Gnostic Raw

Music Projects of Bruce Cain:

Music Projects: Gnostic [Raw] and "Classical Guitar Live" now available for purchase.

In order to raise money for the "New Agenda for America" -- and to continue with this website -- I am releasing a series of music CD's.  I'm hoping to showcase some of this music during some of my future public appearances.  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 2008.  Click here to place your order.

Gnostic [Raw]

First you might want to take a listen to the 8 out takes from the "Gnostic Raw" CD by clicking on the links above.  You can also listen to 7 of the 8 out takes through the following YouTube video:

What is "Gnostic Raw"

I've featured some of my acoustic music from time to time but have yet to put forth any of my other compositions.  Soon I will be releasing a "Raw" version of the "Gnostic" music project that will feature about half of the 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 this CD all songs evoke a powerful edge and are in fact complete compositions.

Philosophical Parallels

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.  It attempts to define a persona that challenges the current order.

"Gnostic" is also philosophically parallel to the "New Agenda for America" in many ways.  There is the "Hemp Song" which strongly advocates for the legalization of Marijuana.  "I Know What You Want George" is a rocker which criticizes George Bush's fascist tendencies. 

I know what you want George
I can hear your feet outside my door
I know what you want George
You’d like to make us your slaves forever more

But your emperors clothes have worn away
And all that’s left is a smarmy corporate whore

Your time is coming
And when the people wake they foil your plan
Your time is coming
And when we rise we’ll take our country back

‘Cus your emperor’s clothes have worn away
And the devil waves behind your back
["I Know What You Want George" by Bruce W. Cain]

"Rainbow Farm" is an instrumental homage to the massacre at that occurred at "Rainbow Farm" the week before 911.   If I ever get out lecturing this year I may make an attempt to perform some acoustic versions of some of the songs.

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

Although I admit that many of the song's predictions are "over puffed" (e.g., Legalization is unlikely to end Global Warming by itself), there is no doubt that Marijuana Re-Legalization would have an incredibly positive effect on society.  Of course many attorneys and drug testing labs might not quite see it that way, however, that is not my concern.  It is my hope that this ballad is embraced by the "grass roots" movement to demand an end to Marijuana Prohibition throughout the globe.
 

Gnostic

Hopefully, by the end of 2008, 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 8 songs, there will be at least 12 songs on the final "Gnostic" CD.

Classical Guitar Live

"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 remastered and is now available for your listening pleasure. 

Here is a MP3 version of "Dance of the Corrigedor" by Manuel deFalla which is one of the compositions on "Classical Guitar Live"

Sample Selections: "Dance of the Corrigedor"

Here is a listing of the contents of "Classical Guitar Live"