The Nuclear Portals Open and the Trees Pass Through

Who doesn't like music? No one doesn't like music. I certainly doesn't not like music. I think music is quite not the worst at all. As I mentioned a long, long time ago (about three posts back), I have really developed my tastes lately, ever since I realized I can be single and still enjoy life (a profound discovery). One such taste is my music.

Recently I've delved into a genre that I've been flirting with for years, but never advanced on due to ehhh, I don't feel like it. That's all changed now and I'm well on my way to getting home base. What genre is this that has won my heart so? Could it be.....Doo-Wop? No, I'm not a necrophiliac..... but I can dream.

Progressive Rock is that of which I speak, and the object of my obsession. I don't think I've had so much fun with music before. I've been spending hours lately just listening to bands and engorging my Must Buy list. Which is perfect since I don't have any money.

I have completely fallen in love with the imagination involved in making this music. From the lyrics to the compositions, I can't get enough. Between this music and my clothes, I fear the really fucking weird person inside me is coming to the surface like a scarf made of fruit loops. Don't believe me? I'll be that guy in Walmart wearing the Walter Matthau hat, bright blue Elvis shirt with matching bright blue shorts listening to a band called Magic Pie on my lime green mp3 player.

The true obsession started during my last stint in World of Warcraft. I was spending all my time on the game sitting in Orgrimmar with a pit in my stomach that was quickly engulfing the world. In times like those I generally look for on outlet. I found it in music.... which I think is a BIG improvement over holding a grudge and moping about for a year.

A man by the name of Arjen Anthony Lucassen opened the door for me. I had a double live CD of his Star One project for a while by then, but I decided to try out his other stuff while I was sitting around. Soon I was listening to Actual Fantasy, The Electric Castle, Space Metal, The Human Equation, and others quite a lot. They allowed me to escape the rather depressing situation I was in until Blue October came along with Foiled and helped me close the door on it. Hate Me indeed.

I continued listening to Arjen's stuff, and soon started looking deeper into prog music. Who knew such a wealth of great music would be awaiting me. My Must Buy list expanded at a rapid rate, and is still growing. In fact, I added about eleven bands to it tonight. Eleven bands, in one night. Most I probably wont get to for years. They are on my list, though, and that comforts me.

Here, I'll give you a sample of what I'm looking at. As most may know, the 70s is considered the golden age of Prog, and while I don't like labeling something a golden age when the ages still roll by, there was a ton of great music made then. Some of my 70s stuff includes some of the more well known bands, such as Pink Floyd, Rush, and Genesis. The list goes on, though, and includes the following both classic and modern: Threshold, Kayak, Riverside, Zello, Satellite, Like Wendy, Magic Pie, The Flower Kings, Spock's Beard, and much much more. Lookit me, I'm a commercial.

All in all, a very fun time for me musically. Wait, make it twelve bands tonight, I'm listening to Phideaux right now, and it's quite good. That's just the clumsy segue I needed to end this post. I'm horrible at finishing a piece of high literature such as this, and usually wind up letting it sit for an hour or two while I come up with some clever like "We'll, I'm off."

.......Well, I'm off.