Progressive Palaver

Episode 43 – Asia Part 4 Aria, Arena & Archiva 1 Joe continues his solo consideration of the Asia catalog, moving deep into the John Payne era with these three albums. Aria sees the new Asia continuing to develop as a band with the addition of Al Pitrelli. Is Desire awesome or terrifying? How much dramatic vocals is too much? Arena leads the band into new, jazz-influenced directions as the guitarist carousel continues. Despite this change in personnel Arena scores high marks from Joe for strong tracks like Two Sides of the Moon and The Day Before the War. Archiva 1 leads to some interesting research into the background of John Payne prior to joining Asia. Twitter: @progpala Email: progpala@gmail.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/ProgPala YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCw_Xxit3D8wbv-AcJ_7Z__w/featured Theme music provided by: Dave DeWhitt

Episode 42 – Asia Part 3 Astra, Then and Now & Aqua In this Palaver for one episode, Joe begins his solo exploration of the bulk of the Asia catalog. Picking up where the original group discussion ended these three albums cover many changes for the band from the departure of Steve Howe on Astra through the extensive use of session musicians on the studio tracks on Then & Now to the formation of essentially a new band on Aqua. The take home lesson learned in this episode is the magical element that Steve Howe brings to Asia. Twitter: @progpala Email: progpala@gmail.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/ProgPala YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCw_Xxit3D8wbv-AcJ_7Z__w/featured Theme music provided by: Dave DeWhitt

Episode 41 – Rush Part 16 Test for Echo, Vapor Trails, Snakes and Arrows & Clockwork Angels In this episode of the Palaver Tom, Paul and Joe finish out the Rush catalog by doing a quick burn through the last four albums. These four albums span a great deal of real time and the Palaver tries to sort out the greater context both in the Rush lineage and the larger musical landscape. Of particular note is the discussion regarding the two different versions of Vapor Trails. This episode finds the group grappling with a changing group that ultimately lands strong on their last output, Clockwork Angels. Twitter: @progpala Email: progpala@gmail.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/ProgPala YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCw_Xxit3D8wbv-AcJ_7Z__w/featured Theme music provided by: Dave DeWhitt

Episode 40 – Rush Part 15, Counterparts In this episode of the Palaver Tom, Ken, Paul and Joe spend some quality time with Counterparts. This album features the return of Peter Collins and with him a recurring theme (real or imagined) of the Queensryche influence. The context of 1993 (with the onset of grunge and the continuing demise of prog) is explored in general terms and how Rush maintained relevancy during this period. First and foremost, in this vein is Ken’s “heavy metal bait and switch” theory with regards to this album. Tom contemplates the (potentially) controversial use of acoustic guitar in Nobody’s Hero and the group searches for the meaning behind Between Sun and Moon. It is noted that Rush continue to challenge us as listeners as they continue to explore new areas both musically and lyrically. In the end Counterparts receives high Palaver marks indeed! Twitter: @progpala Email: progpala@gmail.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/ProgPala YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCw_Xxit3D8wbv-AcJ_7Z__w/featured Theme music provided by: Dave DeWhitt

Episode 39 – Rush Part 14, Roll the Bones & Rupert Hine Reflections Technical difficulties… They are bound to catch up with most podcasts sooner or later. The Palaver got them good for this section. Due to these technical gremlins we lost the recordings of both our episode on Roll the Bones and the outstanding interview Tom and Joe did with Rupert Hine. This episode attempts to recap both of those recordings that are forever lost. The Palaver would like to send our most sincere thanks and apologies to Mr. Hine for being so gracious with his time. The insights he provided into his time with Rush (as well as topics beyond) were beyond compare. Through this somewhat brief episode, you will get the main gist of our thoughts on Roll the Bones as well as some of the stories relayed by Rupert. Twitter: @progpala Email: progpala@gmail.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/ProgPala YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCw_Xxit3D8wbv-AcJ_7Z__w/featured Theme music provided by: Dave DeWhitt

Episode 38 – Rush Part 13, Presto “Hitting if fresh and finding it new” - This Palaver finds Joe, Ken, Colby and Tom considering Rush’s Presto. First and foremost, the group must consider the effect of producer Rupert Hine on this record and the fact that Presto is sonically very different from other Rush albums up to this point. From there the group considers the question “How proggy is Presto” and the nature of “chameleon Rush”. There is a small sidebar conversation on the members’ three favorite Rush albums. The topic of soundtrack dissonance surfaces again. Why don’t people like the inflatable bunnies?? Twitter: @progpala Email: progpala@gmail.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/ProgPala YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCw_Xxit3D8wbv-AcJ_7Z__w/featured Theme music provided by: Dave DeWhitt

Episode 37 – Rush Part 12, Hold Your Fire Ken and Joe attempt to tackle the intricate beauty that is Hold Your Fire without the usual support of the larger Palaver community. Ken begins with a outline of traditional Palaver roles in the group before he and Joe go into the greater prog context of Hold Your Fire. The track consideration allows Joe and Ken to go into the songwriting, lyrical themes and production that make Hold Your Fire a hidden gem. Twitter: @progpala Email: progpala@gmail.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/ProgPala YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCw_Xxit3D8wbv-AcJ_7Z__w/featured Theme music provided by: Dave DeWhitt

Episode 36 – Rush Part 11, Power Windows Pt 2 The discussion of Power Windows continues unabated with Ken, Paul, Joe and Colby. Picking up with Territories, this part of the Palaver covers the power of Neil’s lyrics and the potentials of soundtrack dissonance. What are the Mystic Rhythms and are they really everywhere? At the end of the episode Joe performs his act of contrition to the group for having offended them with an ill-informed statement made all the way back in the episode on Tales from Topographic Oceans. Power Windows is simply wonderful! Twitter: @progpala Email: progpala@gmail.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/ProgPala YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCw_Xxit3D8wbv-AcJ_7Z__w/featured Theme music provided by: Dave DeWhitt

Episode 35 – Rush Part 10, Power Windows Pt 1 In this episode of Progressive Palaver Paul, Ken, Tom, Colby and Joe discuss Power Windows. This episode covers the group’s overall impressions of the album as a whole and covers the individual songs into Marathon. How powerful is The Big Money? How prog is Power Windows? As usual there is a wide range of emotions here and Tom has his Rush “factoid” spoiled much to his chagrin. Does the Palaver find the best music moment EVER?? You be the judge. Twitter: @progpala Email: progpala@gmail.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/ProgPala YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCw_Xxit3D8wbv-AcJ_7Z__w/featured Theme music provided by: Dave DeWhitt

SCS7 – Steven Wilson – Glenside PA Continuing the Special Concert Series, Paul and Joe discuss the Steven Wilson concert Paul attended on April 25th at the Keswick Theater in Glenside PA. Paul provides excellent perspective on the artistry of Steven Wilson including songwriting, musicianship and stage production. This was clearly a concert to have seen. Twitter: @progpala Email: progpala@gmail.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/ProgPala YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCw_Xxit3D8wbv-AcJ_7Z__w/featured Theme music provided by: Dave DeWhitt