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Stone of Sisyphus (XXXII)

Chicago - Stone of Sisyphus (XXXII) Audio CD

A fair review of the Chicago "Stone of Sisyphus (XXXII)" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Chicago reviews here, or go back to the Chicago tabs.

Band: Chicago
Title: Stone of Sisyphus (XXXII)
Rating:

Release Date: 2008-06-17
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Stone Of Sisyphus 2: Bigger Than Elvis 3: All The Years 4: Mah-Jong 5: Sleeping In The Middle Of 6: The Bed 7: Let s Take A Lifetime 8: The Pull 9: Here With Me (A Candle For The Da 10: Plaid 11: Cry For The Lost 12: The Show Must Go On 13: Love Is Forever (Demo) 14: Mah-Jong (Demo) 15: Let s Take A Lifetime (Demo) 16: Stone Of Sisyphus

A Valient Attempt At A Return To Greatness
When it was finally made in 1993 Warner Bros. After the mid 80's it's no doubt most Chicago fans were hoping that an album of creative form for them would emmerge someday. shelved it,siting it as being of little commercial interest. Well it re-emmerged a year ago I got the album and. . . . . . . well I had to listen to it a couple times to form any serious opinion on it. Even though the lyrical focus of the entire album is based either on ammusing stories,message songs or reflections on middle age in different ways suchs such as "Let's Take A Lifetime","Plaid","The Show Must Go On" and even "Bigger Than Elvis" showcase the only possibily flaw in the album:the music. The production and arrangements of these songs have the same feel of all the easy rock songs that the band had specialized for the last decade or so before they recorded this. The title track however really gets things off to a good start. While the production is again a little overly slick,it's jazzy rhythm and horn charts do have the fire of ol' Chicago. But with no sentimentality aside,the absence of Peter Cetera and the late Terry Kath leave a gaping hole that just is impossible to replace. "All These Years","Here With Me (For A Candle In The Dark)" and "Cry For The Lost" all look into the same general musical. . . . . formula. No it's not what most serious fans want to hear in regard to this band but hey:it's the way the parade route had been heading for this band pretty much as soon as they met David Foster,even though they did some excellent albums with him early on. "Mah Jong" on the other hand is an excellent song-kind of a modern adaption of the heavy jazz-funk-rock style that band could do so well in the past. This style of uptempo Chicago would actually serve them well after this albums non appearance. "Standing In The Middle Of The Bed" is a message song with a rapped lyric that could've been laughably camp but the band pull the funk/soft hip-hop style off pretty well without embaracing themselves,although I doubt if this album had appeared in the highly polarized hip-hop year of 1993 anyone would'be seen it that way. The four bonus cuts,in their own way have a lot to say,even though the only one that differs that strongly from anything that is present on the actual album is a leaner,"naked" groove demo of "Mah-Jong":somewhat more fusiony and less funky without the rhythm and horns but at least shows you where you were getting at. I advise anyone looking to purchase this that it's by no means the full fledged return to their classic sound. The bands sound had changed too much for one and also a lot of that is hype based on the legendary status of this being unreleased at it's time. But since Chicago release new material so infrequently these days this album represents an excellent example of the band taking a little time out to flex their creative muscles for a change as opposed to just trying to get yet another hit love song on the radio.

Warner 's says unrealeseable , I say corporate stupidity.
thought this album was not good enough to release baffles me. How Warner Bros. For me to give a Chicago album a high rating that didn't have Terry Kath (rest his soul), or Peter Cetera is rare. But this album take the cake. This album is really enjoyable and yes there are some power ballads , but they are not watered down sugar coated sap, like the KOST 103 80's Chicago. and although it is still not as good as the classic original lineup, it is a album that is well worth it's credit deserved. It might even open my mind to listen to other recent Chicago releases .

Truly a lost treasure that has finally gotten it's due
If your unfamiliar with the back-story, let me fill you in. The Good
The long-shelved Chicago album finally gets it's day in the sun. Stone of Sisyphus was set to be Chicago XXII back in 1992. Chicago was riding high on a string a chart busting ballads. With all the success and spoils the band figured it was time to get back to their roots a bit. Now that they were selling tons of records, perhaps they could have a little more creative freedom. Warner Brothers Records felt different. After handing in the final copy of the album, Chicago was told the label would not support the album because it didn't sound like Chicago. The band permanently shelved the album and duked it out with their label to get out of their contract. Although legend has it that the situation was more about the bands dispute over a deal concerning their back catalog, and this album was used as an excuse. Moving on. . . .

Stone of Sisyphus has been floating around in the underground for years. various tracks have popped up on the internet as well as Chicago compilation albums. Sixteen years after it's conception, Stone of Sisyphus is finally here courtesy of Rhino Records (who oddly enough is owned by Warner Brothers Records - - insert head scratch here).

The album's title track is a typical Chicago up-tempo track, albeit with more brass than they ever used in the eighties and early nineties. They rhythm and lyrics are quite hypnotic. "Bigger Than Elvis" is a piano based ballad that kind of dates the band a bit, but is still full of great vocal harmonizing. Funky guitar tones and a swing brass groove dominate "All the Years. " "Sleeping in the Middle of the Bed" has kicks up the soul with enduring vocals and pounding drums.

The ballad "Let's Take a Lifetime" surely would have found its way on the the charts back in 1992. "Here With Me (Candle for the Dark) " adds a little more power to it's balladry, and would have also been a hit I believe. Included in the Rhino version are three demos ("Love Is Forever," "Mah-Jong," and "Let's Take a Lifetime) and an alternate version of "Stone of Sisyphus. " The demos are great. They are so raw and basic compared to the final versions. It's great to hear the difference.

The Bad
I liked the chorus of "Mah-Jong," but the title and subject is a bit odd. The band really takes a chance with a rap-style vocal on "Sleeping in the Middle of the Bed. "

The Verdict
I have to agree that this is not a great representation of Chicago circa 1992. But if you've stuck with the band since then, this is what Chicago is today. More brass, more diversity, and signature melodies and hooks dominate Stone of Sisyphus. Don't get confused though, this is not Chicago's greatest work, but it is truly a lost treasure that has finally gotten it's due. By the way, what happened to Chicago XXXI?.

The Long Awaited Return....
When I saw this album, I didn't recognize the cover so I said "what the heck?" and bought it. First let me say that I became disenchanted with Chicago when the corporate people mandated the "ballads" and the power of the horn section was relegated to the "outfield". From the first cut, I was hooked! This was closer to the horn band that my band in the 70's strove to emulate. . . .
There is a tremendous amount of creativity on the album with different genres instead of whatever is popular this year (ex. Mahjong). Loved it! To the guys in the band. . . "thank you". I don't mind paying $100 + a ticket to see a band with that kind of power and diversity! a long awaited return!.

can't get past the previews
I would have been sorely disappointed to buy this CD. Thanks for the sample bites. I asked my husband to listen to several songs. He turned up his nose and said "Not much to listen to. " He finally picked out the band when he heard the horns. So horns make the band Chicago. . . . NOT. Come up with creative lyrics, edgy jazz sass and a decent lead singer and you might be closer. Maybe I'm not the one to ask. I listened to the Chicago of the seventies and stopped listening when the music became-well, watered down.

You can see a complete list of all Chicago discography, or go back to the Chicago tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.