The Future Bites

The album deals with "two recurring themes" of Wilson's musical output, identity and technology, with a press release noting that it "picks apart our 21st century utopia, while also allowing for moments of personal growth and optimism".{{cite web|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/news/steven-wilson-announces-new-album-the-future-bites|title=Steven Wilson Announces New Album 'The Future Bites'|work=Clash|last=Murray|first=Robin|date=12 March 2020|accessdate=13 March 2020}} It was also called "less a bleak vision of an approaching dystopia, more a curious reading of the here and now", and lead single "Personal Shopper" was noted to expand on the electronic elements of Wilson's previous work, "fully diving into dance and neo-disco while somehow keeping a rock edge".{{cite web|url=https://loudwire.com/steven-wilson-personal-shopper-new-album/|title=Steven Wilson Releases Futuristic Song 'Personal Shopper'|work=Loudwire|last=Hartman|first=Graham|date=12 March 2020|accessdate=13 March 2020}}

The marketing campaign of the album is based around The Future Bites, a fictional high end designer brand primarily inspired by Off-White, Supreme and Virgil Abloh.{{Cite web|last=April 2020|first=Scott Munro22|title=Steven Wilson's new album The Future Bites delayed until 2021|url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/steven-wilsons-new-album-the-future-bites-delayed-until-2021|access-date=2020-12-23|website=Prog Magazine|date=22 April 2020|language=en}} The Future Bites also has its own website and social media profiles, including an online store that acts as both a storefront for the album's various editions and fake products supposedly created by the brand.{{Cite web|title=THE FUTURE BITES™|url=https://thefuturebites.com/|access-date=2020-12-23|website=The Future Bites|language=en-US}}

Wilson has released several promotional videos that feature The Future Bites and there is a loose narrative concept that spans multiple timeframes.{{Cite web|last=September 2020|first=Prog22|title=Steven Wilson goes retro pop on his new single Eminent Sleaze|url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/steven-wilson-goes-retro-pop-on-his-new-single-eminent-sleaze|access-date=2020-12-23|website=Prog Magazine|date=22 September 2020|language=en}}

For example, the music video for "Eminent Sleaze" depicts a post-apocalyptic dystopian future in the year 2032 where The Future Bites have become the world's largest global corporation and through excessive consumerism cause the earth's population to rapidly decline.{{Cite web|title=Steven Wilson – EMINENT SLEAZE (Official Video) - YouTube|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUKmOkrcMig&feature=youtu.be|access-date=2020-12-23|via=YouTube}} The Black Mirror inspired music video for "Personal Shopper" is set in a present-day shopping mall and features a dark narrative twist - in order to purchase products in the shopping mall, the consumer must sacrifice a body part that corresponds to the product they are buying. Director Lucrecia Taormina said of the concept for the video that she "wanted to create a fictional world in which people buy goods and the transaction would not only be money but also a part of their body, alluding to the concept of the more you look for answers outside, the more you disappear on the inside."{{Cite web|title=Steven Wilson - PERSONAL SHOPPER (Official Video) - YouTube|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sX22dFMSNcg|access-date=2020-12-23|via=YouTube}}

A music video for "Self", released on 1 February 2021, makes use of deepfake imagery to transform Steven Wilson into Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Mark Zuckerberg, David Bowie, Harrison Ford, Paul McCartney, Daniel Radcliffe, and many more notable public figures.{{Cite web|last=February 2021|first=Jerry Ewing01|title=Steven Wilson releases disturbing deepfake video for Self|url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/steven-wilson-releases-distrubing-deep-fake-video-for-self|access-date=2021-02-01|website=Prog Magazine|date=February 2021|language=en}}

{{Album ratings

| MC = 74/100{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/the-future-bites/steven-wilson |title=Reviews and Tracks for The Future Bites by Steven Wilson |work=Metacritic |access-date=13 March 2021}}

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite web |first=Thom |last=Jurek |title=The Future Bites – Steven Wilson |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-future-bites-mw0003369639 |publisher=AllMusic |date=30 January 2021 |access-date=31 January 2021}}

| rev2 = American Songwriter

| rev2score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite web |first=Hol |last=Horowitz |title=Review: Steven Wilson Entertains and Challenges on Powerful New Album, 'The Future Bites' |url=https://americansongwriter.com/steven-wilson-entertains-and-challenges-on-powerful-new-album-the-future-bites/ |work=American Songwriter |date=27 January 2021 |access-date=29 January 2021}}

| rev3 = Classic Rock

| rev3score = {{rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web |first=Emma |last=Johnston |title=Review: It's Steven Wilson Versus Jeff Bezos on The Future Bites |url=https://www.loudersound.com/reviews/its-steven-wilson-versus-jeff-bezos-on-the-future-bites |work=Classic Rock |via=Loudersound |date=29 January 2021 |access-date=29 January 2021}}

| rev4 = The Guardian

| rev4score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite web |first=Dave|last=Simpson |title=Steven Wilson: The Future Bites Review – Prog-Popper Probes the Future |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/jan/29/steven-wilson-the-future-bites-review-prog-popper-probes-the-future |work=The Guardian |date=29 January 2021 |access-date=29 January 2021}}

| rev5 = Kerrang!

| rev5score = 3/5{{cite web |first=James |last=Hickie |title=Album Review: Steven Wilson – The Future Bites |url=https://www.kerrang.com/reviews/album-review-steven-wilson-the-future-bites/ |work=Kerrang! |date=28 January 2021 |access-date=29 January 2021}}

| rev6 = PopMatters

| rev6score = {{rating|8|10}}{{cite web |first=Jordan |last=Blum |title=Review: Steven Wilson Goes Electronic on 'The Future Bites' |url=https://www.popmatters.com/steven-wilson-future-bites-review-2650130927.html |website=PopMatters |date=26 January 2021 |access-date=29 January 2021}}

| rev7 = [https://www.progradio.com Prog Radio]

| rev7score = {{rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web |first=Prog |last=Yak |title=Prog Radio Album Review: Steven Wilson - The Future Bites |url=https://www.progradio.com/reviews/The-Future-Bites |date=29 January 2021 |access-date=29 January 2021}}

| rev8 = Slant Magazine

| rev8score = {{rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web |first=Brian |last=Theobald |title=Review: Review: Steven Wilson's The Future Bites Paints a Pop-Friendly Dystopia |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review-steven-wilson-the-future-bites-paints-a-pop-friendly-dystopia/ |website=Slant Magazine |date=19 January 2021 |access-date=29 January 2021}}

| rev9 = Sputnikmusic

| rev9score = 2.8/5{{cite web |first=Benjamin |last=Kuettel |title=Review: Steven Wilson – The Future Bites |url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/82746/Steven-Wilson-The-Future-Bites/ |website=Sputnikmusic |date=27 January 2021 |access-date=29 January 2021}}

}}

The Future Bites was met with "generally favorable" reviews from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, this release received an average score of 74 based on 13 reviews.

Mojo awarded the album 4 out of 5 and described it as "a great grown up pop record", opining that "(Wilson’s) solo work has seen him embracing dance, electronica and pop, and becoming all the better for it." Uncut awarded the album 8 out of 10, noting its "beautifully falsetto-iced vocal hooks" and "maverick meta pop". Classic Rock gave the album 9 out of 10, "Wilson has never before packed such a rollercoaster ride into a single album...Another triumph", and Rocks Magazine in Germany commented "Unpredictability remains Wilson’s credo" whilst rating the album 8 out of 10.{{Cite web|date=2020-12-15|title=First reviews come in for The Future Bites|url=http://stevenwilsonhq.com/sw/first-reviews-come-in-for-the-future-bites/|access-date=2020-12-15|website=Steven Wilson|language=en-US}}

Initial announcements featured a slightly different track listing with "Man of the People" and "Personal Shopper" swapping places and "Anyone But Me" being the final track before the song was removed, and replaced with "Count of Unease".{{cite web|url=http://stevenwilsonhq.com/sw/new-sw-album-the-future-bites-out-12th-june-2020/|title=New SW Album 'The Future Bites' Out 12th June 2020|website=Steven Wilson Headquarters|last=Wilson|first=Steven|date=12 March 2020|accessdate=18 November 2020}} The song "Anyone But Me" was later released as a standalone single. The limited edition deluxe box set features an additional CD with 10 bonus tracks, including six unused songs from the album recording sessions.{{Cite web|title=The Future Bites Deluxe (Ltd Edition)|url=https://burningshed.com/steven-wilson_the-future-bites-deluxe_boxset|access-date=2021-01-23|website=burningshed.com}}

{{Track listing

| headline = The Future Bites track listing

| all_writing = Steven Wilson and stylised in upper case.

| title1 = Unself

| length1 = 1:05

| title2 = Self

| length2 = 2:55

| title3 = King Ghost

| length3 = 4:06

| title4 = 12 Things I Forgot

| length4 = 4:42

| title5 = Eminent Sleaze

| length5 = 3:52

| title7 = Personal Shopper

| length7 = 9:49

| title6 = Man of the People

| length6 = 4:41

| title8 = Follower

| length8 = 4:39

| title9 = Count of Unease

| length9 = 6:08

| total_length = 41:59

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Limited edition deluxe box set – bonus content track listing

| title1 = Personal Shopper

| note1 = extended remix

| length1 = 19:45

| title2 = Unself

| note2 = long version

| length2 = 2:46

| title3 = Ha Bloody Ha

| length3 = 5:07

| title4 = Move Like a Fever

| length4 = 4:45

| title5 = King Ghost

| note5 = extended remix

| length5 = 8:29

| title7 = Wave the White Flag

| length7 = 4:33

| title6 = I Am Cliche

| length6 = 2:55

| title8 = Eminent Sleaze

| note8 = extended remix

| length8 = 8:16

| title9 = In Pieces

| length9 = 4:04

| title10 = Every Kingdom Falls

| length10 = 4:07

| total_length = 64:47

| all_writing =

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = The B-Sides Collection track listing

| title1 = Eyewitness

| length1 = 5:19

| title2 = In Floral Green

| note2 = Lonely Robot cover

| length2 = 5:33

| title3 = Move Like a Fever

| note3 = Alternate version

| length3 = 6:14

| title4 = King Ghost

| note4 = Tangerine Dream Remix

| length4 = 9:23

| total_length = 26:29

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Ultra deluxe edition (one-sided 7-inch single) track listing

| title1 = The Tastemaker

| length1 = 2:17

}}

Adapted from Discogs.{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Steven-Wilson-The-Future-Bites/release/17158993|title = Steven Wilson – the Future Bites (2021, Vinyl)|website = Discogs| date=29 January 2021 }}

Performers

• Steven Wilson – vocals, guitars, keyboards, sampler, bass, percussion, programming
• David Kosten - programming, synthesizers, drone on "Count of Unease"
• Michael Spearman – drums, percussion
• Nick Beggs – bass guitar on "Personal Shopper", stick on "Eminent Sleaze"
• Adam Holzman – keyboards on "Eminent Sleaze" and "Follower"
• Richard Barbieri – synthesizers on "Self"
• Jason Cooper - cymbals and percussion on "King Ghost"
• Blaine Harrison, Jack Flanagan - backing vocals on "12 Things I Forgot"
• Elton John – spoken word on "Personal Shopper"
• Bobbie Gordon, Crystal Williams, Wendy Harriott, Fyfe Dangerfield, Rou Reynolds, Rotem Wilson – background vocals
• The London Session Orchestra on "Eminent Sleaze"

Additional personnel

• David Kosten – producer, programming, mixing, engineering
• Andrew Hobbs – album cover photography
• Simon Moore – art direction

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Category:2021 albums

Category:Steven Wilson albums

Category:Caroline Records albums

Category:Albums produced by Faultline (musician)

Category:Albums produced by Steven Wilson

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