Ayreon Universe Now Available

On By bradbirzerIn Progressive rock1 Comment

This, today, from the master of prog opera, Arjen Lucassen.

I also want to take this moment (and opportunity) to thank as publicly as possible, Jon Bleicher of the U.S. office of Mascot, for being so gracious and generous.

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Dear Ayreonauts and other prog-loving people,

It’s finally here! 6 months after Ayreon Universe was performed in the 013 venue in Tilburg, the Netherlands, the show is available on CD, vinyl, bluray, DVD and digital (more on that later).

ITEMS AND FEATURES
Here’s a list of all the items:

  • Earbook – 2CD/2DVD/Blu-ray (album + full show + bonus material on DVD and blu-ray)
  • Blu-ray
  • 2DVD
  • 2CD
  • Triple Black Vinyl

The DVD and blu-ray will have an extensive making of documentary, including interviews with the entire cast, and highlights from the try-out show performed a few weeks earlier.

The triple vinyl is currently out of stock in our European store, so get out the door and pick it up at your local record store instead. A repress has been scheduled, but it could take some time before we have it back in stock.

SIGNED BY ARJEN
We still have a few signed items in stock, but it’s subject to availability.

MERCH
A few Ayreon Universe merch items are still available in the EU store, like the worker shirt and some longsleeves (very handy for the upcoming summer!). An inventory of other items is in the works, and we’ll add them back to the store in the coming weeks.

DIGITAL
Many people asked if the Ayreon Universe show is available digitally, because they don’t own a DVD- or Blu-ray player. We’ve looked into it, and found a way! Visit https://vimeo.com/ondemand/ayreonuniverse to rent or buy Ayreon Universe digitally.

All the best,
The Ayreon Team

Trevor Horn’s Glorious Re-Emergence in Yes: FLY FROM HERE: RETURN TRIP

On By bradbirzerIn Progressive rock9 Comments
Yes fly from here return trip
Trevor Horn brings, as always, love and excellence to this rerelease.

Review of Yes, FLY FROM HERE: RETURN TRIP (Pledgemusic, 2018). Tracks: Fly From Here, Parts 0-V; The Man You Always Wanted Me to Be; Life on a Film Set; Hour of Need; Solitaire; Don’t Take No For an Answer; and Into the Storm.

Standout tracks: Madman at the Screen; Into the Storm.

Sailor, sailor beware.  There are storm clouds.  You must take care.

When I first saw the notice that Yes would be re-releasing its 2011 album, FLY FROM HERE, with a remaster and remix by Trevor Horn and with all main vocals provided by  the very same Trevor Horn, I was surprised and a bit skeptical.  Fake news?  Well, there seems to be a lot of that going around these days in the western world.

And, it turned out. . . it was real news.  After I realized this thing was real, I immediately jumped onto Pledgemusic and, well, pledged.

Continue reading “Trevor Horn’s Glorious Re-Emergence in Yes: FLY FROM HERE: RETURN TRIP” →

Pledgemusic Issues Yet Another Apology for Yes screwup

On By bradbirzerIn Progressive rockLeave a comment

This came from Pledgemusic this morning–definitely not the first from the crowd-sourcing effort.

Screen Shot 2018-03-29 at 10.48.35 AM

***

To all fans of YES,

Following on from yesterday’s incorrect assurances from PledgeMusic to customers that the Fly From Here – Return Trip download issues were fixed, we are now very aware this is not the case. Whilst we are confident the flac files are working correctly, we are aware our third attempt at delivering MP3 files still contains errors, namely within track 5 ‘Fly From Here Pt. IV – Bumpy Ride’. The error here lies solely with PledgeMusic, our ingestion of the files provided to us by YES, and our subsequent digital delivery to you, the fans. We apologise unreservedly to all fans of YES, to the band, and all who work with them. We have fallen short of our own standards in delivering content to paying fans and customers. Please direct any and all frustrations with this situation to PledgeMusic, rather than YES, who are an innocent party in this situation.

Continue reading “Pledgemusic Issues Yet Another Apology for Yes screwup” →

Dany Laj and The Looks (Hilarious)

On By bradbirzerIn Progressive rockLeave a comment

I don’t know these guys, but this email made me smile, and I had to repost.  I don’t smoke, but, unlike so many other Americans, I don’t think it’s the pestilential stink of the devil, either.

So, Dany Laj, glad to know you’re living life on your own terms.  Best to you.

Hey Brad,

I’m like Guy Lafleur – I do everything the hard way. And I smoke.
My band and I have spent the better part of the last six years bringing our high-energy, power-pop mayhem to crowds across the continent. Our brand new single, “Left Right To One,” found us branching out from the recording studios we’ve frequented in our homeland of Canada, and in Rockford, Illinois. Produced at Midwest Sound by Dan McMahon (Bun E. Carlos, Miles Nielsen and the Rusted Hearts), and engineered by Jeremy Koester, “Left Right To One” gives a glimpse into the longstanding, rock ‘n roll partnership between bassist Jeanette Dowling and myself.

Continue reading “Dany Laj and The Looks (Hilarious)” →

Sloan Are Better Than the Beatles, and Prove It on ’12’

On By Time LordIn Progressive rock1 Comment

Great article over at Exclaim! by Cam Lindsay:

There aren’t many bands that have recorded 12 albums with all the original members contributing equally to the songwriting. With their brand new album, 12, Toronto-based Sloan have achieved something that not even the Beatles – arguably the greatest musical democrats ever – managed in their time. Sure, the Fab Four may have averaged two albums per year they existed, but they could only hack it for a decade. Sloan, on the other hand, have survived 27 years together, which might just be the most impressive feat of all.

TeamRock Gets Louder

On By bradbirzerIn Progressive rockLeave a comment
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And, so it begins. . . –Kosh

Jerry Ewing, the fearless and beloved leader of the world of prog, has just announced that what was TeamRock has become Louder.  The rebranding comes as the various members of TeamRock fear that labels such as prog and metal have become too exclusive and narrowing for a younger generation of listeners.

To read the full explanation, go here.  Regardless, we wish Ewing all the best, as always.

 

Gamma Ray (Heavy Metal Overload)

On By bradbirzerIn Progressive rock3 Comments

With vocalist Ralf Scheepers out the band, hell bent on joining Judas Priest, Gamma Ray guitarist (and former Helloween guitarist/lead vocalist) Kai Hansen decided to make a surprise, and welcome, return to the mic. The re-jigged German band found a renewed energy and spirit and their fourth album, 1995’s Land Of The Free, proved to […]

via Gamma Ray – Land Of The Free (Review) — HEAVY METAL OVERLOAD

Lee Speaks About Music… #67

On By bradbirzerIn Progressive rockLeave a comment

Lee Speaks About Music… #67

Lee Speaks About Music… #67


— Read on leespeaksoutaboutmusic.wordpress.com/2018/03/26/lee-speaks-about-music-67/

Highest Prog Fantasy: Unfold The Future by the Flower Kings

On By bradbirzerIn Progressive rock2 Comments

A review The Flower Kings, UNFOLD THE FUTURE (2002; remastered and reissued, 2017). Tracks: The Truth Will Set You Free; Monkey Business; Black and White; Christianopel; Silent Inferno; The Navigator; Vox Humana; Genie in a Bottle; Fast Lane; Grand Old World; Soul Vortex; Rollin’ the Dice; The Devil’s Schooldance; Man Overboard; Solitary Shell; Devil’s Playground; and Too Late for Tomatos

Grade: A+.  Glorious.  Full.  Enchanting.  Mesmerizing.

tfk unfold the future
UNFOLD THE FUTURE, 2002–remastered in 2017.  InsideOut Music.

As noted last week on progarchy.com, the Flower Kings released its first boxset, A KINGDOM OF COLOURS (Insideout Music), in very late 2017.  Granted, we’re more than a bit late coming to the news, and I (Brad) only realized that the boxset had come out when seeing an advertisement for the forthcoming second boxset.

This set—a gorgeously packaged one at that—is part 1 of 2, re-releasing the band’s first official seven studio albums.  Missing are any b-sides, extra tracks, live releases, and the album that started it all, Stolt’s 1994 solo album, THE FLOWER KING.  But, these absences are certainly fine, as the boxset is what it is.  The next set, according to Insideout, will have three full disks of new or previously unreleased material.  Additionally and spectacularly, of those original albums re-released for A KINGDOM OF COLOURS, the final one, 2002’s UNFOLD THE FUTURE, has been completely remastered by the Flower King himself, Mr. Roine Stolt.

Continue reading “Highest Prog Fantasy: Unfold The Future by the Flower Kings” →