Author: Time Lord

progarchy.com

Album Review: @DaveKerzner — Paranoia EP and New World Live LP ★★★★★

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Dave Kerzner continues to amaze. His new Paranoia EP starts off with two new tracks. Don’t underestimate these. The more you listen to them, the more they take hold of you. Dave is an underrated songwriter. This EP proves it. These first two tracks are incredibly finely crafted songs, but unlike most prog they do not draw your attention to that fact. Instead, they are subtle, and your appreciation of them will only grow. Absolutely stellar tracks, they leave me wanting more. I can’t wait for Dave’s next full album.

Also on the EP are two live tracks that are taken from the extended 2015 Deluxe Edition of New World. “Secret” was never a favorite of mine, but here in this live version the song is much enhanced. It works so much better live, and Dave even drops an F-bomb to liven up the saccharine Barry Manilow vibe that I always thought ruined the song. Well, I understand the track much better now. The sappy atmosphere is actually meant to be totally ironic. Listen to the lyrics, and you’ll get it. I now love this song. I guess it needed to be abstracted from the two-hours-plus version of New World in order for me to finally appreciate it. Well, I really love it now.

As for “Recurring Dream,” I always really, really liked the song. The way it starts is so cool, and the whole harmonious structure is so beautiful, graced with one of Dave’s very best melodies. I can understand why it seems to be being played as an encore here. Bravo! This is a rock solid EP, and a real gift to the fans.

Continue reading “Album Review: @DaveKerzner — Paranoia EP and New World Live LP ★★★★★” →

Album Review: High Spirits — Motivator ★★★★☆

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Sometimes, in between the prog epics, you need some straight-up hard rock or heavy metal to cleanse the ol’ palate. Well, here’s a great new old school rock album for you. There’s a terrific garage band vibe to this one. It’s like the guys down the street who jam on weekends suddenly made a totally kickass album. It’s got a nice, slightly underproduced sound. A touch of raggedness gives the feel of authenticity to the whole exercise.

You know the only reason these guys are playing these songs is because they love to rock. In just thirty minutes — no muss, no fuss — they get the job done: they rock your socks off. I must say this album, while obviously harkening back to an earlier era of uncomplicated rock and roll, is nonetheless a refreshing surprise. It’s as real as it gets.

Enjoy this revival of 70s guitar rock at your leisure, because it’s guaranteed to put you in high spirits. With Motivator, these dudes have recorded their best album yet.

[H/T to Angry Metal Guy for getting the word out on this one.]

Kate Bush: Before the Dawn (on Nov 25)

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Kate Bush announces:

On November 25 the live album “Before The Dawn” will be released on CD (3 CDs) and vinyl (4 vinyl) and digital download.  The conceptual heart of the show is reflected in the CD format, which is split over 3 discs centred around the two integral pieces – ‘The Ninth Wave’ and ‘A Sky Of Honey’.

CD1 ends with the pivotal track ‘King Of The Mountain’ which bridges into ‘The Ninth Wave’ suite of songs on CD2.

The album was produced by Kate Bush. Nothing on the record was re-recorded or overdubbed.

The First Band in Space! @TheDuchessSpace @SpaceElevatorUK

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Hey, all you prog people, forget about concept albums.

How about a concept concert?

Here’s the concept:

Who will be the first rock band to rock out in space?

Well, it’s not just a dream.

Space Elevator is already making plans!

Continue reading “The First Band in Space! @TheDuchessSpace @SpaceElevatorUK” →

Paranoia: from New World Live Extended Edition Bonus Disc @DaveKerzner

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Check out this incredible new track from the great Dave Kerzner, and be sure to buy the bonus disc. It goes nicely with the New World album.

The Ancient Tradition of Prog

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I swear this sounds like ancient prog because the whole thing has that feel:

This is the oldest melody in existence – and it’s utterly enchanting

The Hurrian Hymn was discovered in the 1950s on a clay tablet inscribed with Cuneiform text. It’s the oldest surviving melody and is over 3400 years old.

Hard Workin’ Woman @JulietteLewis

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On Labour Day, I thought that Progarchy.com should pay tribute to one of the hardest working and most talented women in showbiz; namely, Juliette Lewis.

If you need cinematic proof of her intense rock ‘n’ roll work ethic, then please check out the brilliant half-hour documentary, Hard Lovin’ Woman, available for viewing thanks to Red Bull TV.

For example: she gets brutally injured, but keeps on rockin’. Amazing adrenaline…

You gotta see this to believe it.

Nota bene: she’s now on tour…

hardlovinwoman_cover_landscape

Album of the Year: Vivaldi Metal Project ★★★★★ @VivaldiMetal

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While many people with good taste recognize that Big Big Train is arguably the Band of the Year for 2016, I think the greatest Album of the Year for 2016 will prove to be the Vivaldi Metal Project.

On paper, the whole project sounds insane: take the basic structure of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, infuse it with newly composed music, add lyrics and singers, and transform it into a heavy metal concept album.

Sounds stupid, right? But no …

I was prepared to hate it, but instead I was surprised, blindsided, and completely blown away.

This album is insane, alright.

Insanely great.

I can’t stop listening to it!

Total genius, and totally shredtastic.

Five stars!

You can read more of my thoughts on the Vivaldi Metal Project in my review of the new Star Trek movie, Star Trek: Beyond. It’s a piece in which I meditate on what makes something a classic, by way of a digression on the many versions of Ben-Hur.

“All Just Pretending” — Lulu Lewis @DylanKH

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Great video made for just 24 bucks and an iPhone: