Rush – Hemispheres – 1978

Rush
Hemispheres
Mercury/ Anthem

Rating: 10/10*

Powerful, challenging and bursting with musical sophistication, Hemispheres is where Rush‘s sound came together completely both in scope and execution. As much as 2112 was the their breakthrough and A Farewell to Kings upped the anti with greater experimentation and use of different instrumentation, the Canadian power trio were still working out the kinks. On Hemispheres, they not only pushed the multiple time signatures and long songpieces to the limit, but delivered them with absolute perfection.

Few bands have the musical prowess let alone the balls to pull off a 20-minute epic the way Rush does on “Cygnus X-1: Part 2 – Hemispheres.” It’s here that Rush show they have perfected the long-playing epic to mesmerizing results. Split into five different sections, the trio showcase a mystical blend of hard rock with subtler, quiet sections; Geddy Lee utilizing the keyboards with innovative frequency as plays intricate bass lines. Written about a mysterious black hole, where the explorer on a space ship is sucked and he emerges on Olympus interacting with the Gods and people and how life should be lived; the song takes the listener on an introspective journey, different from the one on 2112 that was more revolutionary. The entire piece is so fluid that it ultimately doesn’t feel as long as it says on the track list. Neil Peart’s drumming had reached a precision and dynamic that was unrivaled in rock and heavy metal, while Alex Lifeson’s guitar was simply mesmerizing with bombastic crunch.

Peart’s drumming is simply some of the best of his career as well as the lyrical pieces that he set forth on the three of the four tracks. The hard rocking “Circumstances,” despite Lee’s ultra-sonic high vocal pitch, takes us back to Peart’s days in England where he grew disillusioned with the life where he is living. The whimsical “The Trees” deals with inequality and racism through the nature-like setting of the forest – “There is unrest in the forest, there is trouble with the trees, for the maples have no sunlight as the oaks ignore their pleas.”

The album’s centerpiece is the 9-minute instrumental, “La Villa Strangiato,” which closes the album. The song combines flamingo-style guitar work with flourishes of jazz, rag time and Zeppelin bombast. It’s on this track that Rush reaches their peak as instrumentalists, as musicians, as artists. Starting off with Lifeson’s playing a Spanish guitar, the song segues into a winding, complex guitar solo while Peart builds the beat as Lee plucks nimble bass lines. The track is one of the best and sophisticated compositions of Rush’s career.

Despite the overall sentiment that at only four compositions – two of them long song pieces, pa- the album is a lot to stomach; the music is, by far, the most skillfully-crafted of their career. Full of multi-movement song structures, complex melodies and rhythms; Hemispheres is a musical juggernaut of innovation.

As much as Hemispheres could be seen as Rush’s crowning achievement that pushed their flair for progressive rock to a peak, it could also be seen as the point where the songs were in danger of getting out of hand in length and multiple time sequence changes. You got the sense that the band had pushed their progressive inclinations as far as they could go, which explains the drastic shift in direction they made on their next record.

Still, Hemispheres is one of Rush’s most musically-satisfying pieces of work. A crowning achievement for the band, the album remains a high-water mark for the genre of progressive metal.

Rush – Permanent Waves – 1980

Rush – A Farewell to Kings – 1977

Return to Rush Front Page. 

Phantasmagoria (noun)

This is a lovely little word. Surprisingly, this doesn’t get used that often. Or at least, I don’t ever really hear this word. So I think it’s time that we introduce ourselves to this word.

Therefore, as defined by Merriam-Webster:

phan-tas-ma-go-ria

1: an exhibition of optical effects and illusions

2
a: a constantly shifting complex succession of things seen or imagined
b: a scene that constantly changes

3: a bizarre or fantastic combination, collection or assemblage

Use in a Sentence:

1. “Jesse saw a phantasmagoria of demons and witches and warlocks spinning, flying around him to the point where he shut his eyes and screamed, ‘Stop it! Stop it!’”

2. “Taking that acid was a bad idea, Pricilla realized. As she walked down the street, all she could see was a phantasmagoria of people that looked melted and demonic – horns sprouting from heads, eyes turning lemon yellow, skin turning green and purple with orange poka dots; people turning into turquoise-colored octopuses that spoke in slow, deep voices about asking for some change.”

3. “Every night, Tommy dreaded falling asleep because of the stressful, fast-paced work environment he had. It started affecting his dreams to where he would be running down the hallways of his office with stacks of papers as managers and assistants popped in front of him with large faces and bugged out eyes – a phantasmagoria of hellishly-scary creatures that didn’t look human.” 

Chester Bennington Confirms New Frontman Role in Stone Temple Pilots

Well, it appears we have clarity now. Chester Bennington has confirmed that he is the new frontman for Stone Temple Pilots, while continuing to serve his role as a founding member of Linkin Park. As reported on Kerrang.com, Bennington discussed his long-term plans with STP during a radio interview with Kevin & Bean from KROQ, following his performance with the band at the KROQ Weenie Roast this weekend:

“Every band has its own kinda vibe. Stone Temple Pilots has this sexier, more classic rock feel to it. Linkin Park is a very modern, very tech-heavy type of band. It was kind of nice. I got to use my voice tonight. I got to sing and show my range a little bit. I still got to throw a little scream in here and there but it’s really just so much different. I grew up listening to these guys. When this opportunity came up, it was just like a no-brainer.”

After hearing this, it sounds like we will be hearing more new material from the now-assembled four piece in the future as well as more shows. Given what I’ve seen from the four so far from videos on You Tube, the promo video on the STP website; Bennington’s voice is a good fit as well as his laid-back, affable personality with the rest of the group. Now whether, they’re able to come up with good songs is anybody’s guess, but I would give it a listen.

My view of Bennington has changed a bit over the past few years. I liked some of the material he’s done since Linkin Park’s 2007′s Minutes to Midnight, and last year’s Living Things was the first decent and consistent record that his first group has put out in their career in my opinion. They no longer sound like a derivative nu-metal band. Plus I liked what he did on his Dead By Sunrise project with 2009′s Out of Ashes. And hearing his performance at KROQ, sounds like this could work with STP… as long as the material is good.

The Doors Keyboardist Ray Manzarek Dead at 74

Raymond Daniel Manzarek, The Doors 1939 – 2013

Ray Manzarek, founding member and keyboardist of one of the greatest groups to come out of Rock ‘N Roll, the Doors, died in Germany. He was 74. Manzarek had been battling bile duct cancer for some time now when he passed away at the RoMed Clinic in Rosenheim; surrounded by his family, his wife Dorothy and brothers James and Rick.

Ray Manzarek, during the Doors’ peak years in the 1960s (standing second to the right, next to late vocalist Jim Morrison).

Without Manzarek’s eerie yet jazzy keyboard arrangements, the Doors sound wouldn’t be as iconic as it is today. Over the course of six studio albums, not counting the two following the death of vocalist Jim Morrison in July 1971, the Doors established themselves and cemented themselves in the annals of Rock ‘N Roll with their fusion of jazz, blues, spoken word and hard rock. The Doors were an original band that stood apart from scores of other bands in an era that gushed originality, innovation and creativity. No band has sounded like the Doors before or since.

The Doors were one of three bands growing up that changed the course of my life forever as a 14 year old, and got me seriously into music and ultimately music journalism. Alongside the Beatles and Pink Floyd, the Doors were one of the bands whom I’ve always referred to as my “Gods of Music.”

The first time I remember listening to the Doors was when I was sitting on a school bus with one of the counselors from the overnight camp I went to up in Maine; coming back from a trip day at the Bangor State Fair; and he was introducing me to what he listened to for music. The Doors was one of his bands, and he gave me his walkman; and said, “Check this out, listen to this.” He put the earphones on my head, and played me me “Break on Through” from The Best of the Doors set. That was it. I spent the whole trip back, rocking out to the Doors, wearing these red-tinted glasses that I had won at the Bangor State Fair – that I still have. That summer, we had The Doors playing on repeat. It was just such a life-altering experience to me; and something I’ll never forget. When I got back from camp, I went and got The Best of the Doors double-CD set; and had that playing continually on my boom box in my room thereafter. Jim Morrison’s voice and the way he projected it and the lyrics had a huge impact on me, but Manzarek’s organ and keyboard work painted the picture that wouldn’t have existed otherwise.

That Fender Rhodes piano he used in the place of bass, while playing a Vox Continental organ created a sound that was completely transcended. He took what Ray Charles started and went in a completely different direction. Manzarek’s keyboard intro to “Light My Fire” made it the classic that it is today. His work on other such iconic works as the Oedipalian-epic “The End,” the tight pop of “Hello, I Love You” and the sleazy cool of “L.A. Woman” were instrumental and continue to be influential.

Without Manzarek, the sound of the Doors would not have happened… the Doors may not have happened.

Although, Manzarek continued to be a contributing force in music, producing albums for such pivotal artists as LA punk band X, Echo and the Bunnymen, and Iggy Pop; his invaluable contributions in the Doors remains his ultimate legacy.

Ray Manzarek, you were an iconic musician in an iconic band, whose work will never be repeated. You will be missed, but your work and sound will never be forgotten.

Amalgamation (noun)

I’m in the mood for finding more long and complex words to discuss that may have simple or practical definitions.  I like “amalgamation” a bit so let’s discuss that today.

As defined by Merriam-Webster:

amal-gam-atiion

1
a: the action or process of amalgamating: Uniting
b: the state of being amalgamated

2: the result of amalgamating: Amalgam

3: Merger <amalgamation of two corporations>

Use in a Sentence:

1. “The amalgamation of dance, glam and punk rock resulted in not only the New Wave movement of the 1980s but the New Romantics movement as well – generating bands such as Duran Duran… and to a lesser extent, Flock of Seagulls.”

2. “The amalgamation of new skills and experience with various companies as a freelance contractor made Billy much more marketable and appealing to employers looking for a graphic designer.”

3. “Chocolate and peanut butter are fine on their own, but the amalgamation of the two in a milkshake can be quite the tantalizing taste.”

Synonyms:

admixture, alloy, amalgam, blend, cocktail, combination, composite, compound, conflation, emulsion, fusion, intermixture, meld, mix, mixture, synthesis

Thoughts and Prayers Go Out to Oklahoma City

Yesterday, the Oklahoma City area got slammed by a 1-mile-wide EF4 tornado that left nearly 100 people dead so far, and over 250 injured.

My thoughts and prayers go out to those who lost their homes, their loved ones and their lives. 

2011 Brancaia TRE, IGT Rosso Toscana

Brancaia
2011 TRE, IGT Rosso Toscana

Rating: 91/100

This wine is a rock star. I hadn’t heard of this Italian Tuscany red wine until a couple of months back at a tasting at Seventh Street Wine Company in Fort Lauderdale. But let me tell you, this is by far one of the best Italian reds I have had in the $20/30 range… EVER.

The wine bursts with flavor, dark berries on the tip of the palate with hints of vanilla as it travels down the palate – some say they can taste licorice, but I never have. Composed of 80% Sangiovese and 20% Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, the Brancaia TRE is one to be remembered. Deep ruby red in color with a magnificent finish, the 2011 vintage is a good one that you can drink right away.

You can serve it with various pasta dishes, but would avoid it with Fettuccine-styled entrees (those tend to be heavy and overpowering for even the most full-bodied wines – Brancaia TRE is more medium-bodied). But chicken, fish, veal and pork dishes are fine to serve with this wine for certain.

You will certainly not be disappointed by this vintage for sure. Seventh Street has it on sale usually for around $23-25 a bottle, I believe. They also have Brancaia’s three other reds, which I have not tried but I am sure they are just as good:

• IL BLU - Runs about $80 a bottle
• ILATRAIA - Runs about $55 – 60 a bottle
• CHIANTI CLASSICO RISERVA - Runs about $35 a bottle

Anyway, see for yourself; wherever you’re located around the globe. It’s a great Italian red.