Memorial Day weekend brings International Mr. Leather and Bear Pride to the Windy City. A surefire goodtime over the holiday is the dance party hosted by Blowoff, which has Bob Mould and Rich Morel as DJs. The pair's fourth annual event in Chicago takes place on Saturday, May 26 at Metro, 3730 N. Clark St., at 11 p.m. These music veterans combine a great blend of alternative, electro and dancefloor heavyweights into their mix to the crowd's delight. Tickets and more information are available at www.blowoff.us.
Openly gay singer-songwriter Ian Wilson returns with This Is Water. The Alt Q alumnus finds his strongest moments when his rich voice takes center stage with beautiful arrangements like on "Resurrection Ship" and the superb "Se Dice No." Another highlight is the mesmerizing rhythm on "Bad Ideas Work Best," where Wilson is on the brink with frustration, as he details somebody else's faults. The closing track, "Balancing Act," is quite atmospheric with its piano accompaniment and the echo of his voice. The opening song, "Indentured Servant," and "Bad Wolf Bay" seamlessly marry storytelling with folk and electronic music.
Fans of Matt Alber and Ben Folds Five definitely should check out Wilson's This Is Water. The Chicago-based Wilson will be at Andersonville Midsommarfest Saturday, June 9. The self-released This Is Water is out now.
I was introduced and ultimately spellbound by Emeli Sandé when she won The Critics Choice Award at the 2012 Brit Awards. Her captivating appearance coupled with the drum-and-bass sound of "Heaven" made me want to know more. Having already penned songs for Leona Lewis and Susan Boyle, Sandé's debut, Our Version of Events, shows off her songwriting and a voice that recalls Beyoncé's, but is far less annoying. Don't let the opening cut, "Heaven," leave the feeling that Our Version of Events is just a throwback to Massive Attack's Blues Lines era; it also features gorgeous, slower numbers like "My Kind of Love" and "Mountains."
Sandé headlines a concert on Wed., May 30, at Lincoln Hall, 2424 N. Lincoln Ave., before opening for Coldplay at The United Center, 1901 W. Madison St., on Tuesday, Aug. 7 and Wed., Aug. 8. Our Version of Events is due out June 5 via Capital Records.
The comeback of the year belongs to Garbage with the newly released Not Your Kind of People. The alternative act is in fine form here after a hiatus following 2007's hits package, Absolute Garbage. The title track is another "It Gets Better" anthem for outsiders as Shirley Manson closes by repeating, "We are extraordinary people." The fantastic "Felt" has Manson cooing over tight guitars. Don't fret; she still has her don't-fuck-with-me attitude, as heard on "Automatic Systematic Habit," "Control" and the edgy "Battle in Me." A Chicago date finally has been added to Garbage's tour itinerary with a must-see show at Metro on Tuesday, Aug. 7.
Macy Gray has such a charming, unique voice that can emit a childlike wonder, belt out soulful funk and carry the gravity of heartache. When I first heard of she would be stamping that signature voice on other people's work for the album, Covered, I was hoping for some interpretations of Prince in there. Alas, she does not attempt any of his catalog here. The set opens with a spectacularly haunting version of "Here Comes the Rain Again" by Eurythmics. Gray's bizarre reworking of "Maps" misses its mark. But she redeems herself with risky renditions of Metallica's "Nothing Else Matters" and Radiohead's "Creep." Gray will be performing with Seal at Ravinia, 200 Ravinia Park Rd., Highland Park, on Sunday, July 22.
Allow the retrospective The Essential Mariah Carey to reintroduce the megastar. Her music became formulaic with its lifted samples, predictable covers and cheesy inspirational ballads by the time her third studio album, Music Box, came out in 1993. This collection captures some goodies during the first 10 years of her career, like remixes of "Anytime You Need a Friend" and the album track "Vanishing" from her nine-times-platinum debut. "Emotions" still does not properly credit Earth, Wind and Fire's Maurice White and Al McKay for its blatant sample from "Best of My Love" by The Emotions. This double-disc retrospective has memorable hits like "Vision of Love" and "Can't Let Go," but my favorites—"If It's Over," "You Need Me" and her spin on Prince's "Beautiful Ones"—are missing. The diva is now a spokesperson for Jenny Craig and has new material expected to drop later this year.
Need a soundtrack for a Memorial Day party? Check out POPular Volume 7. This Centaur Entertainment collection has upbeat remakes of radio staples like fun.'s "We Are Young" and Katy Perry's "Part of Me." The LGBT community is represented with new takes of Jessie J.'s "Domino" and Sia's hook on Flo Rida's "Wild Ones." The version of "I Like How It Feels" here is absolutely irresistible with its sunny, feel-good vibe. Video-bar favorites "Set Fire to the Rain" and "We Found Love" make sure that POPular Volume 7 has never misses a beat. The 15-track continuous set mixed by DJ Grind is out now.
