Tag: Tom Timely

Glass Hammer Video Release: “Melancholy Holiday”

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rockLeave a comment

Progarchy thoughts: Stunning and haunting.

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Glass Hammer Release Chronomonaut Video – Melancholy Holiday

Glass Hammer premiers their Melancholy Holiday video from the new concept album Chronomonaut.

Chronomonaut tells the story of “the ultimate prog-fan” Tom, who, according to bassist Steve Babb, “has reached middle-age and wants to time travel back to the early 70’s to relive the glory days of progressive rock. We first introduced fans to Tom with our 2000 release Chronometree, an album which proved to be a turning point for us.”

Babb has been releasing videos of his character Tom, supposedly filmed in 1983, where viewers have learned about Tom’s failed prog rock band, The Elf King, and his preoccupation with time travel. “In the Melancholy Holiday video we find Tom late for a meeting with his girlfriend,” explains Babb. “Tom is convinced he’s traveled back in time to find her. She informs him otherwise and things just get weirder.”

Longtime Glass Hammer vocalist Susie Bogdanowicz sings this track, though Discipline front-man Matthew Parmenter also provides some lead vocals on Chronomonaut.

The seventy-minute long Chronomonaut releases on October 12th, but fans can pre-order autographed copies of Chronomonaut and limited edition t-shirts at the band’s website. http://glasshammer.com/official-store/

  1. The Land Of Lost Content 1:54
  2. Roll For Initiative 7:43
  3. Twilight Of The Godz 8:13
  4. The Past Is Past 9:56
  5. 1980 Something 5:51
  6. A Hole In The Sky 4:49
  7. Clockwork 2:17
  8. Melancholy Holiday 4:27
  9. It Always Burns Sideways 5:49
  10. Blinding Light 6:01
  11. Tangerine Meme 3:05
  12. Fade Away 10:27

And, without further delay, here it is.

Tom Timely Revealed! Glass Hammer being Mischievous.

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rockLeave a comment

The Elf KingSo, after several months of curious postings and even a rather great music video, it seems that Tom Timely, aka “The Elf King,” is the Tom of Glass Hammer’s 2000 masterpiece, CHRONOMETREE.

Here’s Tom, himself, from 1983.

Notice the date!  Just about three months before season 1 of Stranger Things begins.  Tom never admits it, but I’m guessing that he lived in Hawkins, Indiana.

Enjoy the mystery!

The Elf King On Youtube: Thoughts???

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock1 Comment

The Elf King, Tom Timely, has finally released his new (old?) single on Youtube.  Previously, I’d only found it on Facebook.  Glad to see it more accessible.

Here’s what he wrote about it:

I’ve been a prog fan, perhaps the ULTIMATE prog fan for many years. In the 80’s I had a band called “The Elf King” but we never made it to the studio. Decades later I’ve finally recorded my first track, The Elf King which will hopefully later become the title track for my first album, The Elf King. It is my belief that music can literally transport you back in time, and that is what I am attempting with this recording. Remind yourself of an earlier time over and over…until it becomes your reality. Think of the things you could do if you had the key to unlock the past….You could change things! Some call it nostalgia, I call it the key. Check out my song and see if it takes you back.

Tom Timely’s “The Elf King”–a Prog Masterpiece?

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock1 Comment
Screen Shot 2018-06-24 at 7.55.27 AM
Just a smidgeon of confidence!

Tom Timely has written, produced, and released a single under the title, “The Elf King.”  Unfortunately, at the moment, it seems only to be available as a Facebook video. Here’s hoping Timely will move it to Youtube.

 

Somewhat astoundingly, Timely begins his video with “Introducing A Prog-Rock Masterpiece,” all in Tolkienian, Elven script.

Indeed, he writes on his Facebook post:

My new song! Remind yourself of an earlier time over and over…until it becomes your reality. Think of the things you could do if you had the key to unlock the past….You could change things! Some call it nostalgia, I call it the key. Check out my song and see if it takes you back.

So, kudos to Mr. Timely for possessing so much confidence.  His pronouncement of “introducing” a “classic” reminds me of the founding father Benjamin Franklin when he wrote, rather proudly, that he possessed the virtue of humility.

Some things, simply put, cannot be bestowed on one’s self.  Anyway, I’ll just take this as Mr. Timely’s enthusiasm.

The single, “The Elf King,” is quite excellent, introducing us to some very Yes-ish bass, combined with Kansas and Genesis-like keyboards throughout much of the song, though harpsicord is the first instrument the listener hears.  I can’t quite place the voice, but Timely (I’m assuming it’s Timely on vocals) has a Styx-like feel to me.  While the entire middle and sections sound very reminiscent of Tony Banks’s work on Gabriel-era Genesis, the song itself seems to have been a long, forgotten part of Leftoverature.

Screen Shot 2018-06-24 at 7.55.35 AM

Since I’ve referenced Yes, Genesis, Kansas, and Styx, you might very well get the opinion that this is pure nostalgia prog.  Heck, even Timely himself admits the element of nostalgia. Yet, this song is definitely more than a sum of its parts, and no one of the bands mentioned above could’ve written this song as is.  Thus, there’s a real genius in the way Timely pulls all of this older pieces together into a new whole.

I have a feeling Timely might very well have introduced a masterpiece. What say you???