Hand. Cannot. Erase....what a magnificent, profound piece of art! It's an experience for all to live, the beauty beneath a story dealing with isolation, love, pain, sorrow and death, the art that lies in the forgotten epoch of music: the 70s, the 80s and the 90s. Since M83's last album (Hurry Up, We're Dreaming), I have never enjoyed so much of listening to an album in my entire life.
    As    Hand. Cannot. Erase....what a magnificent, profound piece of art! It's an experience for all to live, the beauty beneath a story dealing with isolation, love, pain, sorrow and death, the art that lies in the forgotten epoch of music: the 70s, the 80s and the 90s. Since M83's last album (Hurry Up, We're Dreaming), I have never enjoyed so much of listening to an album in my entire life.
    As always, Steven Wilson conceives and illustrates a zeitgeist of the grandiose and poignant sound of progressive rock, but there's something different in here: it's more introspective, more personal and more homemade. You can find plenty of influences in this piece of art: from King Crimson to Emerson, Palmer & Lake, going through the early Genesis's works and with the melancholia and dark atmosphere of Pink Floyd. These are melodies that will be only kept in our memories, as they're swept by the breeze.
    When we heard for the first time Perfect Life (on Youtube), many long-standing fans have doubted with this song, calling it poppy. But I think that, in my honest opinion, I was expecting this new direction. But I would not consider Hand. Cannot. Erase as a poppy album, but an anti-pop album: yes, we have some certain poppy moments, but they are beautifully blended with Wilson's musical signature.
    And the lyrics...they are mesmerizing and completely astonishing. And I dare to say they are a bit personal to me: some songs often talk about my life, MY LIFE. And that never happened to me before.

    Timeless masterpiece. This album will be remembered through years to come. And that is not a compliment; it is the truth.    … Expand
  9. SamuIndie
    Mar 5, 2015
    10
    Another incredible album by Steven Wilson. Master of masters. .
  10. MiguelFloyd96
    Mar 4, 2015
    10
    For the moment, the best album of the year, te music is perfect, and smart, in this album, Steven Wilson put the idea for TRTRTS, but more understandable.
  11. dalekbread
    Jun 9, 2015
    10
    This was a fantastic piece of art. It was amazing! Every single song on this album, whether it is heavy, experimental, or softer, it works exquisitely. This is, at least in my opinion, one of steven wilson's best works, EVER. And yes, better than In Abstenia and Fear of A Blank Planet. I cannot lie about that.
  12. PfenderStrat621
    Mar 12, 2015
    9
    Another great album from Steven Wilson with soulful and serious tone with a mixed bag of a lot of genres. He again, has prove himself as a songwriter with a concept and story full with an impressive and consistent tone mixing a lot of feelings. The only issue i had was with the presentation of the some parts, they were well done but they could have been better. Other than that this albumAnother great album from Steven Wilson with soulful and serious tone with a mixed bag of a lot of genres. He again, has prove himself as a songwriter with a concept and story full with an impressive and consistent tone mixing a lot of feelings. The only issue i had was with the presentation of the some parts, they were well done but they could have been better. Other than that this album is really great. I highly recommend it.… Expand
  13. fenderbrooks
    Oct 27, 2015
    10
    It's not very often that I write reviews, but this recording really merits attention. Even after six months, every time I play it I find myself totally immersed from the first song straight through to the final track.
    There are little sonic reminders of bands from the past: Yes, Dixie Dregs, Pink Floyd, Emerson Lake & Palmer, Supertramp...but this album is nothing like any of those bands    It's not very often that I write reviews, but this recording really merits attention. Even after six months, every time I play it I find myself totally immersed from the first song straight through to the final track.
    There are little sonic reminders of bands from the past: Yes, Dixie Dregs, Pink Floyd, Emerson Lake & Palmer, Supertramp...but this album is nothing like any of those bands ever released. It's all new, all interesting, nothing that feels dated or stale. Hand.Cannot.Erase remains one of my very favorite recordings of 2015. Give it a serious listen.

    My only complaint is very minor: some of the louder passages can overwhelm some of the softer passages, but that's easy to fix.    … Expand
  14. jake_gibbs
    Dec 22, 2015
    7
    Was unfamiliar with this artist, but picked this up due to high rankings. Album was eminently listenable and great musicianship. Took me back to my high school years when I had time to listen to full album side-length tracks.
  15. kenoalbumreview
    May 13, 2015
    9
    Residing in England, Steven Wilson is a multi-instrumentalist, better known as the mastermind behind the band Porcupine Tree, my second favorite band to Coheed and Cambria. Now in his third decade of music, Wilson has released many albums from many different bands, contributed to many more albums from other bands, and has even produced/mixed other bands’ albums. His fingerprints areResiding in England, Steven Wilson is a multi-instrumentalist, better known as the mastermind behind the band Porcupine Tree, my second favorite band to Coheed and Cambria. Now in his third decade of music, Wilson has released many albums from many different bands, contributed to many more albums from other bands, and has even produced/mixed other bands’ albums. His fingerprints are everywhere, and his popularity is apparent in the progressive rock scene, a fan base that has helped him be nominated four times for the Grammy Awards. Just today, Wilson has released his fourth solo album, a wonderful piece of music called “Hand. Cannot. Erase.” With support from Guthrie Govan on lead guitar, Nick Beggs on bass guitar, Adam Holzman on keyboard, and Marco Minnemann on drums/percussion, Ninet Tayeb on backing vocals, and Theo Travis on flute/saxophone, this album shows the culmination of Wilson’s entire work. Ranging from progressive rock, to electronic rock, to even moments of pop rock, “Hand. Cannot. Erase” is easily one of his best albums.

    Based loosely on the actual events of the tragic story of Joyce Carol Vincent (You can find her story on Wikipedia. I don’t want to retell that sad story), the concept behind this album is very touching, melancholic, and reflective. To summarize, the concept of the album revolves around a woman who lives a very isolated life in a large city. One day, she disappears from plain site, and is not noticed by any friends, family, or strangers. Each song tells another chapter in the story of the main character, and each song provides a launching point towards the next event on the album. The overall mood is very somber, almost depressing in a way, with moments of intensity depending on where you are at in the plot. I love reflecting on this album about my own life, and how sometimes we can ignore or even neglect others, whether strangers or acquaintances. Leave it to Steven Wilson to provide one of the most insightful and introspective albums of the year.

    The sound is much softer than his previous album “The Raven That Refused to Sing,” which was much more jazzy, much more progressive, and much harder than “Hand. Cannot. Erase.” Despite this change of sound, this album is much more relaxing and less erratic, almost mimicking the sound of albums made by his main band Porcupine Tree. The songs “Hand Cannot Erase” and “Perfect Life” are softer, using electronic sounds and clean guitar, which perfectly lead to the beginning of the next song “Routine.” This album is not entirely soft, though, as proven in the songs “Home Invasion,” “Regret #9,” and “Ancestral.” Wilson’s older solo work is evident in these songs, almost playing off similar rhythms in the song “Raider II” from his second release “Grace for Drowning.” The bass guitar and keyboards perfectly complement each other in the song “Home Invasion,” the bass guitar generating a very dirty, distorted sound while the keys lift things up with a 70’s-like sound a la Yes. Each instrument on this album peaks in different moments, which help the listener know when an instrument is being highlighted.

    It’s hard determining what of this album is my favorite. It comes down to Steven Wilson’s vocals (being one of my favorite singers and overall musicians) and Marco Minnemann’s drumbeats (being one of my favorite drummers). Wilson’s vocals are so iconic in the progressive rock scene, and has the ability to make me stop whatever I’m doing. Minnemann’s talent behind the drums has the same impact on me, and is perfectly evidenced in the song “3 Years Older.” I will have to call this a tie before I start rambling on either person. Nevertheless, “Hand. Cannot. Erase” has the perfect moments for those enjoying great vocals or awesome drum beats. It also contains some great moments of Beggs’ groovy bass lines (“3 Years Older”), Holzman’s jazzy keyboard solos “Regret #9”), and Govan’s elevated guitar solos (“Happy Returns”).

    Having seen him only once several years ago, I am heavily anticipating his Los Angeles show in June, as I’ll be there with my beautiful wife and attempt to make her a fan of them. I seriously cannot wait!    … Expand
  16. JuanLuisGG14
    Jun 3, 2018
    10
    Absolute genius album
    There aren't weak tracks here, there is an amazing mix of quality pop compositions, prog, a bit of metal,and even electronica!
    Writing is sublime, it is all united by a concept and a loose story, but it enough good to be enjoyed without the knowledge of it (unlike most concept albums). Atmospheres are outstanding, as it is one of Wilson's strong points. Best    Absolute genius album
    There aren't weak tracks here, there is an amazing mix of quality pop compositions, prog, a bit of metal,and even electronica!
    Writing is sublime, it is all united by a concept and a loose story, but it enough good to be enjoyed without the knowledge of it (unlike most concept albums).
    Atmospheres are outstanding, as it is one of Wilson's strong points.
    Best tracks: Three Years Older, Ancestral, Routine and Happy Returns    … Expand
  17. BlazinBlitzer
    May 6, 2016
    10
    Steven Wilson is my favorite artist of all time. I don't think anybody has quite composed or produced modern rock like he has, and by modern I mean the past 25 years. None of the albums on his discography are albums I would exactly call really bad, even if he's had some misguided ones like On the Sunday of Life or The Incident. To hear that, at the end of 2014, that he was going for a moreSteven Wilson is my favorite artist of all time. I don't think anybody has quite composed or produced modern rock like he has, and by modern I mean the past 25 years. None of the albums on his discography are albums I would exactly call really bad, even if he's had some misguided ones like On the Sunday of Life or The Incident. To hear that, at the end of 2014, that he was going for a more poppy, modern tone, I was somewhat skeptical of the new release. My expectations were blown away by every album I've listened to by him, though, so was I to be worried of Steven's newest album?

    No.

    This is the best album in Steven's catalog since Deadwing. I'm not joking. I was also someone who really, and I mean, REALLY liked Grace for Drowning. While that album had more legendary individual tracks, this album works better as an actual album. In fact, I think this is his third best album ever, an honor I totally didn't expect from this CD.

    Steven Wilson's story, or perhaps multiple stories all based around one concept, is based on and inspired by a case with a woman who died, but was never found after three years. The reason being that no one noticed she was gone for that entire time. Not her friends, family, community, or anyone. This album really hit me emotionally because this is something I think about everyday. One day, the universe will be dead, and that means our existence ultimately has no purpose. To have your name recognized and your contribution to be useful for the world to grow and progress in one way or another are what I think are the sole purposes to life. This album lives in that reality, but also connects to reality with us. That's why the concept of this album is so good.

    There isn't much I can say about the sound of the album. However, musically, Steven Wilson is almost unbeatable when at the helm, and this album is no exception. Guthrie Govan providing great melodies and chords when needed, and are set just right for the mood of the song, same goes for the extremely talented drummer, Marco Minneman. Vocals are good enough for recognition on the album, especially from Ninet Tayeb. Holzman at the keys is really talented, and provides key atmosphere to the album (pun halfway intended). Overall, just well composed and arranged to make the tracks work.

    There isn't a needless or bad moment on this album, at all. It's so hard nowadays to find an album capable of sheer flawlessness, but this album is the closest contender in a very long time. There are nitpicky things I can point out on the album but this album really doesn't deserve it, in my eyes. This is a true classic of the millenium.

    BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE: ROUTINE
    BEST GUITAR PERFORMANCE: HAPPY RETURNS
    BEST BASS PERFORMANCE: 3 YEARS OLDER
    BEST DRUM PERFORMANCE: HOME INVASION
    BEST KEYBOARD PERFORMANCE: REGRET #9

    Best Tracks:
    1. Routine
    2. Happy Returns
    3. 3 Years Older

    Worst Tracks:
    1...................................Perfect Life is my least favorite, but all are at least really good.    … Expand
  18. lordnaitsirk
    Jan 18, 2016
    10
    These kinds of albums don't come very often, a true timeless piece of art. Steven Wilsons current band consists of probably one of the best lineups ever... Marco Minneman, Guthrie Govan, Marco Minneman and Nick Beggs in the same band, adding to that SWs songwriting and mixing.. you cant go wrong. 10/10 even after listening to the album almost a year now.
  19. hesinberg
    Feb 15, 2019
    9
    this album is just simply brilliant in terms of musicianship and composition it really has diverse styles and genres of music , it really puts Steven Wilson as one of the best contemporary ,diverse songwriters and musician

Awards & Rankings

6
#6 Best Album of 2015
58
#58 Most Discussed Album of 2015

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
89

Universal acclaim - based on 8 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. No Ripcord
    Apr 22, 2015
    90
    Hand. Cannot. Erase. is an incredible addition to Wilson's body of work. Drawing from the simple and the complicated, progressive and pop, light and darkness, it proves that no force can erase his talent and standing as one of the best and most underrated musicians of today.
    Read full review
  2. PopMatters
    Mar 13, 2015
    80
    If we’re talking about Wilson in relation to his ability to piece together a meticulous concept, Hand. Cannot. Erase. is a definite winner. [Brice Ezell review]
    Read full review
  3. PopMatters
    Mar 13, 2015
    85
    With Hand. Cannot. Erase., Wilson has crafted another [flawed] masterpiece that won’t soon be forgotten. [Jordan Blum review]
    Read full review
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