Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 6, 2002)
fi. 2002 ' “Holiday GiJt Guide Listen T he M ichael F einstein A nthology M ichael Feinstein • ElektraJRhino he M ichael Feinstein Anthology is a musical theater queen’s wet dream: a two-disc collec tion of 35 o f the noted gay cabaret singer and pianist’s favorite and most requested songs, plus eight previously unre leased recordings. Feinstein sings like he’s the secret love child o f Johnny Mathis and Rosemary Clooney, the sweetness of his tremulous vibrato balanced with the slyness o f intelli gent phrasing. T h e collection offers stan dards such as “S ’wonderful” and “Love Is Here to Stay,” novelties like “T h e Ugly Bug Ball” and “Rhode Island Is Famous for You” as well as obscure gems “I Never Felt Better” (a charming duet with composer Hugh Mar tin) and "V iolin” (a dazzling show-stopper with Liza M innelli). Feinstein’s enthusiasm for the material shines through; even when he sings a sad song he can ’t mask his sheer love of singing. T h e anthology also boasts an informative 50-page booklet in which he reflects on his comm itm ent to this music. — Marc Acito L et I t R ain Tracy Chapman • ElektraJAsylum r racy Chapman’s sixth studio album moves the four-time Grammy win ners previous idealistic view points into a more down-to- earth approach. With tracks running the gamut from upbeat and hopeful to sad and almost depressing, she once again proves to be a prolific songwriter. “You’re the O ne” was selected as the first single release for good reason. It cooks along with beautiful, clever lyrics and rhymes. T he eerie and mysterious “In the Dark” follows, mesmerizing the listener directly into “Almost,” a song that builds up hope for love and happiness, then brings you back to the prospect that you may never get what you need. “Say Hallelujah” is one of the album’s best, with rhythm-pounding bass rooted in gospel blues. The timbre of Chapman’s voice has always been rare and addictive, and on Let It Rain she explores new textures of vocal depth, solidly evidenced in the work’s last song, “Goodbye.” Each and every cut on this album is a special elixir, spirit medicine for the soul. —Juli Roxx S ex & M ayhem : P art O ne Donald Currie • Self-released n the tradition of racy camp story tellers like Rae Bour bon and Dwight Fiske comes Donald Currie. Sex & Mayhem (avail able at www.cdbaby.com) is a witty spoken- word stroll through his coming out in the mid- 1960s, subsequent coming-of-age and then just plain coming. Currie’s verbal gymnastics work the raw material of a queer life into vividly exaggerated and often funny stories, punctuated with festive music and sexy groans. He takes us from “the first Big Bang of puberty” through the sultry chaos of San Francisco gay life “chock-a-block with the hubbub of rutting buddies contorting themselves into rococo convolutions” and fur ther into True Love. Along the way he sketch es a memorable cast of characters: hunky teachers, drama queens, various “big old fags” and, most captivating, Currie himself. — Gary Morris T he K insey S icks : S icks in the C ity The Kinsey Sicks • Self-released ranny a cappel- r ran isn’t exactly I 1 la” a h household term, but the Kinsey Sicks could make it so, at least in more stylish households. This fabulous group known as “America’s Favorite Dragapel- la Beautyshop Quartet” consists of Trixie, Winnie, Rachel and Trampolina. Sicks in the City showcases both their sharp satirical sense and considerable harmonizing talents. These queens can sing! T he C D features queer-inflected sendups o f classic tunes (being gay, they’re sadly “Locked Out of the Chapel of Love”) and hilariously dead-on originals (“Cruise People Uglier Than You”). Topics include the evils n o f President Bush, the joys o f Ikea (to the tune of West Side Story’s “Maria”), even The Poseidon A dventure. T h e vocalese is so good here that it’s possible to appreciate the music alone, but queers and sensible straights will enjoy the lyrical brilliance, too. Live perfor mances of more than half the 18 tunes add to the fun. —G M D ancing Q ueens Various Artists • Medalist fre the “queens” in the title of this 26-track, lo-CD set the singers (Gloria Gaynor, RuPaul, Judy Garland, Boy George) or the fans of diva music— the boyz and girlz gyrating on the dance floor or listening with a tear in the eye on a lonely Saturday night? No matter. A tasty melange of disco anthems (the inescapable “I Will Survive” and “I Love the Nightlife”), ’80s dance tunes (“Karma Chameleon”) and nostalgia (“Some where Over the Rainbow”), there’s something here for queens of all sexes and moods. There are surprises, too: Lesley Gore’s Top 40 dyke manifesto “You Don’t Own Me,” Eartha K itts hyperdramatic “Where Is My Man” (when she says, “I work my fingers to the bone,” you can practically see the fingers and the bone) and Cyndi Lauper’s still-thrilling riot grrl classic “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.” So does this CD! - G M JF ! 5th Anniversary Blow-Out Celebration Now available in the Pearl! Huge* Savings w - "70°.. M W t Buying o r sellin g y o u r hom e is an im p o rta n t ch o ice . Let C e lia & T e rri guide you th ro ug h the p ro c e s s ! C E L IA L Y O N T E R R I P O P E JO Y (503) 260-6231 (503) 330-0400 Bella Casa Realty Inc. 1523 SE Ankeny • Portland, OR 97214 503-231-SELL (7355) “(Building ‘B locks fo r ‘f o u r fu tu re ” Trade Roots An e cle ctic mix of unusual gifts * r 1 * v * *"*2222 As low as $2,980 ...Hill Pacific Orient Traders Specializing in hand-selected ^ Quality Asian Antiques Must See to Recognize the Difference 221 NW I 1th - In The IVari 5 0 V 2 4 1 -9 9 1 4 VESPA PORTLAND 726 N W I2TH PORTLAND. O R 97210 S03.222.3779 A world of difference in clothing, jewelry 8t gifts TUESDAY-SATURDAY IIAM-6PM © PIAGGIO 200) VISPA» ANO PIAGGIO» AM U S ANO WORLDWOC « « S T I M O TRADEMARKS O f PIAGGIO GROUP O U T LOCAL TRAfflC SAFETY LAWS ANO ALWAYS WEAR A HRMET APPROPRIATI IYEWIAR AND PROPER APPARII Trad e Roots 1831 NE Broadway T0 3-261-533T. www Traaeiootsinc ccm
