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Blondie’s Musical Archives is Coming in One Big Z2 Package!

Blondie Against the Odds Graphic Novel and Album Release News is GOLD!

Blondie Against The Odds

In the mid-70s, singer Debbie Harry and guitarist Chris Stein were more than pioneers. Not only did they pioneer the new wave genre, but also broke the mold for what the New York sound was about. The band Blondie was more than a punk rock band too. From their self-titled debut album, “In the Flesh” got heads turning, and all it took were two more albums before they became mainstream with the disco-infused “Heart of Glass.”

I fell in love with their music somewhere in between, and back then, all I had were regular magazines to get any information about who they were. We didn’t have the Internet back then. Because they were relatively young, and as their fame grew, so did my passion to collect all their albums.

Coinciding with the upcoming launch of the Blondie: Against The Odds graphic novel–which features a short biography, and stories based on their music–this fall, Z2 Comics and Blondie will include the 124-track archival box set Against the Odds 1974 – 1982 too! It’s a curated collection, remastered from original analog tapes on vinyl and I can’t be any more excited. Now if only they can visit Victoria, BC and perform here! Realistically, it’d have to be in Vancouver, BC; I’ll be fine with that too.

The album will be out on August 26, 2022, but if you’re patient, buying the version with the graphic novel will make the experience all the more worthwhile.

Blondie

From the Z2 Press Release:

The package features 52 bonus tracks across four albums—Plaza Sound, Parallel Beats, Coca Cola, and Home Sounds—and comes with a 128-page hardcover book inside a foil-wrapped slipcase.

The package definitively captures the iconic band’s inception and rise, as Blondie merged disco, rock, and beyond in the punk cradle of New York City’s Lower East Side. Limited to 100 copies, the Blondie 1974-1982: Against The Odds 4-LP box set will be released in platinum editions of the Blondie: Against The Odds graphic novel anthology.

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Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis Puts Only The Essential Life in the Spotlight.

Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis looks at this musician’s life through the eyes of The Colonel’s (Tom Hanks) and we have to wonder if this man had any compassion at all.

Spoiler Alert

Biopics about musicians are often sanitised for the big screen. Bohemian Rhapsody (review link) was more about Freddie Mercury, more than the band from a third-person perspective. Conversely, Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis looks at this musician’s life through the eyes of The Colonel’s (Tom Hanks). It sometimes vilifies rather than objectifies his role in making this man a star.

Even this villain who managed this singer (Austin Butler) throughout the decades admits to his problem. We get little sympathy for the devil.

Anyone who followed Elvis’ career or was part of his inner circle knew Colonel Tom Parker was trouble. Even though he helped turn the teen from Tupelo, Mississippi into a superstar, the stuff he held back on (or didn’t allow him to partake) may have dimmed this superstar’s light by a little. The spotlight is back because of the award-winning performances between Hanks and Butler. The film is really about their relationship first and the music second. Any tidbits of actual history are marginalised. This performer was upset because he wasn’t given the respect he so deserved during his time in Hollywood.

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Ryoma! The Prince of Tennis is a Deuce! Coming This Summer

Ryoma! The Prince of Tennis is a kinetic action anime adventure filled with humor, a high-energy storyline, and rousing musical numbers.

Crunchyroll - Ryoma! The Prince of Tennis CG Anime Film Hits Blu-ray on July 5 — **Available to pre-order on Amazon USA**

Eleven Arts and Shout! Factory
Coming to VOD and DVD:
July 5, 2022

Game, Set, Match! This summer, get ready as the tennis prodigy Ryoma Echizen and his friends will grand slam your heart in a thrilling new adventure. This cinematic adaptation is based on the blockbuster Japanese sports manga series and its sequels created by renowned manga author Takeshi Konomi.

With 60 million copies sold over 22 years, Ryoma! The Prince of Tennis is the first CG anime movie from this popular franchise. Featuring an all-new storyline with music and lyrics by Konomi and directed by Hiroshi Koujina (City Hunter, The Vampire Dies in No Time), this highly anticipated movie finally makes its long-awaited North American home entertainment debut following its nationwide theatrical release.

Available for the first time in North America, the collectible Blu-ray + DVD combo pack boasts an exciting movie presentation (featuring English audio and Japanese audio with English subtitles) with special bonus content – Ryoma! The Prince of Tennis edition. This is the full-length alternative cut of the movie that includes different scenes featuring Hyotei team captain Keigo Atobe and Shitenhoji team captain Kuranosuke Shiraishi.

A definitive entertainment release that will score well with anime and pop culture enthusiasts and collectors, this title is available for pre-order now at ShoutFactory.com and will be available in stores and other fine retailers.

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WARPS Up HERO_sei with This New Single and Music Video Debut

WARPs UP’s latest single Hero_sei reminds us that even though life in our sometimes orderly modern society can be difficult…

Japanese-Chinese boys’ collective WARPs UP‘s new single HERO_sei is now out. It’s a mid-tempo ballad about living life your own way and is performed by a group who refuse to be confined by their own boundaries. The bold use of colours–of red, white and blue–contrasted against varied backdrops shows how they’re breaking free. Each tone is meaning, as red represents anger, white with sadness and blue with freedom. The progression is very telling.

This second original single released by the group’s two Chinese members LANGYI and MINGJUN, follows January’s single POWER_Shin. Previous songs by WARPs UP feature lyrics in English, Chinese and Japanese. This approach to reach a global market is an impressive achievement and helps make this group stand out.

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Top Gun is Sexy when Maverick is Free to Fly Like An Eagle!

Top Gun: Maverick is more than just your typical blockbuster. It’s music is key to its continued success.

Spoiler Alert

Not much has changed in Top Gun: Maverick. The best takeaway is that both the original and this latest has fantastic music that honours the past and future.

Even the copycat films of the time had its strong musical moments. It’s tough not to forget what Kenny Loggins “Danger Zone” and Berlin’s “Take My Breath Away” confirms as part of the presentation. The lyrics establish more than just the tone of the work, but also provide a capsule summary of each set piece.

The story picks up about thirty-five years later, with Captain Pete Mitchell (Tom Cruise) “stuck” in a rut. He’s like James T. Kirk from the early Star Trek movies. Their career is going nowhere, and it took several films for both to find where they belong. Are either of the two an officer or a gentleman? No, they’re both free spirits; they are more than just another ghost rider in the sky. They don’t want to be confined to duty.

This film gets up close and personal. To get those goosebumps when riding that wild wind with a precision machine is what this film aimed for and I say the production team succeeded. There’s some effects shots which even I’m not sure if they are CGI or real.

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Alternative Band ego apartment’s First Album is Here!

ego apartment is now out and on the loose with their self-titled debut album and we have tour dates!

ego department

Not every sound coming out of Japan is about J-pop and for music lovers, ego apartment is a welcome change of pace. This band quickly become a hot topic in the scene. They’ve been featured on numerous curated playlists both in Japan and overseas, and they are considered an act who are ahead of the times. Their track ‘FOG’ was included on Spotify’s ‘RADAR: Early Noise Japan 2022’ playlist, a selection of artists from Japan who are expected to turn heads in 2022. Their September release ‘Wrong with u’ has generated over 1 million plays on Spotify, cementing their reputation as a band with a bright future.

Following the success of the May 18 release of ‘FOG’, their self titled album ‘EGO APARTMENT’ was released June 1, 2022. The album contains 14 songs steeped in ego apartment’s unmistakable bedroom alternative sound, and it’s no exaggeration to say that each and every one of them is strong enough to be a lead track!

Comment from ego apartment

“We began writing these songs before deciding on a particular theme for the album, so in that sense, you could say that this is a sound that we could only express at this point in time. This is our first album, but it won’t be the last. See you on the next production.”

ego apartment

About the Band:

Made up of three members all born in 1998, ego apartment is a three-piece band based in Japan. They switch freely between two vocalists with different styles and lyrics in Japanese and English, producing an alternative sound that feels both analog and brand new. The group consists of Dyna (laptop, bass, band leader), who hails from Saipan Island; Peggy Doll (guitar and vocals), from Sakai City, Osaka; and Zen (guitar, vocals), from Sydney.

The band switch freely between two vocalists with different styles and lyrics in Japanese and English, producing an alternative sound that feels both analog and fresh. Over Dyna’s tracks that are simultaneously filled with both melancholy and a sense of fun, Zen sings with a beautiful and distinctive voice, while Peggy Doll has a remarkable voice and extraordinary melody sense, resulting in a sound that is unique to ego apartment.

The September 2021 release of their fourth track ‘Wrong with u’ caught the attention of listeners around the world, steadily surpassing 1 million plays on Spotify. The band’s inclusion on Spotify’s ‘RADAR: Early Noise 2022’ playlist placed ego apartment as one of 10 breakthrough artists expected to hit the big time in 2022.

Upcoming live dates in Japan

June 4: TOWER RECORD PARCO Nagoya Store
June 5: SAKAE SP-RING 2022 @ Live & Lounge Vio, Nagoya
June 12: TOWER RECORD Umeda NU Chaya Store
June 25: Chilli Beans. 2nd self-produced live event ‘Dancing Room 002’ @ Umeda Shangri-La, Osaka (sold out)
July 15: Fujifabric 3-act live event ‘Friend Park Attractions’ ＠ BIGCAT, Osaka
July 23: Flying Flags @ Sendai darwin with YONA YONA WEEKENDERS, Luby Sparks