Testing for Echo: Rush’s Odd but Brilliant 1996 Masterpiece
While I’ve mentioned this in passing, i’ve yet to announce formally that I’m writing a book on the words and ideas of Neil Peart. So, if you’ll permit me, I’ll do it here.
I’m writing a book on Neil Peart.
There. Done. Announced.
And, I’m having a blast, not surprisingly. The book will come out this fall (2015) from WordFire Press under the editorial expertise of Kevin J. Anderson and Rebecca Moesta.
At the moment, the place-holder title is The Neil Peart Generation. I’m hoping to come up with something better.
In the meantime, here’s an excerpt–a raw, unedited version of my section on Peart and Rush in 1996-1997, just before all of the tragedies hit. I hope you enjoy. This is about 2,000 words of the ca. 40,000 word book. At least as I see it now.–Brad
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Neil Peart, ca. 1987.
Rush 1.3.5
Test for Echo, the…
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The Hugo! Kevin J. Anderson’s Nomination
I’m very happy to note that science-fiction master, Kevin J. Anderson, has been nominated for a Hugo, the most prestigious award presented in the genre. I’m certain no one deserves it more. Indeed, the book that earned the nomination, The Dark Between the Stars, is one of the finest books I’ve ever read.
Here’s Kevin’s blog: http://kjablog.com/first-hugo-award-nomination/
I’m incredibly proud of Kevin.
MorseFest 2015
Long time collaborators Mike Portnoy and Randy George, as well as Neal Morse Band anchors, Bill Hubauer and Eric Gillette, will join Neal as this group of master musicians perform Neal’s world renowned albums ? (Question Mark) and Sola Scriptura This weekend will be filled with Special Guests, Exclusive VIP Packages, a FREE Inner Circle only performance, Pre-show dinners, and much more! We also invite you to be our guests for a worship and baptismal service with Neal and friends on Sunday, Sept 6. This music event WILL SELL OUT, so make your travel plans to Cross Plains, TN now! Concert and VIP Tickets will be available exclusively to Inner Circle members on Wednesday, April 8th. Concert and VIP tickets on sale to general public, Friday, April 10th! |
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IZZ Video: Can’t Feel the Earth, Part IV
Why, yes, I think this is quite prog!
Pre-order the new album at amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Everlasting-Instant-Izz/dp/B00UZJVILQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1428167435&sr=8-1&keywords=IZZ
Kevin J. Anderson Hugo Nomination!
Science-fiction master, Neil Peart friend, and prog-rock lyricist (Roswell Six) Kevin J. Anderson just found out this morning that he’s been nominated for a Hugo Award–the single highest award in science fiction–for his novel, The Dark Between the Stars.
The nomination: for best science fiction novel of the year!
Excellent, Kevin! Absolutely excellent. Every progarchist sends her or his good thoughts your way. Whoo-hoo!
The Beauty of Love; The Goodness of The Good One
Though EVERY day is a good day to listen to GLASS HAMMER, today, Christians, who also love beautiful and meaningful Prog, can draw from the well of GLASS HAMMER’s past catalog and listen meditatively to ‘Centurion.’
Good music indeed for GOOD FRIDAY (Soli Deo Gloria)
Mellotron set to 11
Glass Hammer: Philosopher Kings of Prog
I’m relatively new to Glass Hammer’s music; 2012’s Perilous was the first album I heard. It’s a fine album, but it didn’t knock my socks off. So I wasn’t prepared to give their 2014 release, Ode To Echo, more than a cursory listen. Big mistake!
The release this week of Glass Hammer’s The Breaking Of The World led me to go back and give Ode To Echo another spin. Am I glad I did – in the words of our beloved editor-in-chief, “Holy Schnikees!” Ode is a shining example of how prog can be both sophisticated and fun. Even though Brad Birzer has already published an excellent review of it, I wanted to put my two cents in.
Maybe it’s lead vocalist Carl Groves’ presence, but there’s real power in both the lyrics and the playing on this album. For example, take the first song, Garden of Hedon, which begins…
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The Wisdom of Good Friday (Whittaker Chambers)
My children, when you were little, we used sometimes to go for walks in our pine woods. In the open fields, you would run along by yourselves. But you used instinctively to give me your hands as we entered those woods, where it was darker, lonelier, and in the stillness our voices sounded loud and frightening. In this book I am again giving you my hands. I am leading you, not through cool pinewoods, but up and up a narrow defile between bare and steep rocks from which in shadow things uncoil and slither away. It will be dark. But, in the end, if I have led you aright, you will make out three crosses, from two of which hang thieves. I will have brought you to Golgotha—the place of skulls. This is the meaning of the journey. Before you understand, I may not be there; my hands maybe have slipped from yours. It will not matter. For when you understand what you see, you will no longer be children. You will know that life is pain, that each of us hangs always upon the cross of himself. And when you know that this is true of every man, woman, and child on earth, you will be wise.—Whittaker Chambers, 1952
Stormfields 