I have been somewhat mystified as to how a music company based in Canada somehow missed an Xtra style based upon the Greatest Prog Rock Band in the History of Mankind: RUSH. Hello!!!

In that light, I have tried rectify this great injustice and terrible oversight by taking matters into my own DAW.

https://soundcloud.com/davidsnyderchannel/the-phoenix-and-the-gargoyle

The Phoenix and the Gargoyle
From the Multi Platinum Release "Farewell to Queens"

By David Snyder

V1

In a dream from Samuel Coleridge
Of the mighty Kubla Khan
They smoked incense and opium
For the judgment yet to come
And the goblins danced like fairies
To cast their elvan spell
To some it was a quorum
To others it was hell

CH:

And the Phoenix and the Gargoyle
Were both from Canada
One was a beautiful singing bird
The other he was not
In the Halls of the great Valhalla
The mighty Gods appease!
King Peter waved his Magic Wand
And the people bowed to please!

V2

Alex, Neil and Geddy Lee
On the isle of greenish Kent
Staring at the Gibbous moon
Wondering where it went
And all the sad brave warriors
Who had been singing from the heart
Knew their days were numbered
For the skies were growing dark
Growing Dark!
They knew their days were numbered
For the skies were growing dark
Growing Dark!

Bridge

And when would come the savior
To restore the mighty throne
And clear the city of the rats
Bringing plague to the village gnomes
From Scotland to the sewers
Sir Floyd stood brave alone
On the banks of the sacred river Alph
Where no eagle yet has flown
Where no eagle yet has flown

V3

And who would pull Excalibur
To set the Kingdom right
With blazing sounds from a Fender
To sanctify the night
And who would wield Excalibur
To sanctify the night?

Between the Phoenix and the Gargoyle
Who would win the fight?
Between the Phoenix and the Gargoyle
Who would win the fight?

All music and lyrics copyright 2016 by David Snyder

David Snyder: Bass, Electric Guitars, 12 String Guitars, Synthesizers, Lead Guitar, Percussion, Drum Programming, Vocals

Style RUSH.STY (User Defined)

(Modified _STARLIT.STY (Star-lit Dreamy Jazz Rock)
RealTracks in style: 1759:Bass, Electric, Pop16ths Ev 085
RealTracks in style: 912:Piano, Electric, Rhythm SmoothPoppy Ev16 090
RealTracks in style: ~542:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm Dreamy Ev 085
RealDrums in style: RockModernSyncEv16^8-a:Snare, Closed HiHat , b:Snare, Ride

I must admit I never listened to a lot of Rush, but this is COOL!! Love the sonic texture, and the HUGE drums. Really cool guitar work/fx. I hear a little of the Sgt. Pepper era Beatles in this. Great job on everything (song, mix, production, and vocal). Another great tune!! You're on a roll my friend!! Take care. Greg

Quite a massive sound out of BIAB you've created here!
Yes you're right, a couple of more progressive styles would be welcome.
Speaking of which, Rush was cool, but personally I liked UK (rendezvous 602, Caesar's Palace blues) better. Heck, they should add an electric violin to the realtrack soloists ;-)

Rob

Awesome tune David. Those XTRA styles are very cool. Excellent vocal. Rush, one of my favorite groups.

Hello, David

I agree with Greg, Rob & Anne-Marie and Scott.
I must admit I have rarely listened to Progressive Rock, but this is awesome tune.
You've created quite a massive sound out of BIAB.
I also hear a little of the later Beatles in this like John Lennon's "Tomorrow Never Knows".
Very Enjoyable listen.

Best Regards.

Shigeki Adachi

Hi David,

Nice work!! I hear your big drum sound again...one of your trademarks.
Love the lyrics too

Don't get me started on Rush!! One of my favourite bands of all time!

Yes, a few Prog Styles would be good. Maybe in another Xtra styles pack.

Cheers
Rec

David,
Rush have never been a band I liked but this piece clearly shows YOUR talent as a songwriter, performer and arranger.
Amazing what BIAB can do in the right hands, your hands!

Well done

Alyn

"And all the sad brave warriors
Who had been singing from the heart
Knew their days were numbered
For the skies were growing dark"

Ah.

You have done some ambitious things in the past. None more so than this. And, here, you succeed in spades.

You capture the rock'n'roll chaos of Rush with all of its varied elements. The unrelenting guitars, the soaring synths, the meandering, thrashing drums, the high vocals...

The lyric is even more ambitious than the instrumentation. Poetry with a capital P. - like it was two centuries old. Telling stories as though they were drenched in that very opium induced dream...

A truly amazing work of art.

"And all who heard should see them there,
And all should cry, Beware! Beware!"

fj

David,

What a great musical sandbox you are making of BiaB. I can`t imagine where you find time to create all these new styles... or to put it another way - what will you do with your spare time when BiaB catches up and these styles are available on tap?
I love the big sound and lots of the lyrics- they would make a cool graphic novel.

Rush "the Greatest Prog Rock Band in the History of Mankind"...but I thought that was King Crimson?!

Robert

David
I'm currently on a short holiday so listened on my phone which is probably not the best way to hear this. However an extremely inventive piece of music with an amazing lyric and a facinating overall production.
Really well done.

Quite allegorical....



Not being lazy...just couldn't put it any better than the above. I came of music age much earlier than Rush but I can way appreciate the creativity and work that went into this production.

Every time it seems the limits of biab might be tested somebody, and often you, takes it up to another tier.

Amazing

Bud

Excellent song David. Beautiful lyrics One of your best.

Sergio

Everything that I wanted to say already have been said. This must have been a great undertaking but you pulled it off fantastically.

I liked your vocals on this one.

Although I am not a Rush fan you did a fantastic job on this one.

David, you have created a massive sound here. I hear everything in this song, Rush, Beatles, and I'm even reminded of Springsteen at the beginning. You are a talented individual. Take care, Torrey.

Sounds even better through proper speakers!

David, Quite an impressive big sound you have here. The lyrics are mesmerizing. Great production. Good work. Tom

First, a global thanks to everyone and all the kind comments.

I wanted to say that Floyd's "1972" song reminded me of what might be the genesis for the song.

My first concert date was with a girl named Tammy at the Greensboro Coliseum to see RUSH.

I felt sure that after they played Xanadu she would fall in love with me, but she said she didn't "get it." I think she wished I had taken her to see the Doobie Brothers.

Oh, well, times marches on. Maybe others have stories of similarly crushed hopes and dreams.

Thanks Greg! I am really glad you enjoyed it!!

Thanks guys!

Well, as long as it is prog, we can agree to be friends!!

Yeah, some electric violins would be wicked, I agree!

Thanks Scott! I am glad you liked it!

Thanks Shigeki! Very interesting comparison to the Lennon song. I had never thought of that, but now I see what you mean!

Thanks!

Thanks Receder! Oh, please, DO get started on RUSH. I want to hear!!

Thanks Alyn! I have been loving your new stuff as well!

Thanks Floyd! Where would I/we be without ya man?



Glad you enjoyed it. 1972 was killer!!!!!

Thanks Guys!

As with any poetical endeavor, I have absolutely no idea what this song means from an allegorical perspective.

But I am glad you found it to be so, and may the light of magic illumination continue to ever shine within your own bright and sage-like minds.

Hmmm....King Crimson. Now I am caught.

Uh, yeah...I see what you mean. Can I get back to you on that?

With regard to other questions, if they come out with styles in this vein I will be doing nothing else with my time and my wife will kill me so maybe they are doing me a favor.

Thank you Peter! I am glad you enjoyed it!!

Thanks Sergio!!

Thanks Mario!

Thank you Torrey! That means a lot coming from someone of your own caliber!

Thanks Tommy!

David ,

That was a tour de force, I was taken back to ‘Lord of the Rings’ that is a direction you would have no trouble in filling, writing for swashbuckling drama films another excellent showing.

Paddy G

Well, being Canadian I can tell you that I have listened to a LOT of Rush over the years. With CRTC Canadian content laws it is hard not to, they are played all the time.

Not my favorite band, but I highly respect them for their high caliber of musicianship and the writing which is top notch.

Very ambitious write, lyrics are something else! Vocal sounded good too.

David,

Even though I've never managed to get my head around music of this genre, I can appreciate the huge effort that's gone into getting this together. I'm incredibly impressed that you pulled it off with such pizzazz. The hook is incredibly clever and I really liked the reference to Coleridge's Kubla Kahn.... very inventive!

It seems that your creativity is boundless!

All the best,
Noel