Recent Stories with tag telephantasm

If 2009 was an unusually nostalgic year in local music for certain wistful Seattle Gen-Xers, 2010 was the opening cymbal crash of an encore. Defunct old favorites reunited. Extant old favorites continued to soar. A tight-knit community that first rocked the world a quarter-century ago grew ever closer, through remembrance of lost friends and the sharing of new music. Here are five 2010 music-related events that tickled those Seattleites who’ve been listening all these years. (Part two here.)

10. Pearl Jam Launches Satellite Radio Station
What do you give the fans who have everything (hundreds of official bootlegs, multiple live records, nine studio releases since 1991)? On October 22, the 20th anniversary of the band's first show, Pearl Jam gave its fans the whole sonic shebang, in 24-hour rotation: Pearl Jam Radio. The band's satellite channel (Sirius, 17; XM, 39) not only mixes concert and studio recordings, but gives its cult-status fan family a chance to hear previously unreleased show tracks (going back to that first gig) and another to commune on fan roundtable show "The All Encompassing Trip." Live and studio recordings from PJ members' other current and defunct projects, including Eddie Vedder's solo work, Temple of the Dog, Mother Love Bone, and Mad Season are gravy. There's no better way to tune in to Pearl Jam's origins and evolution...unless you magically have all of this on vinyl.

9. Soundgarden Issues Telephantasm Retrospective
No one expected a Soundgarden reunion prior to January 1, but most folks knew that a career-spanning best-of box was just a matter of time. On September 28, the latter followed the former, in multiple packages—from simple CD to sly (and savvy) Guitar Hero bonus to limited-pressing vinyl set. The box included all the audio hits, of course, but also some previously unreleased live tracks, 14 music videos, bonus videos, and one (excellent) unearthed song from the Badmotorfinger sessions, "Black Rain." For those who couldn't witness Soundgarden's stage return—and that was pretty much everyone—Telephantasm was a worthy consolation prize.... (more)

Will our fair, foggy city be destroyed by a gigantic, terrifying alien invader? Will our citizens ever again play Rock Band in peace? Are Chris Cornell, Matt Cameron, Kim Thayil, and Ben Shepherd actually the masterminds behind the diabolical creature's attack? (Is Soundgarden's return a symbolic cry of "Death to false metal!"?) The band's new "Black Rain" video, directed with sly '70s-animation awareness by Brendon Small, may not answer all of these questions, but it is fun to watch. And hear.

Spinner has the story of the video concept's germination, apparently courtesy of guitarist Thayil. It also reminds us that Soundgarden is, as Cornell has said recently, moving toward making new music and playing more gigs. Until then, there's the hits set (featuring the previously unreleased "Black Rain") Telephantasm releasing September 28.

I believe that is why god created the (really dumb, but, here, appropriately and winkingly used) word "rawk." And hey, fans, you can now pre-order various versions of Soundgarden's upcoming Telephantasm retrospective, on which "Black Rain" appears. Thirteen bucks (simple CD) to $110 (super duper deluxe limited-edition CD/LP/etc.). Help fill the band's coffers, people. Bassist Ben Shepherd's homeless.

First, the disappointing news: Telephantasm isn't a new studio record. It won't include a single new song from the reformed Soundgarden. It'll have just one previously unreleased tune, "Black Rain," shuttered since the Badmotorfinger sessions. (Which means it's probably thunderous.)

Second, the excellent news: Telephantasm is a Soundgarden record and Soundgarden is together. And, in the same announcement (below), the Lollapalooza-bound band revealed that it will also soon be issuing its first DVD. Undoubtedly that will include footage from Soundgarden's April 16 Showbox return de force, captured in these stills.

Here's the band's official announcement, posted last night:

It is with great pleasure that we can finally let you all know what we have been working on. On September 28th, we will be releasing a new retrospective called Telephantasm. It includes songs from all of our albums and E.P's, including "Black Rain", an unreleased track from the Badmotorfinger sessions. Plus, we are releasing our first ever DVD which will include never before seen videos, and much more.

We have partnered with Guitar Hero 6 to launch Telephantasm simultaneously with the launch of the new game. Which means if you buy Guitar Hero 6 for the week of September 28th you get a copy of Telephantasm as well. Of course, there will be vinyl, collectors editions, deluxe packages and more.

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