Music With a Twist, Erasure, The Cliks, The Wayne Fishell Experiment, Barbara Cook, Athens Boys Choir, Kurt Weil in America, Feist, Nya Jade, Judith Owen, DJ David Knapp, Dirty Dancing, Jane Monheit, Björk, Kate Havnevik, Nya Jade, Judith Owen, DJ David Knapp, Dirty Dancing,
Jane Monheit, Björk, Kate Havnevik
Various Artists
Music With a Twist: Revolutions
Fans of The L Word will recognize some of the tunes on this GLBT artists’ compilation, Goddes & She and Kirsten Price having contributed to the Showtime TV’s hit series’ fourth season soundtrack. But Ivri Uder’s “Jesse” and The Gossip’s “Standing in the Way of Control” are the big winners here. From Columbia Records (www.columbiarecords.com). More: www.musicwithatwist.com. — Review: Nancy Ford
Erasure
Light at the End of the World
While fans passed autumn with other distractions, Vince Clark and openly gay Andy Bell converted a private Maine home into a recording studio to create this infectious collection. Designated first single “I Could Fall in Love With You” may knock “Oh, L’amour” right out of the boys’ Top Hit box. From Mute (www.mute.com). — Review: Nancy Ford
The Cliks
Snakehouse
“They are a force to be reckoned with and I am really excited to be sharing the stage with them.” Thus spracht Cyndi Lauper, lauding the non-boy boyband that joins her for some of this summer’s True Colors tour. Too bad TC’s Houston stop is not one of them, because Cliks’ driving take on Timberlake’s “Cry Me a River” is brilliant. From Tommy Boy (www.tommyboy.com). — Review: Nancy Ford
The Wayne Fishell Experiment
Optimistically Hopeless
Fishell and bandmate Keith Miller call their sound “gay-acoustic-indie-folk-pop.”And it is all those things, but their songs’ thoughtful, cryptic lyrics are what really stand apart on this gentle CD. Available online. More: www.ofishell.com. — Review: Nancy Ford
Barbara Cook
No One Is Alone
American composers and lyricists gay (Stephen Sond-heim, Lorenz Hart) and bi (Leonard Bernstein) take center stage on the new disc from the quintessential Broadway soprano. At 79, Cook again proves that few singers possess her
interpretive skill, demonstrated by the fact that she makes beautiful sense of a prickly number from Sondheim’s troublesome Passion. From DRG Records (www.drgrecords.com). — Review: Tim Brookover
Athens Boys Choir
Jockstraps and Unicorns
This ain’t choral music, baby. FTM trans genius Katz is Athens Boys Choir, presenting 14 rapid-fire selections raging against the machine of break-ups, world peace, individual pride, and more. So much more than spoken word. Listen fast. From Twinkle Toes Records (www.athensboyschoir.com). — Preview: Nancy Ford
Various Artists
Kurt Weil in America
Fleeing from Nazi Germany, the already-respected composer Weil found true freedom of expression when he began collaborating with U.S. heavyweights Alan Jay Lerner, Ira Gershwin, Langston Hughes, Oscar Hammerstein, and others. Andrea Marcovicci conceived this collection for Lyrics & Lyricists. From Andreasong (www.andreamarcovicci.com). More: www.92y.org. — Preview: Nancy Ford
Feist
The Reminder
On this, the single-nomened Feist’s sophomore effort, the punk queen weaves dogs barking, the crack of apples being bitten, and more esoteric sounds in between the thoughtful tunes. From Cherry Tree/Interscope (www.cherrytreerecords, www.interscoperecords.com). — Preview: Nancy Ford
Nya Jade
My Denial
Alternative soul from a superb new songstress. This gifted young artist’s debut album presents original subject matter to empower and translate the various forms of music. With emotionally charged lyrics and a sincere, yet powerful voice, Jade has created an eclectic mix of rock, pop, and soul. USA Today says she is “a young female troubadour worth keeping your eyes and ears on.” Jade has already used her music toward important causes: the Nurturing Young Africa (NYA) Foundation was created to support the welfare of African children orphaned by HIV/AIDS. From Katako Records (www.nyajade.com). — Review: Andrea Rodricks
Judith Owen
Happy This Way
An alumna of New Orleans’ famed Jazz & Heritage Festival, Owen counts Keb’ Mo’, sax king Tom Scott, and k. d. lang among her collaborators. The Welsh singer/songwriter’s wistful folk/jazz delivery makes this, her second effort, well worth a listen. From Courgette Records (www.judithowen.net). — Review: Nancy Ford
DJ David Knapp
Global Groove: Live
No summer pool party is complete without this collection of head-noddin’ club hits. Recognizable ditties like “It’s Not Right But It’s OK” compliment a new version of the Dixie Chicks’ “Not Ready to Make Nice.” Want more? Knapp spins at Rich’s, July 3. From Centaur (www.centaurmusic.com). — Review: Nancy Ford
Original Soundtrack
Dirty Dancing
Get set to take a fun trip down memory lane. Dirty Dancing, now more than 20 years old, was a box-office hit, and the soundtrack was an even bigger success, spawning several hit singles and a hit musical. Take a step back in time to the sizzling mix of romance, dance, and music with the 20th anniversary CD/DVD set. From Legacy (www.legacyrecordings.com). — Preview: Andrea Rodricks
Jane Monheit
Surrender
The crystal-corded jazz singer gets a bit bossa nova-esque on several selections of this otherwise sleepy CD. Sergio Mendez (remember him?), without benefit of his Brasil 66, guests. From Concord Records (www.concordmusicgroup.com). — Preview: Nancy Ford
Björk
Volta
The eclectic bizarrtist teamed with Justin Timberlake/Missy Elliot producer, Timbaland, for this, her sixth album, which is, safe to say, her björkiest effort to date. Her dissonant “Earth Intruders” video is already getting play with its 10-piece Icelandic female brass section. From One Little Indian Records/Atlantic Records (www.onelittleindian-us.com, www.atlanticrecords.com). — Preview: Nancy Ford
Kate Havnevik
Melanktron
Grey’s Anatomy viewers may recognize the tunes on this Norwegian vocalist’s debut effort: Seven of them have been featured on the show. The lovely melodies have an electronica Dido flavor, “So: Lo” emerging as our favorite. From Universal Republic Records (www.universalrepublic.com). — Review: Nancy Ford
WEB ONLY
Kristeenyoung
The Orphans
Two musicians, one name, no space. This piano and drums duo opened for Morrissey on his U.S. tour, stopping in late May at Houston’s Verizon Theatre. With songs just as overdramatically tedious as their tour mate’s, Kristeenyoung’s music is only slightly more melodic than his. From Test Tube Baby (www.kristeenyoung.com). —Review: Nancy Ford
Evolve
Happy Hour in the Gene Pool
Jazz married electronica and, together, they had a baby named Evolve. Singer Margo Reymundo and producer/songwriter Red Broad offer an even balance of vocals and instrumentals for this debut CD. Available online. More: www.myspace.com/chill2evolve. —Review: Nancy Ford
Ohn
Revolutionary Revolution
Recorded in Austin, this CD may be classified electronica by definition, but goes well beyond electronica’s sterile, often-uninspired repetitiveness. Notable is a very enjoyable, whimsical elec version of Lennon/McCartney’s “Dear Prudence.” Available online. More: www.letsgetiton.com. —Review: Nancy Ford
Abbey Lincoln
Abbey Sings Abbey
This collection of 10 tunes consists of nine recordings blues goddess Lincoln pressed over the past decade and a half, the 10th being a soulful inclusion by Thelonius Monk. Longtime Bob Dylan guitarist Larry Campbell shines through on all, but especially on the languorous “Love Has Gone Away.” From Verve Music Group (www.vervemusicgroup.com). —Review: Nancy Ford
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