Rufus Wainwright, Transcendence Gospel Choir, more
Including many WEB-ONLY items
By Andrea Rodricks, Lance Scott Walker, et al
Various Artists Keep Hope Alive Those who like their dance music equal parts mind, body, and soul will surely embrace the unique concept album that is Keep Hope Alive . The album--a solid set of future deep house classics--is a "We Are the World" project which brings together some of the most respected contemporary dance music artists in the business to benefit LIFEbeat (The Music Industry Fights AIDS). Blaze, Ultra Naté, among many others, donated their voices, time, songs, and songwriting royalties to the project. It's a great little album by good people for a good cause. From King Street Sounds (www.kingstreetsounds.com). For more info: www.westendrecords.com. -- Troy Carrington
Rufus Wainwright Want Two This 12-track CD comes on the heels of Wainwright's acclaimed Want One from 2003. The new one con-tinues the themes explored on the previous recording, though the openly gay singer/songwriter has said that Want Two contains "the more daunting tracks, the operatic, weird stuff, some heavy numbers that related to my classical sensibilities." Tracks include such intriguing titles as "An Old Whore's Diet" and "The Gay Messiah." Included is a 22-track DVD which features performances filmed at a live concert at San Francisco's historic Fillmore Auditorium. Elton John calls Wainwright the greatest living songwriter and an "as-yet unheralded American treasure." From Geffen Records (www.geffen.com). For more info: www.rufus wainwright.com. -- TC Transcendence Gospel Choir Whosoever Believes For months, the CD from the world's first transgender chorus languished unheard in my office. Then, on the dreadful morning after Election Day, I decided to pop it into my CD drive on my iBook while I worked. What a tuneful tonic for a Blue State voter living in a Red State! Transcendence, formed in 2001 in San Francisco, swings with a heavenly voice. Given the influence of the morals squad in the presidential contest, the rollicking opener, "Jesus, Be a Fence Around Me" (penned by the great Sam Cooke) takes on extra significance, recalling the one-liner, "Lord, protect me from your followers." The rest of this release, a 2004 OutMusic Awards winner, includes the rousing "Bless Me (The Prayer of Jabez)," featuring a powerhouse turn from the Rev. Dr. Yvette Flunder, pastor of City of Refuge United Church of Christ, where Transcendence is based. A documentary on the choir from Campfire Films is in post-production. From Amor Music. More info: www.tgchoir.org/. -- Tim Brookover David Sisco Here I Am: A Musical Personal Ad This 16-song cycle from com-poser/singer David Sisco follows the stations in the life of a young gay man, from elementary-school stirrings through coming out and beyond. The sprightly numbers are best, including "Locker Room" (with the lyric "What's a gay to do?/Enjoy the view") and the exasperated "I'm Giving Up on Gay." Sisco and playwright/lyricist Tom Gualtieri are developing a new musical based on Washington Square, the Henry James novel. From One Soul Records (www.onesoulrecords.com). More info: www.davidsisco.com. --TB Various Artists Marry Me Marry Me is a double-CD compilation containing songs by over 20 gay, lesbian, straight, and transgendered artists. The first CD, entitled Ceremony , contains songs celebrating love and commitment. The second CD, appropriately named Reception, contains songs that will rock any reception. All the songs celebrate love across different musical genres: RuPaul's dance-floor anthem "Love Is Love"; Bill Budd's sincere love song "Again"; Marcella Detroit's gospel-like "I Wish You Love"; the serenade "You and I" by Yolanda; the folksy "Jill and Jill" by Jenn Lindsay; the Motown-flavored "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" by Sade Pendarvis and Nicolas Ferrer; and the R&B track "Bashert" by Ari Gold. Every artist donated the rights to their recordings specifically for this project. Fifty percent of proceeds from the wholesale price of the Marry Me compilation will benefit the ACLU Foundation's Lesbian & Gay Rights and AIDS projects. The projects' goal is equal treatment for lgbt people and people with HIV/AIDS, and they currently play a key role in the growing movement for marriage equality. From Figjam Records (www.figjamrecords.com). -- Suzie Lynde Keyth Lawrence and the Purple Circle Figures Keyth Lawrence's most defining artistic traits include a character-driven, storied style of songwriting, an acrobatic and emotive voice that tells it, and a classically inspired powerhouse style of piano playing that falls somewhere between Chopin and Jerry Lee Lewis. The openly gay singer says, "Figures is a solid story in which the main character's travels are pivotal to his discoveries and losses. The shape and design of his life are constantly changing throughout, as we learn how this one man adjusts to personal, spiritual, and global changes." From I Said! Records. More info: www.keythlawrence.com. --TC Jen Rathbun Coffee, Chocolate Men New jazz artist Jen Rathbun has released her latest CD, of which music critic Lucky Boyd said was "quite possibly the sexiest album ever re-corded." The local gay-friendly singer has been compared to Rosemary Clooney, Billie Holliday, and Bette Midler, with a dose of humor and double-entendre. You can add to that a tantalizing voice that ranges from suggestive and playful to sultry and soulful. From Platinum Plus Records (www.platinumplus records.com). More info: www.jenrathbun.com. --SL Nils Landgren Funk Unit Funky Abba Swedish trombonist and vocalist Nils Landgren, who recorded with Abba in 1979, is a funkster at heart. And with the blessing of one of Abba's primary songwriters, Benny Andersson, Landgren's Funk Unit re-imagined a dozen of the group's songs. The Funk Unit entirely rearranged the pop songs to the point that they are fresh new creations, but they kept the sound pure and organic by using real drums, horns, guitars, bass, and keyboards just like funk records were made in the '70s. Andersson makes a special appearance on piano on "When All Is Said and Done," the poignant closing ballad. From Justin Time Records (www.justin-time.com). More info: ACT Music (www.actmusic.com). --TC
Shania Twain Greatest Hits This first compilation of greatest hits includes every big hit from Shania's career. The long- awaited 21-song collection includes three new songs along with love ballads and high-energy chart-toppers. Her music isn't straight country; it's infectious and irresistibly catchy. From Mercury Records (www.mercuryrecords.com). More info: www.shaniatwain.com. -- Andrea Rodricks
