Michelle Malone.
Lesbians on Ecstasy often are asked if they are on drugs, but it is the Canadian quartet's music that is rolling. After the group's eponymous debut and remix album, Giggles In The Dark, these queer musical pirates sail onward with We Know You Know. Now, their sound is much more melodic, almost sounding like the music is rooted in Vermont or northern California. The closing track, Mortified, lifts the chorus from the euro-dance hit I Like To Move It, but it is served up as if it is sung by a group of women during a rite or over a campfire. Instead of bringing lesbian anthems to the dance floor, Lesbians on Ecstasy are hauling the disco ball and strobe lights to the '70s folk movement. The CD is out now on Alien8 Recordings.
Is that Dannii Minogue? No, it's Hilary Duff. The Lizzie McGuire actress eases into a more grown-up sound with her latest CD, Dignity. Here she floats to the top, reminding fans that she has more substance than Lindsay; can hold court while Britney sorts out her life; and declares once and for all that Paris should stick to making flicks with night vision. The lead singles, With Love and Play With Fire, are both remixed for the clubs by Richard Vission, further narrowing the gap between the tween and gay markets. This is a welcome turn for the young actress and singer; however, dance favorites Madonna, Ultra Nate and Kristine W. need not feel threatened just yet. Now I am almost ready to forgive Duff for remaking Our Lips Are Sealed with her sister Haylie in 2004. Duff will be making appearances at the GLAAD Media Awards on April 21 and on The Tyra Banks Show in May.
My Brightest Diamond opens for The Decemberists at the Riviera Theatre on April 18-19. Shara Worden debuted under the alias My Brightest Diamond with Bring Me The Workhorse, which proved to be a diamond in the rough and on many critics' lists last year. Having toured as member in Sufjan Stevens' band, his influences—blurred with elements of Tori Amos and PJ Harvey—sparkle on this Asthmatic Kitty release. This trained opera singer just issued Tear It Down, a collection of reinterpretations and remixes of the material from Workhorse.
The Roche sisters are at it again. Over 30 years since their debut and collaboration with Paul Simon on 1973's There Goes Rhymin' Simon, The Roches make a triumphant return with their trademark harmonies, songwriting and melodies on Moonswept. Almost evoking ragtime, the humorous numbers The Naughty Lady Of Shady Lane and No Shoes have the Roches ahead of the pack.
In conjunction with her ninth album, Michelle Malone is scheduled to rock the house at Fitzgerald's in Berwyn on April 13. The bluesy singer, also known as Moanin' Michelle Malone, plays guitar, blues harp and mandolin on her new album, Sugarfoot. Rich with country, blues and soul, Malone comes across as upbeat and full of life on her latest—like a hybrid of Bonnie Raitt, Melissa Etheridge and Lucinda Williams. On the road most of the year, Malone keeps good company, having shared the stage with greats ZZ Top, Joan Jett and the Indigo Girls.
Tom Michael and Beckie Menzie know a thing or two about that crazy little thing called love. Their cabaret show, Mood Swings: The Ins and Outs of Ups and Downs, has the duo set to perform beloved standards Up, Up & Away, I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry, Twisted and In The Mood. These Windy City favorites will be performing at Davenports at 8 p.m. on Saturdays and Thursdays in April. For more information, visit beckiemenzie.com or tommichael.net .
Taylor Dayne is tailor-made to cover other artists' material. She has redone Barry White's Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Dusty Springfield's You Don't Have to Say You Love Me and RuPaul's Supermodel. When her own work is remade, nobody can outdo the great Dayne. Celine Dion's Send Me A Lover, Meat Loaf's Original Sin and Kelly Llorenna's Tell It To My Heart lack the charisma of the originals. Only Tina Turner's spin on Whatever You Want is on par with Dayne's.
With her MySpace page, Dayne is searching for a new number to remake—and she wants input from her fans. I have been brainstorming songs that would suit Dayne's signature vocals. Home Sweet Home by Motley Crue and One Night in Heaven by The M People quickly come to mind. Kate Bush's classic Wuthering Heights already was flawlessly reinterpreted by Pat Benatar. Possibly, Dayne could put some sunshine into Guns n Roses' November Rain. I tried to steer clear from the songbooks of her peers Toni Braxton, Anastasia and Ultra Nate. But having Dayne belt out Kristine W.'s One More Try could be quite a comeback single. My proposal remains Anita Baker's breakout hit Sweet Love. Surely, there will be accompanying club mixes.
For this friendly competition, the winner gets a DVD of the movie Stag, in which the singer portrays a stripper. For more details, visit Dayne's MySpace page. Entries must be submitted by April 16.
