MUSIC
Art in America blazed new trails in the art rock/progressive music world of the1980s with their unusual sound and music The rich symphonic rock music of Art in America has been compared to Yes and Genesis. Their music fuses elements of classical, symphonic, singer-songwriter, hard rock, and pop, with a twist: Art in America is the first-known rock band to feature a concert pedal harp as a key component of their music. In addition, they featured a Japanese stringed koto, and an Indian tambura. Their first album, Art in America, was produced in 1983 by progressive rock legend Eddy Offord, whose work with iconic artists like Yes and Emerson, Lake and Palmer made him the only natural choice to produce Art in America. The songs were co-arranged by Steve Morse who also contributed a guitar solo for the song "Undercover Lover". The guest keyboardist on the album was Terry "T" Lavitz. The group toured extensively in support of the album, headlining their own shows and opening up for such bands as U2, King Crimson, Bill Bruford, and Roxy Music. Their most popular song and video from the album title track “Art in America” received heavy airplay on MTV music television, and radio stations throughout the United States. Original MTV video (sorry, this is an old video so pardon the quality: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9d6ek3KDRI&list=RDy9d6ek3KDRI&start_radio=1
In 2011 the band was contacted by producer David Hentschel to finally record a follow-up studio album. The album was first released in 2013, as The Hentschel Sessions and then re-released as Cloudborn with artwork and additional tracks in 2018. Now, the band is excited to announce the release of two AIA albums on Iconoclassic Records, their new album Rise and the re-mastered first album Art in America.
Rise takes full advantage of Shishonee Flynn’s Lyon & Healy string pedal harp as well as her introducing Indian tambura and Japanese koto into the new album. Rise picks up seamlessly where their first album left off. The group’s main songwriter, lead vocalist and guitarist Chris Flynn sings in the opening lines of “Don’t Look Down,” “It’s been a long time...there’s a lot to say,” and yes, it has been a long time, and the band helps him cut loose and speak his mind. The song "Goodbye My Love" was written prior to the sessions for the first album and is heard now for the first time. “No Wonder” continues the story and saga of the ill-fated couple “Brett & Hibby,” a track from the band’s debut album. Throughout the album’s nine tracks, which originated in 1983 as demos for what would have been the band's second album, Rise goes from delicate, progressive landscapes to arena rock sound. In 2017 these rare recordings were transferred to digital format and then remixed and produced by the band's bassist Jim Kuha. He describes the years-long project to produce the album as “a labor of love that stands on its own and not just a bookend to the first album.”
Art in America’s self-titled first album is being reissued in CD format, now completely remastered from the original master tapes by mastering engineer Vic Anesini. The re-release also includes two never-before-heard live-in-concert bonus tracks, “Won’t It Be Strange” and “Insult The Fashion.”
In 2011 the band was contacted by producer David Hentschel to finally record a follow-up studio album. The album was first released in 2013, as The Hentschel Sessions and then re-released as Cloudborn with artwork and additional tracks in 2018. Now, the band is excited to announce the release of two AIA albums on Iconoclassic Records, their new album Rise and the re-mastered first album Art in America.
Rise takes full advantage of Shishonee Flynn’s Lyon & Healy string pedal harp as well as her introducing Indian tambura and Japanese koto into the new album. Rise picks up seamlessly where their first album left off. The group’s main songwriter, lead vocalist and guitarist Chris Flynn sings in the opening lines of “Don’t Look Down,” “It’s been a long time...there’s a lot to say,” and yes, it has been a long time, and the band helps him cut loose and speak his mind. The song "Goodbye My Love" was written prior to the sessions for the first album and is heard now for the first time. “No Wonder” continues the story and saga of the ill-fated couple “Brett & Hibby,” a track from the band’s debut album. Throughout the album’s nine tracks, which originated in 1983 as demos for what would have been the band's second album, Rise goes from delicate, progressive landscapes to arena rock sound. In 2017 these rare recordings were transferred to digital format and then remixed and produced by the band's bassist Jim Kuha. He describes the years-long project to produce the album as “a labor of love that stands on its own and not just a bookend to the first album.”
Art in America’s self-titled first album is being reissued in CD format, now completely remastered from the original master tapes by mastering engineer Vic Anesini. The re-release also includes two never-before-heard live-in-concert bonus tracks, “Won’t It Be Strange” and “Insult The Fashion.”
FOR A PARTIAL LIST OF OUR EARLY CONCERT DATES visit this site: theconcertdatabase.com/artists/art-america
Recording at Scott Frankfurt studios with Producer David Hentschel
