GET ALL YOU DESERVE

The deluxe edition of Steven Wilson's Get All You Deserve includes the entire two-hour Mexico City concert on a pair of CDs plus one DVD and one Blu-Ray. Originally issued only on video, the audio component is highly beneficial for fans for a couple of reasons. For starters, the recording quality is nothing short of stunning. Secondly, these 14 tracks are different versions of those found on a live CD sold only on the Grace for Drowning tour. Given how in-the-moment Wilson's performances can be, and the distinctive nature of shifting arrangements, it's a treat to compare differences between versions. The lineup here is comprised of woodwind/multi-instrumentalist Theo Travis, keyboardist Adam Holzman, bass and stick player Nick Beggs, and drummer Marco Minnemann. Guitarist Niko Tsonev, who replaced Catalog's Aziz Ibrahim, has since been replaced by Guthrie Govan. This is important because Wilson considers this his solo band -- his future recordings are written specifically for this group -- and the guitar chair was the only fluid part of the ensemble. While the entire show is a dazzling prog rock offering, there are some clear standouts. "Luminol" has a crunchy intro and knotty time signatures, while "Remainder the Black Dog" features a doomy, mysterious, acoustic piano intro by Holzman (a former Miles Davis sideman), who simply shines here, especially with his Rhodes playing. By the time the verses roll around, the guitars are already on the fringes, swooping in with effects before the entire band just cuts loose. "Raider II" is nearly half-an-hour in length, and here is where -- even given their relatively new status as a unit -- one can hear the depth of communication and the willingness to take chances in improvisation, harkening back to the heyday of progressive rock. The Blu-Ray video was shot in glorious full color, with some startling edits to capture the various musicians' contributions. The second disc in the batch is a road movie that is a bit more chaotic but well worth seeing once for behind the scenes footage. ~ Thom Jurek