UPDATE - 5/6@1:04PM: Thanks to Counterparts members barney rebel and thorswitch this special (minus songs) is now available for download here.

I'd heard about this last week but at first just assumed it was one of the existing specials; the FMQB special or the Q107 special. Not so! ... it's a new one! This one is unique in that host Paul Morris speaks with Neil Peart rather than Alex and Geddy. This 48-minute special aired on Canadian internet radio station Iceberg Radio and can be heard at this link. As an extra bonus, I think the image from the website (shown above) is new. Many thanks to Counterparts member Snaked for the heads up.

Like in the other specials, Neil discusses the making of the album, focusing specifically on the lyrics. But there's one item in this interview that stood out for me. Back in June on his website, Neil refers to one song on the album as the masterpiece.

... one day I found myself driving into work with a sense of dread, knowing I had to face that knotty mess again. I didn't remember ever feeling that way about writing before, and all at once I fell into this "all washed up" state of mind, convinced I just couldn't do it anymore, and I should just give up. (I'm sure you know the feeling - all songwriters do!)

And wouldn’t you know it? That day, I not only fixed up the problems with that song in a few minutes, but also started from scratch on another one that may well be the "masterpiece" of this album. ...

In this interview he essentially confirms that the masterpiece he was referring to was Armor and Sword. I'd tend to agree with this assessment. :)

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