Google the band

Okay.. so Steve cheated, but I guess in the "new world", getting the correct answer is the important thing. Knowing the proper tools and how to use them is more than half the battle these days..

Obviously some people who read the blog that know me personally knew the answer, and just didn't say anything. But the clues were right there.. a 3 piece band.. Canadian, and the writer/drummer is obviously very articulate. It could only be, Rush. They are my Beatles, but better because they've never broken up and have continued to make new music for over 30 years now. They're in the process of writing for a new album to be recorded this fall, and released sometime next year. It should be really great, and I'll go see the tour again as I always do. I've probably seen them 10 times or something like that..

Anyway.. the only reason I went to Neil Peart's web site is because I was bored the other day and watched the Rush in Rio DVD, which is a live concert, and thought I'd like to catch up and see what they're doing lately...

I kind of feel like I'm becoming more out of touch with music all the time. Most new music sounds like shit to me for the most part. I wonder if that's because I'm aging and I just don't "get it" when it comes to newer artists and music. But then, I've never been pigeon holed into specific generes. I think I have a good ear for what is good and what is shit.

Another thing I've noticed is that most newer musicians, and I guess just musicians in general, tend to not be very bright individuals. The members of Rush, and in particular Neil Peart are exceptionally well read and articulate. He's written books and published photographic art as well.

One of the reasons I got into Rush in the first place is because they embraced sort of a sci-fi prog rock motif. Everything they write is very complex and meaningful in one way or another. One song on their 1982 album, Signals, is called The Analog Kid.. I was 15 years old, and was the analog kid.. so it seemed like they existed just for the geek people like me and my friends.

It's exceptionally rare that you see a highly sucessful musical act stay to get decade after decade, completely intact, continuing to write and perform new music, and actually liking each other.. to the point that they are really best friends. In a world filled with childish drama, it's nice to see some sucessful people that in a lot of ways, remind me of myself.. well, except they're geniuses and all that, and I just write code and blog a lot.

Hmm... I just looked up the Billboard "top 10".

Nelly Furtado Featuring Timbaland
Shakira Featuring Wyclef Jean
Gnarls Barkley
Cassie
Yung Joc
Christina Aguilera
Chamillionaire Featuring Krayzie Bone
Rihanna
Lil Jon Featuring E-40 & Sean Paul Of The YoungBloodZ
Field Mob Featuring Ciara

Have no idea who any of them are, except maybe Christina Aguilera, who in my view is just an insipid comic of a performer. Really.. what the fuck is it with these names?

I must be getting really old, because I find no value in any of this bullshit tripe.