When I first saw the video for 'Fagette' by Athens Boys Choir, I wasn't sure if I was ready for another novelty pop song like Samwell's 'What What ( in the Butt ) .' However, I was humming a different tune once I found out that Athens Boys Choir is the musical alter ego for trans artist Harvey Katz. The southern songster is open about personal matters by spelling it out on 'Fagette' as the chorus wittily flows with 'I need a man that can handle what is under these clothes, because I got a v to-a-g-i-n-a with no p-e-n-i-s-s-ay.' Chocked full with pop-culture references, including props to out psychic Miss Cleo, Doogie Howser and the Electric Slide, 'Fagette' is from the album Bar Mitzvah Hits of the '80s, '90s and Today.
Despite her accomplishments as a dancer, songwriter and actress, Solange still finds herself in her older sister Beyonce's shadow. On her top 10 album, Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams, the beautiful Bring It On All or Nothing star opens her sophomore set with the Thievery Corporation-produced 'God Given Name.' Here, she wants to be recognized for her own merits by proclaiming, 'I'm not her and never will be.' On the superb 'Sandcastle Disco,' Solange takes a page from Diana Ross's legacy, cooing flirtatiously. Some may insist that Beyonce is actually singing these songs, but let's not forget some sisters sound alike. This is the case with Dannii and Kylie Minogue—yet some, like The Pointer Sisters, have quite distinctive voices.
To celebrate her show's sizzling run in Sin City, Bette Midler is issuing another hits retrospective, Jackpot: The Best Bette. Of course, the power ballad staples 'The Rose,' 'From a Distance' and her take on 'Wind beneath My Wings' are present. But material from Midler's 2005 tribute to Peggy Lee, as well as 'To Deserve You' and more from the soundtrack to For the Boys, are sorely missing on this 19-song collection. Midler has such a vast catalog that spans decades, so including everything is impossible. But through divine intervention, the demo to 'Something Your Heart Is Telling Me' is pulled from the vaults for this winning bet of a set.
Serving as a tie-in with the film's DVD release, a second installment to The Sex and The City soundtrack is out now. The women's metropolis is a multicultural mecca and, ever so appropriately, so is this disc. Trendy urban pop is served up with Craig David's 'My First Love,' Estelle's 'Pretty Please ( Love Me ) ' and Ciara's 'Click Flash,' while Janet Jackson's '2Nite' and Goldfrapp's 'Beautiful' pick up the pace with some sexy dance material. But the retro-flavored 'You Look So Good' by Owen Brady, the soulful 'We Got Love' by Ryan Shaw and 'Trouble' by Bitter:sweet—a side project for Supreme Beings of Leisure—factor in a certain downtown hip factor. Certainly Carrie and Co. would be sipping cosmos or shopping with these tunes in the background.
The Brazilian Girls release their third album, New York City, featuring the wistful jam 'Good Time,' the Marlene Dietrich inspired 'Berlin' and the electronic tour de force 'Internacional.' The 2005 eponymous debut pushed this group into the limelight with multilingual singer Sabina Sciubba and its groovy chill-out and hipster-oriented pop. Now veterans of Estrojam, Northalsted Market Days and Lollapalooza, The Brazilian Girls will come back to the Windy City with a headlining gig at the House of Blues, 329 N. Dearborn, on Friday, Oct. 3.
Waves on Waves makes quite a splash with its self-titled debut. The Nashville outfit comes across as a mellower version of Coldplay, should Chris Martin have pursued the sound and the flair of the Flaming Lips instead of walking in U2's wake. Waves on Waves is also drawing comparisons to being U.S. counterparts to Simply Red and Tears for Fears, as witnessed on 'Say Goodnight' and 'Modern Man.' Out singer and guitarist Thorton, bassist Luke Aaron Jones and drummer Enoch Porch were in this band's previous incarnation Thorton. The art-house trio returns to Chicago with a concert on Wednesday, Oct. 8 at Silvies, 1902 W. Irving Park.
The onslaught on the darker fall club music begins with the release of Morel's self-produced Death of the Paperboy. The bonus disc delivers more dance floor-ready mixes and grooves, whereas the companion has more of an alternative-rock approach. The title cut has the out D.C. dance legend dishing out Duran Duran-worthy goods. 'Flawed,' 'Falling off the Verge' and a cover of David Bowie's 'Sweet Thing' seem like a dream collaboration of New Order and Dirty Vegas. Morel has worked with icons like Tina Turner, Cyndi Lauper and The Pet Shop Boys, but on Death of the Paperboy, Morel assumes the vocal duties.
A rich baritone voice perfectly matches Ed Laurie's dark looks and wavy coif. On the Dangerbird Records release Meanwhile in the Park, Laurie shows off his songwriting skills and brings Spanish guitar and subtle Latin rhythms to his folk craft on the title track and 'By the Coconut Tree.' The British rising star will be at Schubas, 3159 N. Southport, on Monday, Oct. 6.
Read an interview with The Blissters' Arnold Madlangbayan on page 22.
