Tag: Rush

Rush and The Tangent: Influences and Speed

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock1 Comment

This morning, Andy Tillison, the mighty and mischievous redhead of the prog world, posted this wonderful essay on how much Rush has influenced him and his music.

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Delayed yesterday owing to the highly unpleasant news about Jonas – and only because I know he’s on the mend – here is the FOURTH of the albums I have chosen to represent some of the influential albums on The Tangent’s career. Once again to stress that this is not a chart, a “best of” – nor is it an effort to say or imply that The Tangent sound like this. Because today – i do not think we sound anything like this band, who (like the previous artist) hail from Canada

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Perhaps THE greatest album in prog history?

So far my choices have been street credible and artistically laudable I think – and there will be those who heave a sigh of disappointment when they see that I chose an album by Rush. Indeed, I spent many years not having a great deal of time for this group and they didn’t really hit me until the mid 80s. But when they did… they did.

What I find so appealing about Rush – is something that Sally had also identified, independently of me before either of us met.. and that to us – to try an explain, is the MOTION in which Rush songs set themselves. Where many progressive bands take a stand on the hilltops- taking a view of the broader vista, Rush are always IN the landscape, travelling through it – usually at some speed! They’re looking at the hills that others are standing on – as they whizz past gas stations and motels, steel works and a very very familiar real world environment.

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Rush, SNAKES AND ARROWS–Happy 10th Birthday!

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock4 Comments
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First appeared May 1, 2007.

Snakes and Arrows, Rush’s 18th studio album, came out on May 1, 2007.  It was the last Rush album to be distributed by Atlantic, but the first to be produced by Nick Raskulinecz.  Snake and Arrows was profoundly progressive, but it was also one of Rush’s blues-iest album, almost certainly influenced by their EP, Feedback, a 30th anniversary tribute to the bands the three members loved in the 1960s.  And yet, even the blues on the album is mischievous, an inversion or twisting of blues, propelling the flow into more classical progressive directions.

The album also sees the return of Peart, the cultural critic and observer.  The first track, “Far Cry,” begins with the harrowing “Pariah dogs and wandering madmen,” a commentary about the evil in society and those who would sell their own souls and become evil to destroy the other evil.  Each, tellingly, is a fundamentalist, “speaking in tongues.”  The track begins, musically, with a psychedelic blues feel.  This was not the world we thought we would inherit, Peart laments.

It’s a far cry from the world we thought we’d inherit

It’s a far cry from the way we thought we’d share it

You can almost feel the current flowing

You can almost see the circuits blowing

Even when we feel we might actually make something right, the world spins and we find ourselves rolled over.

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Memories on Record Store Day

On By Time LordIn progressive rock2 Comments

Good times remembering Rush and Cygnus X-1 with Jeff Elbel on Record Store Day:

Personal interlude: On long car trips, my father was somewhat loathe to relinquish control of the cassette deck. He knew that what he heard in the house emanating from my room didn’t sound anything like Marty Robbins or David Frizzell. I have a vivid memory of one of the rare events that I was given permission to supply the soundtrack, while riding in his beloved 1970 Pontiac GTO along the Rock River on State Route 2 near Oregon, Illinois. I seized upon the opportunity to share my recent discovery of “Cygnus X-1, Book I: The Voyage.” To his credit, Dad made it almost five minutes before punching the eject button, fixing me with his gaze and asking, “Were they almost done warming up?” Geddy Lee had yet to sing his first note. I felt every bit like the hapless protagonist of 2112 during “Presentation,” thwarted upon making an offering of musical beauty to the Priests of Syrinx. …

Due credit: In 1986, my father took me to see the Power Windows tour at the Rosemont Horizon in Chicago. Thanks, Dad!

Cygnus Visits Local Record Store

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock2 Comments

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It’s April 22. A huge day, as you all well know. It’s, after all, the Feast Day of St. Arwald of the Isle of Wight.

Oh, wait. Maybe that’s not what you’re thinking.

April 22???  Something, something. . .

Oh yes! Eart. . .

No, Record Store Day. That’s it. Record Store Day! No offense to St. Arwald. He was pretty cool.

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Checker Records, Hillsdale.  Photo courtesy of the Hillsdale Collegian.

But, Record Store Day is the day we celebrate the local record stores, owned by families, groups of friends, and entrepreneurs who struggle against the collosal entities of the box stores and the cyber corporations. If you do nothing else today, please buy something from your local record store. My local record store is Checker Records–run by wonderful people and serving excellent coffee as well as good conversation and good humor.

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Yes plays “Roundabout” with Geddy Lee!

On By Time LordIn progressive rock1 Comment

Yes with Geddy Lee on bass at Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY, on April 7, 2017.

Clockwork Lives Graphic Novel

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rockLeave a comment

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Well, in perusing Cygnus X1’s website just now, I found even more information about Rush.  Stuff that had totally eluded me.  Cygnus, what would we do without you???  Thank you!

Kevin J. Anderson has just announced that CLOCKWORK LIVES will be a graphic novel soon.  How very cool.

Here’s the Cygnus X1 link: http://news.cygnus-x1.net/2017/04/clockwork-lives-graphic-novel-coming.html

And, here’s the direct link to KJA’s website: http://kjablog.com/clockwork-lives-graphic-novel/

Cygnus X1 on Geddy Lee and YES tonight

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock3 Comments

Amazing moment in rock history.  From Cygnus X1:

Ever since it was announced that the progressive rock band YES was to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, rumors abound regarding a possible involvement with the members of Rush, who are all self-proclaimed YES fans.

In January, the news many fans were waiting for arrived – both Geddy Lee & Alex Lifeson would induct YES into the Hall. However as of that writing, there was no indication as to whether or not Geddy and/or Alex would actually perform during the evening’s festivities. Fast-forward a few weeks, and a huge story coming out of Billboard was published which all but confirmed that Geddy Lee would, in fact, be performing with YES. Less than a few hours after the story broke, Billboard posted a retraction indicating that Geddy Lee would NOT be performing.

To read the full article at CYGNUS, go here: http://news.cygnus-x1.net/2017/04/geddy-lee-alex-lifeson-set-to-induct.html

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Photo taken from Cygnus X1.

Thanks to John at Cygnus and Brian Sullivan!

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.

Jacob Moon’s SUBDIVISIONS

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock4 Comments

Ok, so I had no idea who this guy was until today.  Progarchist Kevin Williams suggested checking out his cover version of “Subdivisions.”  Ok, call me impressed.

Rush’s 2112 at 40: The Super Deluxe Edition

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock5 Comments

Rush, 2112 (40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition).  2CDs, 1DVD, 3LPs, 1 vinyl single, starman turntable mat, three collector buttons, June 1976 handbill, June 1976 ticket stuff, starman sticker, LP-sized photos of the three members of Rush, LP-sized liner notes by Rob Bowman, code for digital download, cd-booklet and liner notes, vinyl single adaptor, and starman sketch.  http://www.rush.com/2112-40th/

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So much stuff, I can barely contain my emotions!

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Is there a greater anthem of individualism and anti-conformity in all rock history than Rush’s 2112?  No folk song of the 1950s or protest song of the 1960s comes close to matching Rush’s power of words and music.  Even more than “Bohemian Rhapsody,” 2112 makes us want to bang our heads and raise our fists.  Sorry, Garth.

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