Currently I have two music projects in the works. I recently completed remastering "Classical Guitar Live" which is available for purchase. And you can also preorder copies of "Gnostic Raw" which should be ready to ship by the end of March 2010.
For anyone supporting MERP, or the "New Agenda for America," I just want you to know that I play music for fun. So I would not be the least bit offended if you don't like any or all of my compositions. I have not actually played in a band in quite awhile and it is fairly unlikely that I will be doing any live performances of any of these compositions. Again, I just do it for fun.
But in an attempt to raise money for the "New Agenda for America" -- and the "New Age Citizen" website -- I am releasing a series of music CD's for anyone that might be interested. Currently "Classical Guitar Live" is available for purchase and "Gnostic Raw" is available for pre-order. The mastered version, "Gnostic" should be available towards the end of 2010
In addition to the CD's I also have the complete writings from the publication, "New Age Patriot," which was published between 1989 and 1997. This is available on CD and is viewable through any web browser. It does not require internet connectivity since all files reside on the CD.
Soon I will be releasing a "Raw" version of the "Gnostic" music project. It will feature at least 9 of the 12 compositions that will appear on the final CD. You might say it is something like the Beatles "Anthology" project in reverse (minus the talent) . . . as they released early versions of their compositions after selling their CD rights to Michael Jackson. I, on the other hand, am releasing the early version first, because the final versions simply aren't completed. Yet despite the "work in progress" nature of the "Gnostic Raw" CD, all songs are in fact complete compositions.
Philosophical Underpinnings of "Gnostic" Raw
In my writings I have begun to define an interesting dichotomy between "Mystic Traditions" and "Literalist Traditions." "Mystic Traditions" tend to value knowledge which is derived from the Latin "Gnosis." "Literalist Traditions" tend to keep the masses ignorant and uninformed: they basically see the masses as so much expendable grist for the mill So in this sense the title, "Gnostic," is sort of a challenge to the prevailing order . . . in the form of a music CD. "Gnostic Raw" attempts to philosophically challenges the current globalist order.
Obviously much work still to be done. The final version of the CD will simply be called "Gnostic" I use this term to refer to all of the "Mystery Traditions" (Yoga, Buddhism, Sufism etc.) that valued true knowledge (e.g., Gnosis = Knowledge) above all else. Interestingly most of these traditions and their teachers (e.g., Buddha, Jesus, Pythagoras etc.) made use of Marijuana and other Entheogenic plants (Peyote, Psilocybin, LSD etc.). The album cover (at least for "Gnostic Raw") features the duality (an angel and devil) against a backdrop of "Morning Glories" on the trellis. Morning Glories were used by many cultures and had effects similar to LSD.
"Gnostic" is also parallel to my writings for "New Age Citizen" in many ways. And while there are many blunt and veiled references to Marijuana, and other entheogenic drugs, there is also a much broader reference to mystical spiritual traditions and global sustainability throughout the lyrics.
Here are some brief liner notes and out takes from the "Gnostic Raw" CD.
"I Know What You Want Obama" A rocker which criticizes what I see as Obama's fascist tendencies on many domestic and international fronts.
"I Know What You Want Obama" Lyrics:
A1] I know what you want Obama I can hear your feet outside my door I know what you want Obama You'd like to make us your slaves forever more
B1] But your emperors clothes have worn away And all that's lefts a stupid corporate whore
A2] You know your time is coming And when the people wake they foil your plan You know your time is coming And when we rise well take our country back
B2] Cus your emperors clothes have worn away And the devil waves behind your back
A3] We spent our years in college We had good jobs throughout this wonderland You send our jobs to China So now were paid like slaves at Burger Land
B3] Cus your emperors clothes have worn away And the devil waves behind your back
A4] There's a new days coming And when the hour glass empties you'll be gone There's a new days coming We should have never trusted you so long
B4] Cus your emperors clothes have worn away And the devil waves behind your back
A5] I'm no white boy rapper But I've got some things Ive got to say You like to talk compassion But the Golden Rules for fools to play
B5] Cus your emperors clothes have worn away And the devil waves behind your back
A6] Instrumental B6] Instrumental
A7] You're busy paying Drug Lords To pump that Oil through Afghan lands You'd lead our troops to slaughter Just to serve the Global Pigs demands
B7] Cus your emperors clothes have worn away And the devil waves behind your back
A8] I know what you want Obama I can hear your feet outside my door I know what you want Obama You'd like to make us your slaves forever more
B8] But your emperors clothes have worn away And all that's lefts a stupid corporate whore
"Rainbow Farm" is an instrumental homage to the massacre at that occurred at "Rainbow Farm" the week before 911 in September of 2001. Click here to listen.
I wrote "The Hemp Song" quite awhile ago: shortly after meeting hemp activist Jack Herer (author of "The Emperor Wears No Clothes") in the early 90's. It reflects our shared vision of what the world might be like if Marijuana prohibition were to end. The refrain says it all as it is only after we change our thinking that we can change our reality.
Any time, any day Any time that we want it that way We don’t need your Drug War anymore
"The Ride So Far" is a musical anthem for the immediate Re-Legalization of Marijuana "Self Cultivation." This is driven home by the following lyrics in the chorus:
The Ride So Far Words and Music by Bruce W. Cain Copyright 2009
See you driving in you car How you like the drive so far babe? Will you travel very far? Or will the highway fade before your eyes?
You drive around so aimlessly Where was it you hoped to be now? Did you reach your destiny? Are you where you hoped to be today?
Chorus:
There must be a better way than this We need to talk about it They won't even let us grow a weed It's time to shout about it
Weed it just a symbol now Of those freedoms I hold sacred I wear this leaf to tell you now We're here to take our freedoms back today
And all of us is all we need Peace on Earth is what we pray for The love you get will far exceed All the love you'll ever give away
Refrain:
Come on, Come on, Come on baby Come on down and join the circle Come on little Goddess let's get high
Come on, Come on, Come on baby Come on down and join the circle Come on everybody let's get high
It is my hope that this ballad "The Ride So Far" is embraced by the "grass roots" movement to demand an end to Marijuana Prohibition throughout the globe.
Hopefully, by the end of 2010, the final version of "Gnostic" will be mixed, mastered and available for your listening pleasure. Unfortunately I can be a procrastinator so it is possible this will never be completed. While "Gnostic Raw" features 9 songs, there will be at least 12 songs on the final "Gnostic" CD.
"Classical Guitar Live" contains 14 solo guitar compositions that span the 16th to 20th Century. All were captured from a single performance by Bruce Cain performed when he was at the top of his form. This live concert has been recently re-mastered and is now available for your listening pleasure.
I've always regretted not having recorded better versions of these compositions as any live performance, in this genre, is always going to have a few mistakes. Thankfully there are few flaws in this "live concert" that contains about 46 minutes of live music. 46 Minutes and 56 seconds if you want to get technical. I'm also thankful for having saved the concert tape as I no longer have the time to keep up this repertoire. At the time of the concert (1979) I was both teaching guitar as well as practicing a minimum of 3 hours per day.
Here is a MP3 version of "Dance of the Corregidor" by Manuel deFalla which is one of the compositions on "Classical Guitar Live"
