This is a great rock ‘n’ roll movie.
Don’t believe me?
Watch it all the way through to the end…
A brilliant chronicle of the making of a brilliant album.
Red Bazar Release Live Video of “City and the Stars”
More people need to be listening to Red Bazar. Peter Jones’ outstanding voice and brilliant lyrics have taken the band into the stratosphere artistically. Absolutely astounding. This is what cultural commentary should look like. Some fantastic guitar work here too. Enjoy!
Perfect Beings, Perfect News
In a flurry of news-based activity, Perfect Beings have released a veritable plethora of announcement-style news items…
- They’ve hooked up with the InsideOut label.
- They are heavily-pregnant with a release, due early 2018.
- Drummer Sean Reinert (Death, Gordian Knot, Cynic) is their new band member.
- They will perform the new album (title TBA……) at Rosfest 2018 on Saturday May 5th 2018. Get them tix asap!
These guys really are awesome. Give them your love!
The Kerzner Has Landed
‘Static’, the long-awaited, somewhat-delayed, therefore-more-long-awaited new album by keyboard maestro Dave Kerzner, is now available for Bandcamp pre-orderererers.
General release availability is 1st October. Get it here!
Tears for Fears in Albert Hall
There are no words. The greatest pop-prog band in the world. Color me envious!!! Seeing them in Denver in 2015 was one of the great highlights of my life. Such natural performers, such integrity, such artistry. Call me smitten.
Nice Looking Arrivals at Progarchy HQ
Several new arrivals at Progarchy HQ in Michigan. Thank you so much to the good companies and artists for sending these! We’re honored you would trust us. May we continue to earn that trust.
Welcome, Fall
As a born and bred New Englander, I cannot neglect this opportunity to acknowledge the time of year when my home truly becomes God’s country. May everyone enjoy a restful Fall!
O hushed October morning mild,
Thy leaves have ripened to the fall;
Tomorrow’s wind, if it be wild,
Should waste them all.
The crows above the forest call;
Tomorrow they may form and go.
O hushed October morning mild,
Begin the hours of this day slow.
Make the day seem to us less brief.
Hearts not averse to being beguiled,
Beguile us in the way you know.
Release one leaf at break of day;
At noon release another leaf;
One from our trees, one far away.
Retard the sun with gentle mist;
Enchant the land with amethyst.
Slow, slow!
For the grapes’ sake, if they were all,
Whose leaves already are burnt with frost,
Whose clustered fruit must else be lost—
For the grapes’ sake along the wall.
– “October” by Robert Frost
soundstreamsunday: “How Do You Sleep” by LCD Soundsystem
James Murphy made no bones about the hipster cred accorded Can on “I’m Losing My Edge,” LCD Soundsystem’s 2002 dancefloor-meets-Weird Al hit. “I was there, I was there in 1968, I was there at the first Can show in Cologne,” he sing-speaks ala King Missile, going on to target Suicide and others in the pantheon of removed, white boy cool. It’s idolatry and idol-destroying at once, and it’s a lot of fun to listen to. Murphy never shies from the obvious or expected, scratching musical itches and quoting hosts of precedents within his long-ish form constructions. He makes big beats, giant basslines, and his meta smarts about the music he creates enlivens his work rather than reducing it to a nostalgia trip. Precocious, yeah, precious, no.
Murphy wrapped up his LCD Soundsystem project in 2011, but revived it last year with some shows and this year (this month in fact) with American Dream, a double LP epic that continues an obsession with Adrian Belew-era Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club, New Order, Depeche Mode, Modern English, Kraftwerk, and on and on and on…. Songs as dessert, and dessert with every meal. And yet the lyrical content carries some heft, and whether or not you think Murphy is saying anything new or real or whatever, you can take his songs in a lot of different ways, luxuriating in all the analog richness and the cracking drums, or thinking, as I do when listening to the lyrics of “How Do You Sleep?”, of something that relates on a personal level (in this case, there’s a Stevie Smith “Not Waving But Drowning” vibe going on). These aren’t simply tossed off words so people who aren’t comfortable with instrumentals have something to chant, or words made to fit or counterpoint melody, which was Can’s m.o. The lyrics crystallize, emotionalizing the epic weight of the central, insistent riff and Murphy’s all-in vocal.
soundstreamsunday presents one song or live set by an artist each week, and in theory wants to be an infinite linear mix tape where the songs relate and progress as a whole. For the complete playlist, go here: soundstreamsunday archive and playlist, or check related articles by clicking on”soundstreamsunday” in the tags section.
Pre-Order Glass Hammer’s UNTOLD TALES
Some brilliant news from Steve Babb and Fred Schendel:
25th Anniversary Special Edition includes rare and previously unreleased studio and live tracks spanning the history of Glass Hammer. Featuring vocalists Susie, Jon, Walter and Carl. Includes “No Man’s Land Live”, two unreleased covers of Argent and Beatles tracks and much, much more. 74 minute running time! Collector’s will also want to grab autographed copies of the new Glass Hammer Photo Book. Only available for a limited time so order now. Orders ship October 20th, 2017. Buy Now!
Featuring vocalists Walter Moore, Carl Groves, Susie Bogdanowicz and Jon Davison. Current bandmembers Fred Schendel, Steve Babb, Kamran Alan Shikoh and Aaron Raulston are all present as are many GH alumni.
Tracks: Shadows Of The Past 2008, Infusion, Identity Principle, Hold Your Head Up, Babb’s Bach, And Then She Sighed, Eiger Dreams, It’s All Too Much, Troll, A Grain Of Sand, Cool Air, The Impulsive Type, No Man’s Land Live (2017).
Pre-ordering autographed copies begins now at the Glass Hammer Store!
Having been immensely privileged to have heard an early version of this release, let me assure you that this is a must own. Of course, this is true for every Glass Hammer release. But, in a year of extraordinary releases–from several from Big Big Train, The Tangent, Steven Wilson, and others–Glass Hammer always reminds us of what is most important in art and creativity–the integrity and imagination to move forward while always bringing the audience along for the ride.
It’s Tolkien week, this week, after all. Today, Bilbo and Frodo celebrate birthdays. If last year’s extraordinary VALKYRIE–THE best album of 2016–was Tolkien’s THE SILMARILLION, Glass Hammer’s UNTOLD TALES is Tolkien’s UNFINISHED TALES. Plus, who can ever have too much Susie Bogdanowicz, our very own River Daughter, in this life?
Ramble On For Tolkien Week
Though the references may be brief, Led Zeppelin never shied away from their Tolkien influences. Enjoy this one during Tolkien Week 2017. While you’re at it, go buy Brad’s awesome book on the Professor. You can also buy his book on the Professor of Prog. The books are so good that I’m not even being paid for this advertising!
Progarchy 