GROOVE OUT

by Gregg Shapiro

A VERY QUEER YEAR

2002 saw an abundance of recordings by out artists

Before 2002 fades into history, I wanted to point out that last year there didn’t seem to be an end to the number of CDs put out by members of the GLBT community. I have probably only scratched the surface of what is out there, but I also feel like I have discovered or been reintroduced to some of the best and brightest that these artists have to offer.

Cocteau Twins meet Radiohead in the lovely, but impenetrable vowel movements of Icelandic band Sigur Ros on their ( ) (MCA). The lush and grand arrangements of the eight untitled tracks take the listener to new and uncharted places and states of being. Some of the songs are romantic enough to be the soundtrack to a night of passionate sex. Openly gay lead singer Jonsi hits the high notes in a lo-fi sort of way that is both seductive and terrifying.

I have been waiting years for the opportunity to write about David Clement’s second full-length album. Shortly after I received an advance copy of the then-titled Hard Candy, Clement (among many other artists) was dropped by the major label in a restructuring process, and the album was unreleased. In the years that have passed between the planned original release and the current version, now known as Your Free Gift (Show Dog Tunes), Clement’s songs have been featured on a couple of WB network programs, and he has performed a lot of live shows. You would never know the album has been sitting on a shelf for a few years. “Ahhh” is a smart song about “a stupid song that you love so much,” with its surfer punk beat and hypnotic organ. “Ms. Davis,” which makes reference to both his “first wet dream” and “Angela Davis on TV,” is only one of Clement’s political pop songs. The gorgeous “Geriatriphilia,” a plea for growing old together, is Clement’s most honest love song. You can purchase the album at www. davidclement .com.

Easily the most promising debut by a queer artist in 2002 is the self-titled six-song EP by Kitko (www. kitko .org). Kitko turns childhood songs and games into the most amorous invitation of the season on “Row Your Boat.” On “The Bitch Song,” she sings, “I’m a bitch/I’m a bitch/I’m a bitch if I know what I want/I’m a bitch/I’m a bitch if I don’t let myself get stepped on,” and demands equal pay for women (among other things). It has anthem written all over it. “Alphabet Song,” in which she spells out her kiss off, “A-B-C-D-E-F Go away from me,” is an instant classic.

A hazy light emanates from the center of Dusk (Clutter), the debut disk by Reuben. The shadowy circus ambiance of “Do Something” makes reference to Billie Holiday, while encouraging the listener to take action (come out?), in this way, “Though Papa may be out of his head and Mama in bed,/cut your losses. Let the dead bury the dead.” The homo heat of “Me&Rico” makes it one of the best out songs of the year—“stoney,” “swishy,” “picky,” and “tricky,” and a lot of fun. “Care of Myself” is soul music that sticks to the soles of your shoes, and “Don’t Believe” could be a gospel tune for atheists. “Service Man” sounds like the long-lost brother of Scott Free’s “Garbage Man,” and the bold “Let It Go” celebrates the personal freedoms of the present by saying goodbye to the old ways and days. Note to Reuben: Love the Le Tigre jacket that you sport on the album cover!

As always, Minneapolis-based singer/songwriter Ann Reed has found a way to balance her moving and emotionally powerful songs with her unique sense of humor on Gift of Age (Turtlecub). Reed offers her original perspective on the passage of time on the heartfelt “Saying Hello,” the title track, and “Two Trees.” Her gift for story songs can be heard on “Get Outta My Kitchen” and “Marching Back to School.” Her delightfully humorous point of view buoys the songs “Please, Mr. Ashcroft,” on which she implores the attorney general to spare us his singing, and “Meals on Wheels,” about eating junk food in your car. Reed will perform in Houston on January 11. [Editor’s note: Ann Reed will perform at the Houston Community College Heinen Theater on Saturday, January 11, at 7:30 p.m. The Houston trio St. Brigid’s Flame (Constance Braden, Elizabeth Jeter, and Mary Radspinne) will open for Reed. Tickets are $15. To order, call 800/947-9180.]

One of the surest signs of a generation gap in the gay community is the age group that refuses to identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual. They are the ones who firmly embraced the “queer” moniker, although it wouldn’t be hard to imagine that most of them do find themselves mainly attracted to members of the same gender. The Quails, a trio from San Francisco, fits that category. They will say that some of the band members are in same-sex relationships. Atmosphere (Inconvenient) is the trio’s second album, and it’s a good one. Reminiscent of the riot grrrl sound of the Pacific Northwest (e.g. Sleater-Kinney), the Quails also distinguish themselves by having male bass players Seth Lorinczi sing the lead on a few songs (including “Digitons”). Tracks that take wing include “Memo from the Desk of the Quails,” “When I Was a Lifeboat,” and “Your Heart Is a Muscle the Size of a Fist.”

Two years after it was released in Europe, Milagro (Sunnyside) by African-American singer/songwriter and out lesbian Natalia King, is going to expose the American music-buying public to an important new voice. Some categorize her sound as blues, but it owes more to jazz (think of an earthy Patricia Barber) in the way that the musicians and also King herself stretch out over the course of the album’s nine tracks. Highlights include “Eye to Eye,” “Drag,” and the title track.

I don’t know how the number of gay male opera singers stacks up against the number of gay male opera fans, but with The Celtic Tenors, we can at least add two of its three members (James and Niall) to the gay roster. So Strong (Angel) also reflects a gay sensibility in the song selection. Opening with the sumptuous “Nella Fantasia” (originally an instrumental from the movie The Mission), the trio performs a lovely rendition of Paul McCartney’s “Mull of Kintyre,” and achieves high drama with the late Freddie Mercury’s “Love Of My Life.” Gay composer Samuel Barber’s “Adagio” receives the vocalese treatment, and “Anthem” from Chess is appropriately anthemic.

I receive an abundance of “homemade” CDs and every once in a while, one stands out from the rest. Jay Spears sounds like a cross between Mark Weigle and Tom Yore on his album Boy Howdy (www.jayspears.com). “I Like Mike” is a quirky tune about a baseball player boyfriend. The catchy “I’m Gonna Fall In Love” borders on silly, but is saved by the sincerity of Spears’ delivery “You Will Love Again,” sung by Annie Combs (with backing vocals by Spears), is the disc’s best song.

Pop culture journalist Gregg Shapiro is also a published fiction writer and poet. He has a poem in the new collection, Sweet Jesus (Anthology Press).

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