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