Category: music

Coheed and Cambria

On By Christopher TuthillIn music, Progressive Rock, Reviews, Science FictionLeave a comment

I’m an old RUSH fan super excited by their recent reunion announcement, and so I’m the perfect audience for a band like Coheed and Cambria. A friend of mine has been raving about them for years, but it was only a couple of months ago that I finally took the plunge and started listening. I’ve bought two albums and will eventually get them all. It is so cool to see a progressive band like this doing so well.

I have very limited time, and so I usually stick to my favorite bands from earlier eras, (Jethro Tull, RUSH, YES, Led Zeppelin, The Who, ELP, King Crimson, Dylan and Tom Petty and The Kinks and so on) with a few newer ones sprinkled in here and there. Sometime around the birth of my children, and having the demands of family and my job, I kind of lost the ability to know much about new music, but these guys are so good. The epic science fiction story of The Amory Wars, (for the uninitiated, every album is set in this universe) the amazing riffs and energy of these albums, it’s fantastic. I feel like there should be some kind of rare band act passed by congress to protect these guys. They’re so great. I’m glad younger people have a modern day Rush they can follow. My kids are already singing along in the minivan.

I’ve read a couple of the omnibus comics and am getting into the story a bit, as well. I love how the comic books enhance the whole experience; it’s incredibly ambitious and also such a cool thing for fans to get into. As a teen, one of my favorite things to do was to get a new album by RUSH or some other progressive rock band and spend hours listening, reading the lyrics, looking at the artwork, all of that. I still do that when Jethro Tull or some other favorite band of mine releases a new album, or re-re-releases old ones with dozens of unearthed tracks. It’s more than just listening to songs; it’s an entire experience, and Coheed and Cambria is carrying on this glorious tradition.

I may not have been able to get Rush tickets, but I’ll be sure and try to see these guys the next time they’re touring near me.

Ozzy

On By Christopher TuthillIn Fantasy, musicLeave a comment

I discovered Ozzy at the height of the Satanic Panic, when I was in the eighth grade. A friend gave me a copy of Blizzard of Ozz and I admit when I first heard it, I found it frightening. The news said this man was Satanic and a kid had killed himself to the music. I was used to the milder stuff and didn’t get it at first. Only on repeated listenings did I start to understand this was Ozzy’s act,  an awfully fun one that upset parents and made kids love him all the more.

No Rest for the Wicked, Bark at the Moon, Diary of a Madman, one after another left their mark. I learned he’d fronted a band in the early mists of time, before I was born, called Black Sabbath. Mind blowing stuff. War Pigs is still enough to give you chills. There’s no better music than this for kids who love Dungeons and Dragons, pulp fantasy novels, and sci fi and horror movies.

He was funny and had a humanity and warmth that made me enjoy his music even more. The Spinal Tap moments on his reality show were priceless, and he took it all in good fun, part of his madcap act. I never saw him, but always knew I could trust a fellow who told me he was heading to Ozzfest. They were always kind souls. I’m so sad to hear he passed away; I feel like I’ve lost a part of my childhood.

What a ride he took us all on. God bless you, saintly Prince of Darkness. Rock on forever.

Hand of God has struck the hour
Day of Judgment, God is calling
On their knees the war pigs crawling
Begging mercy for their sins