Steven Shinder
Author of fantasy horror comedy novel Lemons Loom Like Rain, which is available on Amazon. You can also read excerpts at stevenshinder.com and check out facebook.com/StevenShinderStorytelling as I share writing-related topics of discussion.
'Heaven & Earth'—Collecting Visions from the Other Side
In early 2014, the Yes lineup of vocalist Jon Davison, keyboardist Geoff Downes, guitarist Steve Howe, bassist Chris Squire, and drummer Alan White recorded a new album. They reunited with Roy Thomas Baker, who had produced the failed 1979 Paris sessions. This seemed to be part of a pattern in which Yes revisited certain things from their distant past. After all, they had revisited material from the Drama era for their 2011 album Fly from Here, and they had done a 2013 Three Album Tour in which they performed Close to the Edge, Going for the One, and The Yes Album.
Steven ShinderPublished about a year ago in Beat
Forms of 'Fly from Here' Lingering
After Yes' 35th Anniversary Tour, the band ended up going on a hiatus. Many years later, Jon Anderson would admit that he left Yes in 2004. By 2008, there were plans to commemorate the 40th anniversary with the Close to the Edge And Back Tour. Other Yes veterans would have included Steve Howe (guitar), Chris Squire (bass), and Alan White (drums). Rick Wakeman's son Oliver Wakeman joined the band in his father's place.
Steven ShinderPublished about a year ago in Beat
'The Dark Crystal' Canon Cracked
The Netflix fantasy series The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, a prequel to Jim Henson's 1982 film The Dark Crystal, has been embraced by many fans of the franchise. However, it has contradicted other Dark Crystal media, thus bringing attention to the question of canon. Below is a history of what the Jim Henson Company has said about the canon, as well as a broad overview of the contradictions (which may contain spoilers).
Steven ShinderPublished about a year ago in Futurism
'Magnification' - Pure Imagination in a Metaphoric Dream
After The Ladder Tour, Billy Sherwood left Yes (though he would return much later). In 2000, the band embarked on their Masterworks Tour, with the set list decided by fan votes and including epics "Close to the Edge," "Ritual," and "The Gates of Delirium." During the tour, keyboardist Igor Khoroshev was involved in an incident involving two female security guards. After he left the band, the Yes lineup was down to Jon Anderson (vocals), Steve Howe (guitar), Chris Squire (bass), and Alan White (drums).
Steven ShinderPublished about a year ago in Beat
A Look Back at DC Universe: Year One
Happy Batman Day! In honor of this occasion, I thought it would be fitting to look back at the first year of the DC Universe streaming service. Below, I have written down the shows, movies, and comics that I experienced through DC Universe. Though I did not quite get everything down, this whole reflection goes to show just how much content there is to explore on the service.
Steven ShinderPublished about a year ago in Geeks
'The Ladder' - Living Within the Vision
After the Open Your Eyes Tour wrapped up in 1998, the Yes lineup of Jon Anderson (vocals), Steve Howe (guitar), Igor Khoroshev (keys), Billy Sherwood (rhythm guitar), Chris Squire (bass), and Alan White (drums) felt ready to record another album. Needing an outside perspective, they decided to work with producer Bruce Fairbairn at Armoury Studios in Vancouver. While Open Your Eyes was very poppy, the poppiness on the next album that became The Ladder was dialed back a bit, and there was plenty of prog rock. The album felt like a good blend of old and new. It includes ethnic instruments, some of which were played by Randy Raine-Reusch. In addition, Rhys Fulber contributed dance loops, and The Marguerita Horns played horns.
Steven ShinderPublished about a year ago in Beat
'Open Your Eyes' - Yes Caught at the Crossroads
In 1997, keyboardist Rick Wakeman left Yes (again) after being displeased with promotional strategies regarding the Keys to Ascension albums and the lack of communication with Yes management. As a result, some tour dates were canceled. Billy Sherwood, who had been mixing the studio tracks on Keys to Ascension 2, decided to come in and help since he wanted Yes to keep on going. He had known bassist Chris Squire since the late 1980s, and was considered as a potential replacement for vocalist Jon Anderson prior to 1991s Union. Though Anderson's voice replaced Sherwood's on "The More We Live-Let Go," Sherwood's bass playing remained intact. In 1992, he had toured with Squire as part of The Chris Squire Experiment (with Alan White on drums). And in 1994, Sherwood performed with Yes at their shows on the Talk Tour. Plus, in 1995, he sang "Wonderous Stories" on the tribute album Tales from Yesterday. So he wasn't a musician who came from nowhere; he was very familiar with Yes music and had worked with Yes members.
Steven ShinderPublished about a year ago in Beat
10 Reasons to Watch 'Community'
Ten years ago, the sitcom Community premiered on NBC. Chronicling the adventures of a community college study group, the production history of the show involved a showrunner change-up for the fourth season, a cancellation at the end of the fifth season, and a sixth season revival on the short-lived Yahoo! Screen. Despite all this and cast changes, the show made it to six seasons, bringing #SixSeasonsAndAMovie closer to completion. A movie would be very welcome, but for now, people can still watch the entire show. In honor of the tenth anniversary, below are ten reasons to watch (or rewatch) Community.
Steven ShinderPublished about a year ago in Geeks
