PROGOTRONICS 2 Sampler

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rockLeave a comment


Prog Sphere Promotions Releases “Progotronics 2” Digital Sampler; Available from Bandcamp

Prog Sphere Promotions has recently released the second edition in their Progotronics compilation series. The sampler is available from Bandcamp here.

Progotronics 2 includes 16 songs, one more than the Progotronics 1 compilation which was released back in February. The previous sampler was more focused on the Progressive Metal genre with a few exceptions. On Progotronics 2 Progressive Metal is naturally present, but the new compilation is more diverse stylistically, with songs ranging from Psychedelic / Progressive Rock, Post-Rock, RPI to Jazz Fusion. We are sure that everyone will find something interesting, and discover something new and to your taste.

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The ever popular streaming artist effect

On By Time LordIn progressive rock3 Comments

Never mind albums and cassettes. Now CDs and digital downloads have had their day:

For the first time ever, streaming music has eclipsed both of those ways to get music. Streaming from Spotify, Apple, Pandora, even Tidal now accounts for 51% of all music sales according to the RIAA.

The gold record? A thing of the past. There is nothing to frame for the walls of rock stars. Maybe you get a digital wall now, too. In a virtual mansion.

The good news, they say, is that revenue was up for the industry by almost a billion dollars. It’s been flat or down for the last several years.

There are 22.6 million paid streaming subscriptions. (This means everyone else is listening to ads.)

But the bads news is for the artists. Royalties on streaming sales are much lower than downloads or CDs. The artist is suffering. The execs are not. So the Industry is happy.

Actual CDs sold– the total money value was down 20% from 2015 to 2016. Digital permanent downloads were the same or worse– Singles, which everyone thought was driving the business, are down more than albums.

soundstreamsunday: “Premonition” by Simple Minds

On By Craig BreadenIn post punk2 Comments

Simple-Minds-resize-3Few bands seem to cause such division as Simple Minds.  There are fans of the early stuff, fans of the later stuff, fans of New Gold Dream…. I never had a horse in that race, since I never particularly cared to follow them.  I liked what I heard on the radio of theirs well enough, it was certainly expertly crafted and, in retrospect, helped define its time.  But recently I felt like mining a bit deeper and came upon their early records.  I understand the early fans’ passions more now, since it’s made clear on Real to Real Cacophony and Empires and Dance that the band was chasing an ambition to recast pop music coming out of the 70s.  That they caught up with it is apparently a deep disappointment for those who read sellout in the tracks of Once Upon a Time, but of course the one — a deeply enjoyable confection of well-honed hooks and musicianly smarts, no matter its commerciality — would not have been possible without the other, a proving ground that was hit and miss, but when it found its mark was incendiary.

“Premonition” has at its center a chunky classic rock riff driven by Charlie Burchill’s guitar, and isn’t too distant from what the Cars and Tubeway Army were doing at a time before the keyboards really took complete hold, combining the ethic of early Roxy Music with a post-punk focus on rhythm (Derek Forbes and Brian McGee brought genius to this band).  Jim Kerr sings with a wide-eyed weirdness straight out of Marquee Moon, while Mick MacNeil’s carnivalesque keyboarding from this time must have influenced fellow Glaswegians Belle & Sebastian (thinking specifically of “Lazy Line Painter Jane”).

This live rendition — though honestly the sync seems odd enough to me and the recording good enough that there may be some yet-to-be-defined disconnect between picture and sound — catches Simple Minds in their early prime (and goes some way to explaining why they were offered a certain song to sing for a certain movie after Bryan Ferry turned it down).  They were catching fire creatively, figuring it out and putting it out live.  That their trajectory afterwards went on to follow that of Ferry et al. is perhaps the sign of one common path in a larger creative process tied to myriad motivations.  Me? If I had to decide which Simple Minds I prefer…I’d take both.

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 above.

Big Big Train Release Music Video for New Song, “As the Crow Flies”

On By Bryan MoreyIn progressive rockLeave a comment

Let the countdown to Grimspound begin.

From the video’s YouTube description:

This film has been made by Johan Reitsma to illustrate one of the songs on our forthcoming album, Grimspound, which will be released on all formats on 28th April 2017.

As the Crow Flies is a song about the succession of moments of letting go, as children grow to adults and prepare to set their own course in life.

Rush ready to launch Cygnus X-1 vinyl collectible for Record Store Day

On By Time LordIn progressive rock1 Comment

This is the coolest idea I have seen in a while, especially since it concerns one of my all-time favorite Rush epics:

This year marks the 40th anniversary of Rush’s sixth studio album, A Farewell To Kings. To kick-start the celebration, on April 22, 2017, UMe/Anthem/ole will release a limited edition, 12” single for Cygnus X-1 as an exclusive for Record Store Day, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year.

Featuring “Book I: The Voyage” and “Book II: Hemispheres,” this is the first time these tracks will be released as a single and the pressing will be limited to only 5000 copies. Cygnus X-1 is pressed on 180g vinyl and features brand new artwork by Hugh Syme, Rush’s longtime artwork and creative director.

Side A:

Cygnus X-1 – Book I: The Voyage

Side B:

Cygnus X-1 – Book II: Hemispheres

Released in 1977, A Farewell To Kings is the studio follow-up to 2112. Recorded at Rockfield Studios in Wales, A Farewell To Kings was the band’s first U.S gold-selling album, receiving the certification within two months of its release, and was later certified platinum.

One CEO’s 50 (or so) favorite pop albums

On By carleolsonIn progressive rock10 Comments

seal1

Inspired by Brad’s fascinating and very New Wave-ish post “My 49 Favorite Pop Albums”, I decided to try my hand at listing the same. One difficulty, it turns out, is defining “pop”. Brad didn’t list Radiohead’s “OK Computer” (one of my Top 10 pop/rock albums) because he figured it was too proggy, which is hard to disagree with. But I have it in my list, and also included a couple more albums that are certainly in the realm of prog: “Queen II”, “Point of Know Return”, and “A Momentary Lapse of Reason”. But, on the whole, I think most everything here fits on the “pop” spectrum, even if it veers into rocky territory (Muse, Journey, Soundgarden) on occasion.

Also, I could have easily included several more albums by Sinatra and Torme, and I feel a bit guilty to not have anything by, say, Nancy Wilson, Sarah Vaughn, Rosemary Clooney, or Nat King Cole. But I’ve tried to capture a certain breadth chronologically while being true to what I like and return to. And that is a key criteria: all of these are albums I revisit and never tire of.  Finally, it might be surprising that the only artist who shows up here three times is Seal. But no Beatles? Rolling Stones? Simon and Garfunkel? Lady GaGa? Go figure!

1950s-60s:
Frank Sinatra: IN THE WEE SMALL HOURS (1955)
Frank Sinatra: SONGS FOR SWINGIN’ LOVERS! (1956)
Mel Tormé: IT’S A BLUE WORLD (1956)
Roy Orbison: IN DREAMS (1963)
Mel Tormé: THAT’S ALL (1965)

1970s:
Van Morrison: MOONDANCE (1970)
Elton John: ELTON JOHN (1970)
Queen: QUEEN II (1974)
Queen: NIGHT AT THE OPERA (1975)
Kansas: POINT OF KNOW RETURN (1977)
Electric Light Orchestra: OUT OF THE BLUE (1977)

1980s:
Journey: ESCAPE (1981)
ABBA: THE VISITORS (1981)
Asia: ASIA (1982)
The Police: SYNCHRONICITY (1983)
Big Country: THE CROSSING (1983)
Mr. Mister: WELCOME TO THE REAL WORLD (1985)
John Fogerty: CENTERFIELD (1985)
The Moody Blues: THE OTHER SIDE OF LIFE (1986)
Sting: NOTHING LIKE THE SUN (1987)
Pink Floyd: A MOMENTARY LAPSE OF REASON (1987)
Sam Phillips: THE INDESCRIBABLE WOW (1988)
Kate Bush: THE SENSUAL WORLD (1989)
Van Morrison: AVALON SUNSET (1989)

1990s:
The Choir: CIRCLE SLIDE (1990)
George Michael: LISTEN WITHOUT PREJUDICE, VOL. 1 (1990)
U2: ACHTUNG BABY (1991)
Seal: SEAL (1991)
Tori Amos: LITTLE EARTHQUAKES (1992)
Maria McKee: YOU GOTTA SIN TO GET SAVED (1993)
Chris Isaak: SAN FRANCISCO DAYS (1993)
The Cranberries: EVERYONE ELSE IS DOING IT, SO WHY CAN’T WE? (1993)
Sarah McLachlan: FUMBLING TOWARDS ECSTASY (1993)
Seal: SEAL (1994)
Portishead: DUMMY (1994)
Soundgarden: SUPERUNKNOWN (1994)
Jeff Buckley: GRACE (1994)
Jars of Clay: JARS OF CLAY (1995)
The Mavericks: MUSIC FOR ALL OCCASIONS (1995)
Duncan Sheik: DUNCAN SHEIK (1996)
Radiohead: OK COMPUTER (1997)
Seal: HUMAN BEING (1998)
Burlap to Cashmere: ANYBODY OUT THERE? (1998)
Moby: PLAY (1999)

2000 on:
Martin Sexton: LIVE WIDE OPEN (2002)
Muse: BLACK HOLES AND REVELATIONS (2006)
Brandi Carlile: THE STORY (2007)
A Fine Frenzy: ONE CELL IN THE SEA (2007)
Sia: SOME PEOPLE HAVE REAL PROBLEMS (2008)
Sara Bareilles: KALEIDOSCOPE HEART (2010)
Lake Street Dive: BAD SELF PORTRAITS (2014)
Kevin Max: BROKEN TEMPLES (2015)

My 49 Favorite Pop Albums

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock17 Comments
skylarking
XTC, SKYLARKING.  Pop at its best.

Though I’ve been a prog rock guy as far back as memory allows, I’m always open to fine, angular, and clever pop.  When pop is done well, count me in as a huge fan.  If I begin to list favorite prog albums—say a favorite 50 or 100 list—my mind starts to get a bit foggy, and my opinion changes, day by day, and, for better or worse, hour by hour.  Not necessarily the top 10, but everything else begins to swirl and maneuver, position by position, place by place.

When it comes to my favorite pop (broadly defined, I suppose) albums, though, I can readily list them and, amazingly enough, in chronological order.  I assume this is because my mind isn’t as full of pop as it is prog.

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MVDnEWS: Max’s Kansas City

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rockLeave a comment
Max’s Kansas City: 1976 & Beyond 
coming to CD ad Vinyl on May 5th via Jungle Records
 
The original Max’s Kansas City 1976 pioneering punk club album,
extended with an extra 30 tracks and historical notes

Max’s Kansas City is the legendary New York City nightclub that became the focal point for the city’s hip artistic community from the late 60’s until the early 80’s. In its initial period, it was famously often populated by Andy Warhol’s Factory crowd, and played host to new artists such as the Velvet Underground, New York Dolls, the Stooges, Bruce Springsteen and countless others. It became a base for jet-setters, glam rockers and celebs, until the scene faded and it shut its doors at the end of 1974.

Reopened in 1975 under new management, Peter Crowley was hired as music director. The new young bands he booked helped spawn, in tandem with CBGBs, the New York City punk scene. In 1976 Peter compiled a studio album of acts associated with the club, Max’s Kansas City 1976, to help promote the club. It featured the first released recordings of Suicide, The Fast and Warhol-era veteran Wayne County, whose title-track gave a roll-call of many of the famous acts who’d regularly performed there.
Now the original album is reissued as Max’s Kansas City 1976 & Beyond, greatly extended to 40 tracks on a double-CD and a selection of 25 tracks on a double-LP. As well as the aforementioned Suicide, Fast and Wayne County, the new extended album features the New York Dolls, the Stillettos, the Offs, the Senders, Philip Rambow, VON LMO, Iggy Pop, Knots, Roland Alphonso, Cherry Vanilla, Nico, Joy Ryder, Johnny Thunders & the Heartbreakers and Sid Vicious amongst many others. It includes many previously unreleased tracks and rarities. Compiled by Peter Crowley, who also contributes notes detailing the history of the album. Writer, musician and Max’s scenester Jimi LaLumia provides historical overview sleeve-notes along with biographies of the artists in a 20-page booklet.

Jimi LaLumia writes:

“Max’s Kansas City 1976 as an expanded edition two record vinyl and double CD collection, celebrates the historic first compilation of recordings by bands that were making big noise in New York City, and, thanks to a hyper active UK music press, around the world in a pre internet, truly underground manner. Melody Maker, a British music weekly, was especially keen on the post Velvet Underground / New York Dolls / Alice Cooper / Iggy & The Stooges scene that was inspiring the most unusual creatures to want to be in bands.
The Max’s album was my go to album for months; finally, tracks from Wayne County, Cherry Vanilla, and The Fast… Not to mention Suicide and Pere Ubu. I got introduced to Harry Toledo and the John Collins band: I won’t go into all the details here, because I wrote extensive detailed liner notes for the Jungle Records UK re issue coming in May, with additional notes from Peter Crowley, which are worth the price of the album, not to mention all the added extra tracks, so I’ll simply say that if you think you know everything about the late 70’s downtown scene, some additional reading material and bonus tracks are headed your way.”
Complete details, hi-res cover art, specs, etc can be found HERE and additional assets HERE
This item can be pre-ordered via MVD Shop or on Amazon

Happy Birthday, Tad!

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock3 Comments

To one of the finest men I know. . . and a truly great progarchist!  Happy birthday, Tad!

tad
The man, himself.  In self improvement mode!

To enjoy all of Tad’s posts, click here.