|
|
|
Dance Beat
by Gregg Shapiro
2001-07-11
|
|
This article shared 1405 times since Wed Jul 11, 2001
|
|
On Rooty ( Astralwerks ) , their highly anticipated second disc, the Basement Jaxx sound as if they've been possessed by Prince. That is not necessarily a bad thing, considering the fresh and unforgettable dance tracks that his royal highness laid down at the height of his popularity. Take the bold beats and slightly sped up vocals of "Romeo" as a sign o' the times, because the songs that follow, such as "S.F.M. ( Sexy Feline Machine ) ," "Jus 1 Kiss," the Wendy & Lisa-like "Broken Dreams," "Get Me Off," and "Crazy Girl," sound as if they could be from a lost ( and now found ) Prince album. Still, this is undeniably a Basement Jaxx disc, as you can tell from just one listen ( although you'll be back for more ) of the stomping "Breakaway," "Where's Your Head At," "Do Your Thing," and "All I Know" ( which recalls "Romeo" ) .
Grand Tourism ( CyberOctave ) by Grand Tourism is too good to save for your usual after-hours chill-out gathering, break this one out like it was your best champagne or your most practiced dance move. A step above your average French DJ fare—this one soars. From the modern-day disco of "Jim Clark Theorem" ( soon to be heard in the new Steve Martin movie Novocaine ) , "Snakeplayer," and "Act Of Love" to the ecstatic drum 'n bass of "Hybrid Story" and "La Baie du Fakir" to the hipster chic "Les Courants d'Air" ( featuring the unmistakable vocals of the legendary Terry Callier ) , this disc is a trip and a half, and you don't need a passport.
Can you believe that it's been 10 years since the Utah Saints ( Tim Garbutt and Jez Willis ) released a full-length domestic disc? While the rest of the world was catching up with innovations, they've been busy DJing and remixing ( King Curtis's "Watermelon Man" on the Electro Lounge disc, for example ) . But, 10 years? So is the ironically titled Two ( Nettwerk America ) worth the wait? You bet it is. With guest appearances by mega-Utah Saints fan Michael Stipe ( the spoken portions of "Sun," "Punk Club," "Rhinoceros," "Wiggedy Wack" ) , a nearly unrecognizable Chrissie Hynde ( "Lost Vagueness" ) , and Iggy Pop ( "Technowledgy" ) , this album is more than a comeback, it's an affirmation. Don't forget, the Utah Saints have already showed us what they were made of with their samples of Kate Bush ( "Something Good" ) and the late Gwen Guthrie ( "What Can You Do For Me?" ) on their first album. They are still made of the same novel and electronically driven stuff.
Maybe this time more people will pay attention.
|
 |
|
|
This article shared 1405 times since Wed Jul 11, 2001
|
| ARTICLES YOU MIGHT LIKE |
|---|
| 
|  | Local queer opera composer premiering her first show, a coming-of-age tale with LGBTQ+ themes 2024-04-23
- A Lake View woman is debuting her first opera as a composer, a coming-of-age story with LGBTQ+ themes. Gillian Rae Perry, a fellow with the Chicago Opera Theater's Vanguard program for emerging artists, composed The Weight ...
| 
| | Cher, Dionne among Rock & Roll HoF honorees; Mariah snubbed 2024-04-22
- On April 21, The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation announced its 2024 inductees, per an ABC press release. In the performer category, the inductees are Mary J. Blige, Cher, Dave Matthews Band, Foreigner, Peter ...
| 
| | The importance of becoming Ernest: Out actor Christopher Sieber dishes about the Death Becomes Her musical 2024-04-20
- Out and proud actor Christopher Sieber is part of the team bringing Death Becomes Her to life as a stage musical in the Windy City this spring. Sieber plays Ernest Menville, who was originally portrayed by ...
| 
| | SHOWBIZ Celine Dion, 'The People's Joker,' Billy Porter, Patti LuPone, 'Strange Way' 2024-04-19
- I Am: Celine Dion will stream on Prime Video starting June 25, according to a press release. The film is described as follows: "Directed by Academy Award nominee Irene Taylor, I Am: Celine Dion gives us ...
| 
| | Kokandy Productions now accepting submissions for Chicago Musical Theater Fest returning Aug. 8-11 2024-04-18
--From a press release - CHICAGO (April 18, 2024) — Kokandy Productions is pleased to open submissions for the 2024 Chicago Musical Theatre Festival, returning this summer following a four-year hiatus. Kokandy is thrilled to ...
| 
| | SHOWBIZ Jerrod Carmichael, '9-1-1' actor, Kayne the Lovechild, STARZ shows, Cynthia Erivo 2024-04-12
- Gay comedian/filmmaker Jerrod Carmichael criticized Dave Chappelle, opening up about the pair's ongoing feud and calling out Chappelle's opinions on the LGBTQ+ community, PinkNews noted, citing an Esquire article. Carmichael ...
| 
| | Judith Butler focuses on perceptions of gender at Chicago Humanities Festival talk 2024-04-10
- In an hour-long program filled with dry humor—not to mention lots of audience laughter—philosopher, scholar and activist Judith Butler (they/them) spoke in depth on their new book at Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport Ave., on ...
| 
| | Andersonville Chamber announces Andersonville Midsommarfest entertainment lineup 2024-04-09
--From a press release - CHICAGO (April 8, 2024) — The Andersonville Chamber of Commerce (ACC) is pleased to announce the full entertainment line-up for Andersonville Midsommarfest, one of Chicago's oldest and most beloved summer ...
| 
| | SHOWBIZ Outfest, Chita Rivera, figure skaters, letter, playwright dies 2024-04-05
- For more than four decades, Outfest has been telling LGBTQ+ stories through the thousands of films screened during its annual Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ+ Film Festival—but that event may have a different look this year because ...
| 
| | SHOWBIZ Dionne Warwick, OUTshine, Ariana DeBose, 'Showgirls,' 'Harlem' 2024-03-29
Video below - Iconic singer Dionne Warwick was honored for her decades-long advocacy work for people living with HIV/AIDS at a star-studded amfAR fundraising gala in Palm Beach, per the Palm Beach Daily News. Warwick received the "Award of ...
| 
| | 'Rumors' performers create alternative drag playground 2024-03-24
- At first glance, Dorian's Through The Record Shop (1939 W. North Ave.) looks like a brightly-lit shop with a handful of records on the wall, but there's a secret world behind those unassuming shelves. Visitors are ...
| 
| | SHOWBIZ Queer musicians, Marvel situation, Elliot Page, Nicole Kidman 2024-03-21
- Queer musician Joy Oladokun released the single "I Wished on the Moon," from Jack Antonoff's official soundtrack for the new Apple TV+ series The New Look, per a press release. The soundtrack, ...
| 
| | THEATER Chicago's City Lit has anxiety on tap with 'Two Hours in a Bar' 2024-03-21
- Two Hours in a Bar Waiting for Tina Meyer by Kristine Thatcher with material by Larry Shue Text Me by Kingsley Day (Book, Music and Lyrics). At: City Lit Theater, 1020 W. Bryn Mawr Ave.. Tickets: ...
| 
| | Lollapalooza announces lineup; SZA, Skrillex among headliners 2024-03-19
- Lollapalooza has released its line-up for the event that's taking place Aug. 1-4 at Grant Park. Headliners include SZA, Blink-182, Skrillex, The Killers, Hozier, Melanie Martinez and Stray Kids, among others. Some of the other acts ...
| 
| | Jamie Barton brings nuances of identity to her Lyric Opera 'Aida' performance 2024-03-18
- Chicago's Lyric Opera is currently featuring a production of Giuseppe Verdi's Aida starring Michelle Bradley as Aida, Jamie Barton as Amneris and Russell Thomas as Radamès. The opera runs through April 7, 2024, with Francesca Zambello ...
| | |
|
|
