Sarah McLachlan - Wintersong 12/3/06

I was introduced to the music of Sarah McLachlan the same night I was introduced to my partner of 11 years. I’m not sure if it was the wine, the ambiance or the melody, but I knew then that my life would never be the same. Every time I hear the melancholy richness of McLachlan’s voice, I’m reminded of that pivotal moment. So admittedly, I would buy her CD even if she were singing the alphabet.

While she is going back to basics with a traditional holiday collection, Wintersong, McLachlan’s latest album, is about as far from the ABC’s as you can get.

She brings depth to classicslike “O Little Town of Bethlehem”, “Silent Night” and “I’ll be home for Christmas”with ambient sound effects, distorted guitars, and subtle echoes. Standouts on the album are covers of Joni Mitchell’s “River”, and Gordon Lightfoot’s, “Song for a Winter’s Night”. But the one that causes shivers is the title track, “Wintersong”, penned by McLachlan herself. It’s as haunting as it is hopeful.

Pick up Wintersong today and reflect on the sentiments of the season.

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Cyndi Lauper - The Body Acoustic 12/5/05

Cyndi Lauper understands that everything old becomes new again. With her latest album, The body Acoustic, Lauper releases a double dose of 80's nostalgic by pulling the plug on her earlier hits.

At a time in music where washboard abs and hair extensions often outshine vocals, Lauper lets her raw voice explode and spews vibrant melodies on her unsuspecting fans with the help of contributors like Jeff Beck, Ani DiFranco, Vivian Green, Adam Lazzara, Sarah McLachlan and Shaggy.

Her new rendition of "True Colors" is hauntingly beautiful; "Money Changes Everything" will leave you tapping your toes; and "She Bop," will have you singing the blues about your masturbatory woes until your face clears up. Lauper also offers two new ballads, "Above The Clouds" and "I'll Be Your River," which are reminiscent of her early years and bring back memories of school dances, parachute pants, mini skirts and jelly shoes.

Lauper is currently touring with Jill Sobule and I have no doubt that she will bring the house down with her colorful tunes, witty jokes and longwinded stories. A few months ago she jumped on stage at a Lisa Marie Presley concert in NYC and gave the audience quite a performance. I can't wait to see what she has up her sleeve now that she's the one in the spotlight.

Lauper, always quick to support the GLBT community, is a member of the Matthew Sheppard Foundation's honorary board. She has dedicated her winter 2005 concert tour to educating people about understanding and acceptance. Everyone who attends a concert will receive a Matthew Shepard Foundation purple "ERASE HATE" wristband to demonstrate her commitment to replacing hate with understanding, compassion and acceptance. Buy The Body Acoustic today!  And check out a live show; you won't be disappointed! Visit www.cyndilauper.com for details.

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Will the real Madonna please stand up? 11/07/05

Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone is back and up to her old tricks. Even after all of these years, the girl's drive and determination to rule the world continues to shock and awe. Only Madonna could blend Catholicism with overt sluttiness to create an 80's fashion pandemic; only Madonna could write a sex book one year and a children's book the next; and only Madonna could speak confidently with a European accent when we all know she hails from suburban Detroit.

I was a Madonna stalker in my youth. I took more than a few leisurely drives past her father's house in Rochester Hills, Michigan. There was nothing better than skipping Algebra class, grabbing a six-pack and watching Mr. Ciccone pick up the morning paper, check his mailbox or mow the lawn. Good times. Good times.

I love Madge. Always have. Always will. We were both wise enough to get the hell out of the motor city, head to New York and try to make something of ourselves. Ok, so she got rich and famous and I got a chip on my shoulder…so? I didn't have to eat out of garbage cans, consort with uncircumcised Latinos or embrace a new religion in order to make my way in the world, but I digress. She still rocks.

I don't know about you, but I'm over the PG-rated Madonna; the one with two well-adjusted kids, a happy marriage and a manor house in the English countryside. I long for the raunchy Madonna; the one who dropped the F-bomb 13 times on the David Letterman show; the one who dated Sandra Bernhard, hung with Debi Mazur, and shook her bon-bon all night long in gay bars. I want the audacious Madonna back.

Sometimes life has a funny way of giving you what you wish for. On October 22, Madonna showed up at two notorious New York City gay bars, played some new tunes, and wiggled her ass with a bunch of queens in an effort to promote her new CD, Confessions on a Dance Floor. She danced, she flirted, she swore. She laughed, she grinded, she oozed sex appeal. The crowed worshiped her, and she relished it. The old Madonna was back. If only for one night.

Buy Confessions on a Dance Floor, crank it up, dance till dawn, and think back to the time when Madonna was Madonna.

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k.d. lang - Hymns of the 49th Parallel
I was never a big fan of k.d. lang. Admittedly, I never gave her music much of a chance because I have the "judge a book by its cover" syndrome and she's a little too rough around the edges for my taste. Besides, that whole sleeping-with-Melissa Etheridege's-girlfriend-episode was a bit greedy and self-serving, not to mention just plain mean.

But when a coworker passed me a bootleg copy of lang's thundering rendition of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah," I heard a choir of angels, saw the light and became a convert. Now that I understand k.d.'s heavenly appeal, I would gladly kick my dog, sell a kidney on eBay or even give her my girl, simply as penance for a serenade.

With Hymns of the 49th Parallel, lang pays homage to fellow Canadian artists, including Cohen, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Jane Siberry, Ron Sexsmith and Bruce Cockburn, and delivers a knapsack full of classic songs from her northern roots.

Her haunting arrangements and intoxicating voice are like spoonfuls of medicine that, while bitter at first, go down easier with each gulp, warm your soul and leave you with an addiction to be reckoned with. Buy it now!

Sugarland - Twice the Speed of Life
With their first collaborative effort, the singers/songwriters of Sugarland are stepping into the spotlight after almost a decade of standing in the shadows of country and folk on their own. Kristen Hall had a longstanding career as a recording artist and Kristian Bush was one half of the folk duo Billy Pilgrim. The only freshmen, Jennifer Nettles, is holding her own as the frontwoman of this country rock group with her powerful voice, southern twang and down-home good looks.

Ok, so their music is good and they're not hard to look at, but why should you spend your money on this CD when there are millions of tunes ripe for the pickin? Because Kristen Hall, a lesbian folk rocker from suburban Detroit, deserves to be heard.

Hall began her music career as a guitar tech for the Indigo Girls and developed into a solo performer known for her compelling acoustic sets. Fifteen years after the release of her homemade debut record, Real Life Stuff, Hall is rattling Nashville with Sugarland and is experiencing the biggest success of her career.

Have a listen at Sugarlandmusic.com or buy Twice the Speed of Life on CD today! Buy Now!

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Lisa Marie Presley - Now What
Not only is the proverbial Princess of Rock amazing to look at, she sounds amazing too. With her sophomore album Now What, Lisa Marie Presley proves she has the instincts of a serious artist and writer.

While her signature smoky/bluesy sound is back, a rougher 70's punk edge is present. Shooting from the hip and writing from the heart, Presley gives listeners a true glimpse of the girl behind the name and, with her lyrics, delves deep into the private life she usually holds close.

She teamed up with Linda Perry to co-write some rockin’ songs and Pink lends her voice to “Shine” where she manages to stay in the background providing complementary harmonies as not to out-sing Presley. The words are telling: You can be all the writing on the wall That you want I’ll be the lines across it But I’ll blow your mind I’ll blow your mind.

Not only will she blow your mind, she'll win you over. Check out the official LMP website at www.lisamariepresley.com and watch this rising star achieve fame...not for who she is, but for what's she's accomplishing. Buy Now!