Alex Lifeson's Envy of None project with Andy Curran, guitarist Alfio Annibalini and vocalist Maiah Wynne will be releasing their second album next month. The band's sophomore effort is titled Stygian Wavz and it's slated for release via Kscope Records on March 28th. This past Friday the band released more details along with a video trailer outlining all the available formats, which will include colored vinyl, standard black vinyl, CD, Blu-ray, digitally and as a special deluxe edition box set (autographed version available). Alex Lifeson also gave a short interview for iHeart Radio over the weekend to discuss the upcoming album, along with some of his thoughts on the current political climate amid souring relations between the US and Canada:

... this has gone so crazy. We are friends and neighbors and allies. We've spilled blood for each other. We've done so much for each other forever, and we are so unified together as a continent. This is all about a crazy, lying maniac in the government. And then there's also Donald Trump running the show and creating all of this chaos. So look what's happening in the Ukraine right now? Now, Like, I'm sorry, but that guy is nuts. ...

When asked about whether Envy of None would consider touring, Alex did not rule it out:

... We're still talking about it. We'd love to do it, but it's not an easy thing to embark on a tour these days. The material would be awesome. I think it would be a fantastic evening of music in a nice little theater with a nice light show. It would be a great presentation. But you know, there's just so much, so many logistics to clear before we even get to that point. But we're still talking about
it and there's a chance. ...

You can listen to the entire interview below or at this location. For more details on all the various album formats and what they include, visit the official Envy of None store. Since first announcing the album back in October, the band has released three singles off the album including the title track, Not Dead Yet, and Under the Stars. That Was Then had also previously been released as a single back in 2023. The entire tracklist is as follows:

Envy Of None - Stygian Wavz

1. Not Dead Yet [03:29]
2. The Story [04:41]
3. Under The Stars [04:32]
4. Thrill Of The Chase [03:40]
5. Handle With Care [04:14]
6. That Was Then [03:46]
7. Raindrops [03:33]
8. New Trip [03:55]
9. Clouds [04:02]
10. The End [03:58]
11. Stygian Waves [03:37]

Rush announced last month that they will be releasing a Rush 50 Super Deluxe Box Set compilation anthology in celebration of the band's 50th anniversary this Spring. Although we've known about the set since early December, Rush made it officially official a few weeks ago on January 28th, along with a few more details and an unboxing video. From the announcement:

On March 21, UMe/Mercury and Anthem Records label groups celebrate the half-century milestone marker for Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame icons with RUSH 50, a wide-ranging 50-track super deluxe anthology that encompasses the entirety of the band's long and storied career for the first time across all the band's label groups, bookended with the first ever reissue of their debut 1973 single and a live recording of the last song they ever performed together as a band at their final concert in 2015 at The Forum in Los Angeles. ...

"50? Is that all?...seriously...it's a cool collection...but look at all those songs - I'm exhausted just reading the effin list!" - Geddy Lee ...

The set will be available in five distinct configurations, including the (1) Super Deluxe Edition ($374.98), (2) Rush Store Exclusive Super Deluxe Edition, (3) 7-LP Deluxe Edition ($249.98), (4) 4-CD Deluxe Edition ($99.98), and (5) Digital Edition ($26.49). The Rush Backstage Store exclusive edition includes an additional four bonus lithos showcasing Rush through time, newly illustrated by FANTOONS from the characters created for the graphic novel depicting the band in the '70s, '80s, '90s and 2000s. As mentioned above, Rush 50 will be officially released on March 21st, and it can be pre-ordered via Amazon and other retailers. You can view all the details regarding the different configurations and what they include, along with the full tracklist at Rush.com.

The ForeBatten Foundation provides funding, support and hope for children with Batten disease, and last week they kicked off their annual online charity auction which will run through this coming Wednesday, March 5th. One of the items up for bidding is a golf outing with Rush's Alex Lifeson, and Alex posted the following to his Instagram earlier this afternoon:

Wow, what a set up! Too bad about what happened next! I'd love to show you the booming arc of my ball flight, the incredibly sticky pitch shots into the green and the seemingly impossible 30 yard putts I usually sometimes maybe make (this was my opponent's putt I took because I already tapped in and he was crying so much he couldn't even clean his ball.)

You can be my 3 guests for a delicious dinner, wines from my cellar and golf at amazing courses with a bid on the @forebatten auction site - information is included here (link in bio!). Please bid responsibly and without limit. Nevermind the responsibily part!

For more information and to place your bid (now close to $20K!), go to this location.

Prog magazine posted excerpts from an old interview they did with tennis pro Pat Cash back in 2013 where he talks about his love of prog rock, and he says the following about Rush (thanks RushFanForever):

...Rush were my first prog rock band proper. In the US they were played a lot on the radio, so I got into Hemispheres and A Farewell To Kings. Cygnus X1 - I don't know how many times I've played that section when it goes quiet and then it comes back in. It squeals! Rush were huge for me; it's Geddy's voice and the time changes. ...

On this past week's episode of Rush Roundtable on the Rushfans YouTube channel (episode #265), the panel continues thier Snakes & Arrows discussion with Faithless:

That's all for this week. Have a great weekend!!