Saturday, August 22, 2020

Sights and Sounds: STYX 'CYCLORAMA’ reissue; 'The Best of Cher'; Tame Impala new remix

Here are some highlights of news items to arrive in my inbox late in the week; several new videos worth viewing as well...Robert Kinsler



STYX releases 2003' 'Cyclorama' for first time ever on digital outlets
 
“THESE ARE THE TIMES” CONCEPTUAL VIDEO SET TO THE SONG’S LYRICS
ALSO OUT NOW
 
 
STXY, from left: Lawrence Gowan, Chuck Panozzo, Tommy Shaw,
James “JY” Young, and Ricky Phillips, Todd Sucherman.
 Photo credit: Jason Powell
 
August 21, 2020 -- For the first time ever, STYX has released their 14th album, CYCLORAMA, on all download and streaming platforms starting today via BMG.
 
Originally released in 2003 on Sanctuary/CMC InternationalCYCLORAMA, it was the band’s last full-length studio album of all-original material prior to the June 2017 release of THE MISSION. It was produced by Tommy Shaw, James “JY” Young, and the late Gary Loizzo (an integral member of the STYX production team dating back to 1974), and it contains such enduring tracks like “One With Everything,” “Yes I Can,” “Killing the Thing That You Love,” “More Love for the Money,” and “Fields of the Brave.” CYCLORAMA was re-released in 2004 via the Silverline label with a 5.1 surround-sound mix done by Loizzo for both the DVD-Audio and DualDisc formats.
 
As a thank you to the nation’s first responders and frontline workers and to coincide with the stream launch, STYX has created a timely conceptual video set to the lyrics of “These Are The Times” (with lead vocals by guitarist James “JY” Young), which spotlights the men and women who’ve been working tirelessly to take care of people throughout the pandemic. It can be viewed now on the band’s official YouTube page.
 
“It’s amazing how a song that was created in a certain timeframe, can fit into another timeframe 17 years later and that is the case with ‘These Are The Times,’” notes James “JY” Young. “It’s even more amazing how this song encompasses the current world situation, and that it can fit into a song so beautifully. It’s a fascinating thing. The video was created by my best friend Steve Jones, who is so incredibly talented and I’m blown away with what he came up with. STYX fans and the world at large, take a breath, this too shall pass, and it’s the music that will carry us through. AMEN!” 
 
Singer/guitarist Tommy Shaw reflected on CYCLORAMA with resident Styxologist Mike Mettler on the eve of last year’s 16th anniversary of the album’s release, “CYCLORAMA was kind of an experimental record, just to see where we were as a band after having reformed in 1999. We were stretching our legs in the studio, and there was a lot of growth and moving forward. That’s how I look at that album. Whenever I think of CYCLORAMA, it puts a smile on my face.”
 
As part of the band’s ongoing association with the Pittsburgh Steelers (the team plays “Renegade” at the beginning of big defensive plays in their stadium), STYX is asking fans for donations to be made to the Pittsburgh Foundation Emergency Action Fund. The Pittsburgh region is facing unprecedented economic, health and human services challenges in the global public health pandemic brought on by the COVID-19 virus. In response, on March 16, local philanthropies partnered to create the Emergency Action Fund, which awarded operating grants on a rolling basis to emergency service providers and nonprofit organizations serving on the front lines of recovery.  
 
To donate to the Pittsburgh Foundation Emergency Action Fund visit: https://pittsburghfoundation.org/emergencyactionfund
 
www.instagram.com/styxtheband






THIS SEPTEMBER, ALL OF THE SPECTACULAR HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE DOWN-TO-EARTH DIVA'S REMARKABLE CAREER COME TOGETHER IN ONE ELECTRIFYING DVD COLLECTION

THE BEST OF CHER
Street Date: September 15, 2020
SRP: $99.95
From the Sequined '70s to the Rockin' '90s, Cher's Story Unfolds Across
9 Sparkling Discs Packed with Music, Classic Comedy and Fabulous Outfits, Including 10 Star-Studded Episodes of Cher, Legendary TV Specials, Two Unforgettable Vegas Concerts, the Documentary Dear Mom, Love Cher, Exclusive New Interviews with Lily Tomlin, Designer Bob Mackie and 
Cher Herself, Rare Clips, a Collectible Look Book of 
Mackie's Wardrobe Sketches and More!


SOME STARS ARE BEAUTIFUL...
SOME STARS ARE TALENTED...
A PRECIOUS FEW ARE ICONS...
BUT ONLY ONE IS CHER.
THIS SEPTEMBER, ALL OF THE SPECTACULAR HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE DOWN-TO-EARTH DIVA'S REMARKABLE CAREER COME TOGETHER IN ONE ELECTRIFYING DVD COLLECTION

THE BEST OF CHER
Street Date: September 15, 2020
SRP: $99.95
From the Sequined '70s to the Rockin' '90s, Cher's Story Unfolds Across
9 Sparkling Discs Packed with Music, Classic Comedy and Fabulous Outfits, Including 10 Star-Studded Episodes of Cher, Legendary TV Specials, Two Unforgettable Vegas Concerts, the Documentary Dear Mom, Love Cher, Exclusive New Interviews with Lily Tomlin, Designer Bob Mackie and 
Cher Herself, Rare Clips, a Collectible Look Book of 
Mackie's Wardrobe Sketches and More!

The Best of Cher Trailer
THE BEST OF CHER Official Trailer
Fairfax, VA (August 19, 2020) - From Hollywood to Vegas and all around the world, no one has continued to delight us, surprise us, and entertain us like Cher. And she's not done yet! For the first time ever, all the spectacular highlights of Cher's remarkable career are together in one electrifying collection: THE BEST OF CHER, available on September 15 from the classic TV DVD experts at Time Life.
Cher initially rose to stardom as part of a singing act with then husband Sonny Bono in the 1960s, hitting No. 1 with the single "I Got You Babe" before they starred together on The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour. Following a parting of ways, the incredibly talented artist spread her wings, established a chart-topping solo career of her own, starred in her own variety show, and sold out music venues across the globe. The inimitable multi-hyphenate continues to shine brightly and THE BEST OF CHER brings together the stunning scope of Cher's sensational life in the spotlight like never before across two loaded volumes and 9 DVDs, as well as a collectible look book featuring Bob Mackie's original wardrobe sketches.                         
In a new interview included in the set, Cher said, "I love looking back at these shows. They're so much fun to watch and they were so much fun to make. While I'm not done yet! - It's great that Time Life has put this set together." 
THE BEST OF CHER VOLUME 1: 5 DVDS
When America's favorite musical couple parted ways in 1974, effectively ending The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour, CBS quickly decided to give Cher her own variety show. Simply titled Cher, the new series starring the soon-to-be superstar aired its first episode in February 1975. In the opening, Cher told the audience: "My future is in your hands. I am really happy to be back. No, I am thrilled to be back." Now 10 episodes of Cher's very own show are available for the first time in over 40 years! Home audiences will thrill to have front row seats to see Cher flying solo with a nonstop cavalcade of the hottest stars including Charo, Ray Charles, Elton John, The Muppets, Linda Ronstadt, Raquel Welch, and more! Also included: 
  • Exlusive new interviews with Cher, Designer Bob Mackie, comedy icon Lily Tomlin and Cher executive producer George Schlatter
  • TV appearances on The Dick Cavett Show and Dinah (1975)
  • Cher CBS Promo
  • Newly produced featurette, Cher: Then & Now 
THE BEST OF CHER VOLUME 2: 4 DVDS
Cher is one of a kind and her legendary TV specials hit our screens as family-friendly, psychedelic, counterculture kaleidoscopes. Whether playing all the parts in West Side Story, a roller-skating goddess, the snake in the Garden of Eden, a synchronized secretary, or simply Laverne -- no one puts on a show like Cher. Her Vegas shows (and outfits!) were even more spectacular, and they're all on incredible display in VOLUME 2, which features: 
  • Both of Cher's legendary TV Specials from the '70s: Cher...Special (1978), Cher...and Other Fantasies (1979)
  • Two unforgettable concerts in Vegas, live from the Mirage (1991) and MGM Grand (1999), as well as exclusive extras including backstage home movies, rehearsal songs and more
  • The full-length documentary Dear Mom, Love Cher offering a rare peek into Cher's fascinating family history
  • Plus bonus features including a 2018 appearance on The Late, Late Show with James Corden 
As a young girl, Cher's mom promised her that she was special and that one day she would believe it. Audiences around the world have been believing since she burst onto the scene in the '60s, and we haven't stopped -- and THE BEST OF CHER captures Cher's incredible, undeniable talents to enjoy again and again.
About Time Life
Time Life is one of the world's pre-eminent creators and direct marketers of unique music and video/DVD products, specializing in distinctive multi-media collections that evoke memories of yesterday, capture the spirit of today, and can be enjoyed for a lifetime. TIME LIFE and the TIME LIFE logo are registered trademarks of Time Warner Inc. and affiliated companies used under license by Direct Holdings Americas Inc., which is not affiliated with Time Warner Inc. or Time Inc.






TAME IMPALA 
RELEASES FOUR TET REMIX OF “IS IT TRUE”FROM
OUT NOW VIA INTERSCOPE



The Slow Rush, Kevin Parker’s fourth album as Tame Impala was released in February to wide-spread acclaim. Today, Four Tet gives The Slow Rush track “Is It True,” an ambient and discordant reimagining in the British producers’ remix - out now. Earlier this month, Parker also released an official music video for “Is It True.” On Monday, August 24th, NPR will debut Tame Impala’s Tiny Desk At Home


The Slow Rush’s lead single, “Lost In Yesterday” currently sits Top 3 at Alternative Radio and hit #1 at AAA this summer. Earlier this month, he also released his remix of 070 Shake’s “Guilty Conscience.” Parker also recently collaborated with Mike Skinner on The Streets track, “Call My Phone Thinking I’m Doing Nothing Better.” Together with Oneohtrix Point Never, he contributed to The Weeknd’s latest album, After Hours, also released earlier this year.


Kevin Parker / Photo Credit: Kate Green
PRAISE FOR THE SLOW RUSH
“Fortunately, it was worth the wait: ‘The Slow Rush’ is arguably Parker’s most fully realized and satisfying effort to date. ‘The Slow Rush’ proves that Parker has earned all the time he needs.” -Variety
 
“Therein lies the crux of Tame Impala’s genius and the beauty of The Slow Rush, his most contemplative work: Parker filters the bleakest parts of himself through a thick and vibrant lens. Even as he expels his private demons, he’s encouraging us to dance to his pain.” 
-The Nation
 
“The Slow Rush is stunningly pure and heartfelt pop." -The Guardian 
 
"Kevin can do anything,” ...He can play anything, and play it incredibly well. He has killer melodic instincts. And he has an impossibly cool aesthetic when it comes to sonics, without ever trying to be cool. It can be intimidating to collaborate with someone like that, but also his take on things is so unique, I never want to distill that.” Mark Ronson // Billboard's Tame Impala COVER feature
 
"Tame Impala's 'The Slow Rush' is worth the wait. Kevin Parker's first album in five years had a prolonged rollout, but he delivers on the Coachella-sized expectations." -Vice
 
“The melodies dwell in a sweet, idyllic late-afternoon mood that can veil the internal turbulence, doubt and emotional complexity lurking in the words. He's become a singer who can deepen a message through tone and inflection, conveying in a few syllables what some people spend pages trying to pin down.While everybody else in the catchy-song business seems to be running in circles, he's out there unapologetically having fun, creating new delivery systems for his own exotic brand of sonic euphoria.” -NPR
 
‘’The Slow Rush,’ an impressive integration of cosmic expansiveness and taut melody, is worth the wait. Even at their dreamiest, Tame Impala tracks have a pulse that invites bodies to move. That tension—between loose, mind-expanding psychedelia and the tight focus of dance-oriented pop—is what powers Mr. Parker’s music. [His} production virtuosity is clear from the outset...adding layer upon layer of gorgeous sound design. It reveals a brighter Tame Impala, one with a few extra beams of disco-ball twinkle.”
-Wall Street Journal
 
“Tame Impala albums are worlds to get lost in... gazing awestruck, mouth agape, intently focused on the complex beauty unfolding before you. The Slow Rush continues that zoning out/zeroing in dynamic, but...sends it spiraling across time and space. Many of the songs slap in their own right, but they function best as complementary scenes in the journey, reinforcing the sensation of displacement within the timeline.”
-Stereogum 
 
“He has risen to the occasion with an album full of the necessary girth and scope, which doesn't succumb to the forces of inertia. **** -Uncut
 
“Clearly, all the tinkering paid off. The Slow Rush is an extraordinarily detailed opus whose influences reach into specific corners of the past six decades, from Philly soul and early prog to acid house, adult-contemporary R&B, and Late Registration...The effect is something like multiple YouTube videos accidentally playing at once, a restless mind making gorgeous chaos—the work of a true perfectionist. Even without the adrenaline-filled highs, the compositions are as rich and thoughtful as ever..” -Pitchfork
 
“Parker is a master of studio songcraft; each track flows seamlessly from one to the next in one cohesive journey, capturing uplifting, laidback summer vibes throughout.****” -The Independent
 
“As far as follow-ups to an earth-shattering run of albums go, this is much more than just a solid return. It is, overall, an exhilarating listen. This band aren’t rock music’s saviours; they’re so much more than that. ****” -NME
 
“A cornucopia of sounds and styles from across dance music’s past and present. One of the chief pleasures to be had from The Slow Rush is the sheer depth of sonic treats packed into each song. Tame Impala might be operating in a field of one, but even then, Kevin Parker is still streaks ahead.” Q – 4 stars **** (Album of the Month)
 
“‘The Slow Rush’ digs deeper into the new version of Tame Impala that Parker located on Currents. It is a better album, more purposeful and with improved lyrics. Despite fame and a broader musical canvas, he remains as inward in perspective as ever. ****” -The Financial Times
 
“Tame Impala, is as much a self-reflective open letter to the world as it is a beautifully obfuscating, transmuting, rippling piece of music. On the 12-track album, Parker reminisces, offers notes on where he's come from, where he's been, and what the future might hold for his psyche, all amidst Tame Impala's signature dreamy, 1960s-retro-through-a-million-pedals sound.” -Popmatters
 
Kevin Parker is a prog-rock wiz with a heart of pop gold, spooling out resplendent psychedelic symphonies in Tame Impala... floating above his thick disco, funk, and trip-hop beats...everything seems obsessively considered, as if he spends more time perfecting the hi-hat clicks than most artists take making their whole record. If someone told you an army of musicians had contributed to The Slow Rush, you wouldn’t be surprised.” -Rolling Stone
 
“In the end, the wait is definitely worth it. ‘The Slow Rush’ is the sound of a band broadening out, trying new things, it’s another aspect of Parker’s innate sense of balance. ‘The Slow Rush’ is testament to the patient productivity and unrelenting creativity of Kevin Parker.”-Clash
 
“Listening to the long-awaited The Slow Rush, one gets the sense that Parker won’t have to resort to outside forces in order to draw out [the] feeling of jolting, kinetic pleasure any longer: after years of gesturing toward the trappings of dance music, rock’s most compelling auteur has turned in an album seemingly designed to dilate pupils and increase heart rates.” -The Fader
 
“A triumph… Tripped out and joyfully intoxicating, Tame Impala one-man marvel Kevin Parker excels himself here.” Daily Mirror – 5 stars *****
 
“Blissful, life-affirming, intoxicating soundscapes... A mesmerising opus.” -The Sun – 4.5/5



Tame Impala (Kevin Parker) has emerged as one of the most influential voices of the last decade. His latest album serves as a deep reflection on the passage of time - The Slow Rush. "'The Slow Rush' is an extraordinarily detailed opus," said Pitchfork. "I have to marvel that all this sound and history comes from Parker alone, picking every string and twisting every knob." His last album, Currents (Interscope) was released in 2015 earning him a second GRAMMY nomination and word-wide commercial success. The New York Timeslabeled it a "a tour de force" and Pitchfork said, "nearly every proper song on 'Currents' is a revelatory statement of Parker's range and increasing expertise as a producer, arranger, songwriter, and vocalist while maintaining the essence of Tame Impala." NPR noted, "[Parker] advocates for constant reinvention... That commitment to evolution helps make Tame Impala an unlikely but worthy candidate for major stardom."
 
He first toured the U.S. in 2010, playing small clubs for crowds of 200. A handful of trips to the U.S. later and thanks to the ravenous demand of fans for a transcendent live performance, Tame Impala has gone on to headline festivals and theaters around the world and released four full length albums - Innerspeaker, Lonerism Currents and The Slow Rush. As a writer and producer Parker has collaborated with Travis Scott, SZA, Lady Gaga, Mark Ronson, Kanye West, Kali Uchis, Theophilus London, Miguel, A$AP Rocky, Kendrick Lamar and more.

In 2019 Tame Impala headlined multiple major festivals including Coachella, Primavera, Lollapalooza, ACL and more. He debuted two new songs on Saturday Night Live and sold out arenas around the world including two nights at New York City’s Madison Square Garden and two nights at the Los Angeles Forum. 
Find Tame Impala here: 


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