Throwback Thursday series

Over on our YouTube channel, Dave publishes a series called Throwback Thursdays. Where he gives 3 - 4 minute reviews on classic albums that are still worthy today. Today's is "Fly By Night", the second album from revered Canadian power-trio Rush. 

Check it out here!

The Best Albums of 1971

Jon, Rich & Dave hosted a 7-part Double Elimination Tournament to determine the best album of 1971.

Watch "Best Albums of 1971 Part 1" on YouTube 

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Part 7

We're back and on YouTube

It's been a while, yeah? Just... you know... raising kids and such. We're on YouTube now! Check us out there. Thanks for stopping by. 

Frequelize This on YouTube

Dream Theater Announce New Album Title and Track Listing

From their official site:

A Dramatic Turn of Events

1. On the Backs of Angels
2. Build Me Up, Break Me Down
3. Lost Not Forgotten
4. This is the Life
5. The Shaman's Trance
6. Outcry
7. Far From Heaven
8. Breaking All Illusions
9. Beneath The Surface

Stay tuned for more information on www.dreamtheater.net tomorrow morning!

Neil Peart to perform drum solo on Late Show with David Letterman

Ha! This will be fun. All next week, David Letterman is honoring the "drum solo" on his show. Each night (June 6 - 9, 2011) he'll feature a different drummer. Here's the line-up. His show airs on CBS.
Mon - Anton Fig (longtime drummer in Letterman's band)
Tue - Sheila E.
Wed - Roy Haynes
Thu - Neil Peart

--source

Aqualung - 40th Anniversary: Tour and Steven Wilson Remix

Two items today related to Jethro Tull's "Aqualung" celebrating its 40th anniversary. First, Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree has just announced that he has done a remix of Aqualung for a September release:

Since Ian Anderson has been talking about this, I guess it's now official. I recently completed a brand new mix of Jethro Tull's "Aqualung" for a 40th anniversary edition. As always the remix is super faithful to the original, but with much improved sonic clarity (something that just can't be achieved with remastering). Also remixed for inclusion were many other studio tracks from the 1970-71 period (several previously unreleased), and a 5.1 mix. It should be out on EMI in September. -from his Facebook page

Second, Tull will be taking the album on tour. I will be at the first show on the tour with some friends.

Jethro Tull 'Aqualung' is 40 years old and Ian Anderson is taking the album on the road.

Jethro Tull has announced a 16-show tour of North America on their world trek for "the snotted one's" 40th anniversary.

"The Snotted One" is, of course, Aqualung, Tull's 1971 album that moved them from cult group to FM radio stalwarts.

The LP contained a number of songs that went on to become classic rock standards, including the title song, Hymn 43 and Locomotive Breath, and was the group's first top ten album in the U.S., reaching number 7.

The following are both the North American and European dates for the tour:

06/08 - Morrison, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheater
06/10 - Phoenix, AZ - Comerica Theatre
06/11 - Los Angeles, CA - The Greek Theatre
06/12 - Valley Center, CA - Harrah's Rincon
06/13 - Anaheim, CA - Grove of Anaheim
06/14 - Saratoga, CA - The Mountain Winery
06/16 - Eugene, OR - Cuthbert Amphitheater
06/17 - Troutdale, OR - McMenamins Edgefield Concerts
06/18 - Woodinville, WA - Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery]
06/19 - Vancouver, BC - The Centre in Vancouver
06/21 - Edmonton, AB - Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
06/22 - Calgary, AB - Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
06/23 - Regina, SK - Casino Regina-Show Lounge
06/25 - Minneapolis, MN - Orpheum Theatre
06/26 - Chicago - Chicago Theater
06/27 - Chicago - Rosemont Theatre
07/14 - Asti, Italy - Piazza Cattedralle
07/15 - Boretto (RE), Italy - Cantiere Arni
07/16 - Brescia, Italy - Piazza della Loggia
07/17 - Cattolica, Italy - Arena La Regina
07/22 - Aanekoski, Finland - Keitelejazz Festival
07/24 - London, England - High Voltage Festival, Victoria Park
07/28 - Hannau, Germany - Amphitheater
07/29 - Seebronn, Germany - Rock of Ages Festival
07/30 - Zitadelle Petersberg, Germany - Erfurt
07/31 - Munich, Germany - Circus Krone

Roger Waters & David Gilmour on stage together for Comfortably Numb (5/12/2011)

This is incredible: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2s6P2pkXpG0!

This is Comfortably Numb from Roger Water's recent (5/12/2011) performance of The Wall. On this night only, David Gilmour appears unannounced and performs Comfortably Numb with Waters. The moment the crowd recognizes Gilmour gave me goosebumps. According to Roger, this is 29 years and 329 days since they last performed The Wall in London together. And Nick Mason even appeared on stage at the end show.

Two cool upcoming releases

Saw articles today about two upcoming releases in two completely different genres that I'm excited about. First, great power pop band Fountains of Wayne will release their fifth album in the US on August 2. Second, I heard a few months ago that Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree) was doing a 5.1 remix of a classic progressive rock album for its 40th anniversary, but it was being kept a secret. I learned today that it's a 3-disc special edition of Caravan's "In The Land Of Grey And Pink". It comes out June 7 and is available for pre-order here

Dream Theater Debuts Episode 1 of Drummer Auditions Documentary

Last fall, the music world was shocked when Mike Portnoy left Dream Theater. Portnoy was a founding member and drummer for Dream Theater's first 25 years together. The remaining band members decided to keep going as a band and so, they started the search for a new drummer.

Over a period of three days, seven of the world's top drummers auditioned. The process and auditions were captured on film for a documentary called The Spirit Carries On. Episode 1 (running 20 minutes) is now available on the official YouTube channel of Roadrunner Records.

Say what you will about the commercialism and marketing ploys involved, as a fan of the band, I really enjoyed the video and look forward to the rest of the series.

New Neal Morse Album (Testimony 2) Up For Pre-Order

Multi-instrumentalist, Neal Morse, has pre-orders available for his new album, Testimony 2. The album once again features the drumming of Mike Portnoy and bass-playing of Randy George. Special guests this time around include Neal's former band (that he started with his brother in the 90s), Spock's Beard and also Steve Morse.

So head over here and get your order in (there are various incarnations that include bonus material and even an autobiographical book).

Neal is also launching his biggest tour ever as part of this release, so check out his tour dates at his website.

Ben Folds, Damian Kulash (Ok Go), Amanda Palmer, and Neil Gaiman Started a Music Project Yesterday; Released the Album Today

As part of the Rethink Music conference in Boston, MA, Ben Folds, Damian Kulash (Ok Go), Amanda Palmer, and author Neil Gaiman got together Monday, April 25, 2011 with this challenge: Write and record eight songs in eight hours, put on a concert that same night and then release the album the next day. The project (and band) were dubbed "8in8".

The album is indeed up for sale on bandcamp, you can get it here. I only see six tracks, so perhaps they ran out of time for a full set of eight tracks.

The idea is to get people to rethink the way popular music can be created, published and delivered/disseminated to the public... here is an album from big name artists that has literally circumvented the entire "music industry". Initial proceeds from download-donations are going to berkleecitymusicnetwork.org - a charity which provides kids with every opportunity to see their musical potential.

As for the music itself, vocal duties are shared amongst the artists and the songs are good. There is the sense that this was done quickly... some benefit would come from taking some extra time on nailing the performance in the studio, but that's not the point. So all things considered, the tracks are finely produced and it's great idea!

Gavin Harrison Drumming on Paul Cusick's Next Album

My friend Dave had turned me on to Paul Cusick's first album a little while back and it's good stuff. So this is exciting news: Porcupine Tree's awesome drummer, Gavin Harrison, is laying down some drum tracks for Cusick's next album. Can't wait!

Check out Paul Cusick's web site.

Jellyfish Special November 2

Saw this on the AndySturmer Yahoo group:

Still crying over split milk? Wishing to Call Sarah? Well Tuesday November 2nd from 6 to 8 pm EST will be your day to do so! Our show will feature some of Jellyfish's best works including demos, live performances, solo projects, collaborations, and a few surprises! You can either tune in at WNTE.com or you can tune in at our chat room at http://caravan.popchats.com/.

Have to miss it? No worries! We'll be later podcasting at the show at http://caravangems.podbean.com/

The Geese & The Ghost by Anthony Phillips (1977)

Ok, wow. As a big Genesis fan and one who has followed the solo careers of most of the members, I'm pleasantly surprised by (and shocked that I've missed it all this time) the debut solo album from early Genesis member Anthony Phillips. "The Geese & The Ghost" (1977) is stunning in it's beauty and brilliance.

This review from daveconn at progarchives.com captures it well.

ANTHONY PHILLIPS was little more than a footnote to the great career of GENESIS; that is until he released "The Geese & The Ghost" in 1977. Blending orchestral and acoustic instruments, PHILLIPS' debut album had a grace and grandeur unseen since the days of "Trespass" and "Nursery Cryme". Featuring the participation of MIKE RUTHERFORD, PHIL COLLINS (on vocals), JOHN HACKETT, JACK LANCASTER and others, it was ANTHONY's money shot, and he made it pay off in a big way by delivering the best music of his life. In a sense, ANTHONY has become a victim of his own success, since subsequent albums have fallen invariably short of "Geese"'s goals, but that's a discussion for another day. If you enjoyed the pastoral prog rock of early GENESIS, more wonders await you. There is, for example, the story of "Henry: Portraits of Tudor Times", in which the players from the Age of Chivalry walk again. There are songs featuring PHIL COLLINS ("Which Way The Wind Blows", "God If I Saw Her Now") that match "More Fool Me" for beauty. There is the stirring title track, "The Geese And The Ghost", with its gentle agility sure to delight GENESIS fans who thought the realms of magic lost to the late '70s. To put this into perspective, there are only a handful of albums to my mind that will delight core followers the way "The Geese & The Ghost" does. For GENESIS followers, Voyage of the Acolyte becomes the reference point (though that was a deliberately darker work). For YES fans, JON ANDERSON's Olias of Sunhillow or RICK WAKEMAN's "Six Wives of Henry VIII" yield as much pleasure. Some of "Geese"'s credit must go to MIKE RUTHERFORD as well, who appears alongside PHILLIPS throughout and shares his affection for acoustic adornment. In a sense, "Geese" also stands as RUTHERFORD's best solo album outside of GENESIS. Listening to this album in "Spring or Summer", when the scent of a world in bloom wafts gently through the window screens, is to be in concert with life itself. If you don't own this yet and have played "Foxtrot" down to nubby grooves, do yourself a favor and grab this golden goose.

Buy it! The Geese & the Ghost

OSI - Blood

The new album, Blood, from OSI is already out in Europe and is set to be released stateside on May 19. Special guests - Gavin Harrison - drums / Mikael Åkerfeldt - vocals/lyrics on Stockholm.

(post written by dcedave)

Secret Powers

Attention power pop/Jellyfish fans! Check out Secret Powers! Fun power pop! Two albums out so far. Listen to tracks on their MySpace page.

From a Kool Kat Music review:

You just gotta check out all of the unbelievable, sugar-filled pop ingredients that went into this charming, extremely special, intoxicating pop cocktail outta Missoula, Montana - healthy heapings of Jellyfish, Jason Falkner, and Roger Manning, a pinch of Beach Boys, a smidgen of Paul McCartney, a teaspoon of ELO, a dash of Supertramp, a drop of Jackdaw4, and tiny jiggers of Supertramp, The Nines, Ben Folds and Gabe Dixon!

From NotLame's entry for their new album:

The band was one of 2008`s strongest debuts and a best seller at Not Lame and here is #2. "Secret Powers sounds like pop. It sounds like washing your tricycle on a bright waxy blue sunny day. It sometimes sounds like long feathered tresses and platform shoes, sometimes like Nehru jackets and sensitive facial hair. It sounds like girl-watching and dopey desire. It sounds like melted ice cream, dirty feet, and sticky faces.

Transatlantic Returns

The following is taken from the Transatlantic web-site.

TRANSATLANTIC, the progressive rock "supergroup" comprised of Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater), Pete Trewavas (Marillion), Roine Stolt (The Flower Kings) and Neal Morse (ex-Spock's Beard), have reunited after a 7 year hiatus to begin work on a brand new studio album.

The band began work on the album in early April in Nashville and are expected to have it released by year's end if all goes as planned.

TRANSATLANTIC have previously released two studio albums to tremendous critical and fan acclaim: 2000's SMPTe and 2001's Bridge Across Forever. The band toured on the heels of each release with an American Tour in 2000 and a European Tour in 2001 and released subsequent Live DVD's/CD's from both tours before going their separate ways for an indefinite hiatus which lasted almost the entire decade.

(post written by dcedave)

Dream Theater News

Come June 23, I know what I will be picking up, my copy of Dream Theater's 10th studio album, Black Clouds and Silver Linings.  In addition to the standard CD version, Dream Theater will also release a vinyl LP and 3 disc special edition CD (one CD of instrumental mixes of the album and one with six covers).

Additionally, Dream Theater will headline the Progressive Nation Tour.  The bill is better for the European edition (Bigelf will be with them for one thing), but the U.S. line up is nothing to dismiss.  I am currently checking out Beardfish (watch for a review soon) and have been very  impressed.

(post written by dcedave)

Beatles MA

Liverpool Hope University is now offering a Master of Arts degree in "The Beatles, Popular Music and Society."  So for those of you who always thought it would be interesting to take that history of rock n' roll at the local jr. college, here is your chance to hop the pond and really dig in.

(post written by dcedave)

A Few Bands Worth A Listen

Since we have been so quite for so long I thought I needed to offer a few links to a few bands that I have found via myspace.  Enjoy!

The Greenhornes

The Binges

Buffalo Killers

The Willowz

The Ettes

Black Bonzo

Astra

(post written by dcedave)