2008 Holiday Gift Guide: John’s ThanksGIFTing Music Needs
Holy Jingle Cats! Like it or not, the holidays are upon us! I’ve already heard Xmas tunes in my local C-Town grocery store, and Times Square is full of 40-ft-ads for yuletide albums by the likes of Enya ("And Winter Came..." Eeek!) and Harry Connick, Jr. (who's chestnutty tan in the ads). There’s even a full-on Broadway stage version of the ancient White Christmas musical hitting the boards. And it’s not even Thanksgiving yet!
To kick off our two-week long series of posts about cool gift ideas for this holiday season, I’m gonna rattle off a few of my CD wants of right about now. Most of these discs are due in the next few weeks, though a couple are out already. They also make for spiffy gift items. (Do people still give actual CDs as gifts? Let’s pretend...)
Hot rockers, soul divas, indie art-fags, and more fun music messes after the jump!
Brandon Flowers and pals from Vegas has said that their third and latest, Day & Age (due on Nov. 24th) is their attempt to channel Elton John, David Bowie, Lou Reed and MGMT. Which sounds kinda queer, right? One reviewer already called it a “Pet Shop Boys pop romp,” and another called it one of 2008’s best. And it was produced by Stuart Price of Madge’s Confessions on a Dance Floor. Remember that? Rather a homo-friendly pedigree, eh?
And Mr. Flowers is looking as cute as ever lately. Colin’s already written here of his fondness for Flowers’ clean-shaven look. I like it, too. But I liked him scruffy and porny, too.
| Gay music and video from NewNowNext.com |
I saw the cute Scottish kids of Belle and Sebastian onstage in 1999 or so in Amsterdam and fell in love. Through the years they’ve honed their ability to craft retro-sensitive art pop pretty magnificently, which is why this new “live in the BBC studio” album is so darned nice. It delivers non-fussy, honestly played, almost acoustic versions of some of their classics; “Like Dylan in the Movies;” “Judy and the Dream of Horses” and the brilliant “Sleep the Clock Around” are all here, and all were recorded between 1996 and 2001. They’re performed with such no-frills dedication and sincerity I get chills!
Thanks kids!
Connie Talbot - Connie’s Christmas Album
Okay, if you haven’t been exposed to the gap-toothed British TV munchkin Connie Talbot, just hunt her video where she charms the fussy-pants off of scroogely Simon Cowell when she appeared on Britain’s Got Talent (it's embedded below). Your teeth might hurt, it’s so darned sweet. And though I’m not sure I could really endure an entire album of the now 8-years-old Connie crooning Christmas tunes, how can I resist recommending it?
You had me at Labelle... As in Patti Labelle, but also as in Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash. Yep, the original Labelle ladies who rocked the disco/soul scene back in the day with “Lady Marmalade” are back. And they’re still outrageous and fierce and soulfully decadent and kinda gospel and kinda disco and all kinds of amazing. They’ve summoned Lenny Kravitz and Wyclef Jean to produce some of the songs, but whatevs. It’s all about putting legendary Patti front-and-center (just like in the album art).
The fun kicks off with the torchy “Candlelight,” gets riled up with “Roll Out,” and the girls get their smooth and funky freak on with “Superlover.” The album’s capper, the classic Cole Porter nugget “Miss Otis Regrets” is an Apollo-stage ready showstopper. But you’d expect nothing less from Patti and her girls, right?
Treat friends to their new CD, or get 'em tix to see Labelle live later in December and January.
To jar your memory, he’s a clip of Labelle spreading some “Marmalade” back in the day...
| Gay music and video from NewNowNext.com |
He’s on TV these days acting cutely on Ugly Betty (and you’ve seen him on 30 Rock and Cashmere Mafia), but Val Emmich’s new album, Little Daggers is just as fetching. It’s a sweetly sensitive and crunchy collection of catchy, crush-worthy tunes. Go to his MySpace page and you can see a fun song-by-song video rundown of Little Daggers. And he’s bopping around the country doing shows right now, so catch and you’ll be hooked.
And yes, he’s preposterously attractive. That’s okay, right?
Nice dimple, Val.
| Gay music and video from NewNowNext.com |
If you’re reading this you’re probably gay, which means you’ve probably heard of Lady Gaga, as she’s been all over the gay blogs, gay mags and gay bars for the last six months. If you haven’t, then wake up and just accept the fact that NYC’s new crazy glam electro-pop queen is fierce, she loves your gay ass, and her debut CD is more fun than a box of cats on poppers wearing spandex. Hell, even Xtina was impressed enough to steal Gaga’s look.
Get The Fame. It’s the soundtrack of every good holiday party you’re gonna be going to...
I’ve embedded her videos for “Just Dance” and the freaky-fab “Poker Face” below, to help you on your Gaga quest.
| Gay music and video from NewNowNext.com |
| Gay music and video from NewNowNext.com |
And expect more festive gift ideas prancing your way in the weeks to come! Bless!
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