By day, I'm a father of seven and husband of one. By night, I'm an author, a biographer, and a prog rocker. Interests: Rush, progressive rock, cultural criticisms, the Rocky Mountains, individual liberty, history, hiking, and science fiction.
The superduper deluxe outrageously long and gorgeous NEW GOLD DREAM.
Very recently, I had the privilege of reviewing the deluxe, super-box set of Simple Minds, NEW GOLD DREAM. I’ve loved this album for over thirty years, but this box set (which came out July 29th of this year) has really re-opened quite a bit for me. It’s opened much in terms of nostalgia, of course, as those days were rather innocent, but it also has served as a reminder of exactly how artful this band once was. That moment may have been brief, but it was immensely powerful.
Though everything in the new boxset is excellent, this is the song (this specific version) that really sticks out as a mark of genius. There’s quite a bit of SONS AND FASCINATION/SISTER FEELINGS CALL in this version. No bombast yet. No arena rock. No posturing.
Over at The Imaginative Conservative, I had a chance to write about one of the greatest novels of the past 100 years, The Watchmen. I realize this isn’t music related, but it is certainly prog! If you’re so interested, please check it out.
Quotes from everything in western culture from the Old Testament to William Blake to Bob Dylan litter the book, each more relevant than the last. And, the two creators of The Watchmen give not only an extensive background to their alternative 1985 but to the insights of the characters themselves. Indeed, the development of the characters in The Watchmen is as good if not far better than any modern novel by the John Updikes or the John Irvings of the world.
Review of Ayreon, THE THEATER EQUATION (Insideout, 2016; 2CD/1DVD).
Comparison: the voices on the studio album (left) and the live version (right).
Well, I should just come straight out and state it—there are few things (or perhaps no things) that I don’t love about Arjen A. Lucassen. Is there anything the man can’t do? Whether its composing, performing, recording, designing, or interacting with his legions of fans, Lucassen is the essence of idealized humanity, prog’s Philosopher King. Whether it’s Star One, solo, Guilt Machine, Ambeon, Gentle Storm, Stream of Passion, or Ayreon, I embrace everything he creates. My oldest son, Nathaniel, feels the same. And, now about a decade of students—whether at Hillsdale College, the University of Louisville, or CU-Boulder—have been introduced to Lucassen as well. I always bring in this music and proudly show the Ayreon timeline when I’m lecturing on science fiction, fantasy, and dystopian literature.
Which leads me to admit something else. Well, two somethings. When I first heard that Lucassen would be performing all of THE HUMAN EQUATION as a visual opera, I was thrilled. When I first saw the stills from the show, however, I was downright embarrassed. I thought it looked terribly cheesy. Smoke, a few vague figures, a hospital bed, and a crashed car. As soon as it came out, I purchased it, of course, but I only listened to the CDs. Astounding sound production, by the way. Indeed, my son and I have listened to the album now (both CDs) repeatedly for about 2 months. I refrained from watching the show, however, fearing that I would be sorely disappointed.
Then, for whatever reason, I finally popped the DVD in. Holy schnikees, I am SO sorry that I waited this long to watch it. Not only is the sound even better than on the CDs, but the show is absolutely riveting. Almost too many folks to count come and go on the set, and the singers do an incredible job not only in hitting their marks, but also of actually acting!
This is true opera.
I had assumed the production would be expensive and difficult, but I had no idea just how extensive, expensive, and difficult it must have been until watching this show.
So, I offer two thoughts.
First, Arjen, I’m terribly sorry I doubted you. How utterly stupid of me. You’ve never done anything without perfect excellence, so why I thought this would be different, I have no idea.
Second, for you the progarchy reader, do not fail to enjoy this prog opera as it is meant to be: watched. Get the DVD and immerse yourself. Believe me, there’s nothing better on your screen.
Thank you, Mr. Lucassen. Once again, you prove your absolute genius.
For those of you who read progarchy, you know that we often (maybe not often enough, but often) review things that are, at best, vaguely prog. We often veer into art rock and art pop. My favorite genre outside of “straight” prog is progressive pop such as PET SOUNDS, SONGS FROM THE BIG CHAIR, and SKYLARKING. But, I also love Thomas Dolby, early New Order, and Sixpence None the Richer.
One of my earliest loves in terms of non-Yes, non-Genesis, and non-Jethro Tull was Simple Minds. To say that in high school and my first few years of college that I was not obsessed with Jim Kerr and company would be an outright lie. I was rather obsessed. This was back in the days when the internet did not exist for the public, and I had to dig like mad to find articles in various libraries about the band. America never had the tradition of music magazines in the way that Britain did, and I would often even ask pen pals to buys articles in Europe or the UK and photocopy them for me, sending them to me in the states. Sometimes, if I found a good bookstore, I would ask them to special order British magazines. For better or worse, I have long since disposed of my Simple Minds articles, but there was a time when they were as critical to my being as were my paperback copies of The Lord of the Rings, my comic books, and my DnD manuals.
That greatest and most mischiveous redheaded bard of the 21st century, Andy Tillison, has announced that this coming Monday, August 15, The Tangent will be releasing a new single and a film to go with that single.
The title of the single is “A Few Steps Down the Wrong Road,” and it comes in at over 19 minutes.
Having been privileged enough to have a glimpse of this new film, I can state that Tillison and The Tangent fully return the spirit of rock to the spirit of rebellion of the late 1960s.
This is blatantly art as protest.
Whether or not you agree with Tillison’s views, you will happily recognize the importance of what The Tangent is doing and the significance of the film itself in the history of rock. Tillison, who describes himself as a leftist-anarchist, has never shied away from expressing his politics in music. “A Few Steps Down the Wrong Road,” however, takes Tillison’s art and views to an entirely new level.
Again, whether you agree or disagree with Tillison, you should never make the mistake of NOT taking him and his ideas seriously.
Progarchy (and yours truly) is extremely eager to see where all of this leads.
Rage on, Mr. Diskdrive. Rage on.
Square Brad with ultrahip Andy and Sally, Boulder, Colorado, February 2015.
A review of SAND (Sam Healy), A SLEEPER, JUST AWAKE (forthcoming, September 30, 2016). 9 tracks.
SAND, A SLEEPER JUST AWAKE (forthcoming, September 30, 2016)
As much as I’d like to start with something artsy (the album deserves it), I’ll just be really, utterly, completely, and totally blunt. This album is extraordinary. After a summer of horrors and violence (not personally, but around the world), this album seems like the necessary art to calm the savage soul. I think this is, quite possibly, Healy’s best.
As I’ve written a number of times before when writing about Healy (solo) and about North Atlantic Oscillation, he does three things with unadulterated excellence.
The fun started early. Fans were eager for rehearsal information, opportunities to just shake hands with the band. We’re all so grateful they are back in the area. Looking amazing too…check out these pictures. Many thanks to Rob Waller who was on the ground for a quick hey to Good Man Curt Smith. Nice photos! […]
Artist: Karmakanic Album Title: Dot Label: InsideOut Music Date Of Release: 22 July 2016 Karmakanic have been around for a good few years now, formed in 2002 by Jonas Reingold, the bassist for the arguably more familiar band The Flower Kings. Also involved with Kaipa and The Tangent, Karmakanic was conceived to be the vehicle […]
Progarchy 