Having written material for Beyoncé, Brandy and Justin Bieber, Frank Ocean makes a splash with his solo debut, Channel Orange. Here, he takes classic R&B and pushes the genre forward, as heard on the electronic-influenced "Pilot Jones" and the simply beautiful "Bad Religion." Two weeks before Channel Orange's street date, Ocean revealed on Tumblr that his first true love was a man, effectively coming out yet deftly dodging a label.
There is a controversy as Target is not carrying Ocean's top-10 debut. The retail chain insists that this does not have to do with Ocean's sexual orientation. Target stated that it has a policy not to stock albums that hit shelves on a date later than their digital counterparts. But Target carries Jay-Z and Kanye West's collaborative effort Watch the Throne, which was first available exclusively on iTunes in digital format. Ocean has a headlining slot at Lollapalooza Saturday, Aug. 4.
Also Chicago-bound for Lollapalooza is Sigur Ros. The Icelandic outfit balances between New Age and electronica with its unique sound. On its latest, Valtari, out frontman Jonsi Birgisson warbles euphorically, blending hope, despair and fantasy. The video for "Fjogur PÃano" has created a stir, as the lead actors in the piece, Shia LaBeouf and Deena Thomsen, appear nude amid an episode of their chaotic affair.
I felt a beaming sense of pride recently when JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound had an entire episode of JBTV on WTTW dedicated to this rising Chicago-based band. Known for its live shows as well as its timeless, soulful material like "I Am Trying to Break Your Heart" and "Want More," JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound will be at Lollapalooza Saturday, Aug. 4.
Lollapalooza is showing off its dance leanings by having appearances by Dev, Avicii, Calvin Harris, Nero, M83 and Justice. LGBT musicians are represented with Bloc Party and LP on the bill. Metric, The Temper Trap, Santigold, Animal Kingdom and the sister act First Aid Kit are worth checking out too. For tickets and schedules, visit www.lollapalooza.com .
Maroon 5 (led by The Voice judge Adam Levine) returns with Overexposed. Once again, the group does not stray from its hit-making formula, as "The Man Who Never Lied" and "Fortune Teller" feature its familiar funky pop and Levine's singing about troubled relationships with women. The pattern is broken with the catchy dance ditty "Lucky Strike" and the piano-based ballad "Sad." The opener, "One More Night," is a surefire smash. However, one should just skip "Tickets"—it comes across as a bad Lady Gaga knock-off, at best.
One of the hottest remixes of the year is Thomas Penton and Barry Huffine's joint reworking of Maroon 5's "Payphone." Sound of Arrows and Ashworth also remixed this track.
When I reviewed Rufus Wainwright's latest, Out of the Game, no Chicago dates were announced yet for his tour. The openly gay singer-songwriter will have a concert at Vic Theatre, 3145 N. Sheffield Ave., on Wed., Aug. 8, with Adam Cohen and Krystle Warren opening.
Many find it alarming that I have never seen the beloved movie Grease in its entirety. The star, Olivia Newton-John, is one of the headliners for this year's Northalsted Market Days with a performance Sunday, Aug. 12. The breast-cancer survivor has since appeared in the gay-themed drama It's My Party and portrayed a queer ex-con in the film adaptation of Sordid Lives. The Australian icon released the DVD Live at the Sydney Opera House in 2008.
Also taking to the stage at the street festival is Sheena Easton. Just don't get her mixed up with percussionist Sheila E. or confuse Easton's duet with Prince, "U Got the Look," with Roxette's chart-topper "The Look." The Scottish-born songstress has an impressive catalog ranging from the James Bond theme "For Your Eyes Only" to her duet with Kenny Rogers "We've Got Tonight" to her sultry hits like "Strut" and "Sugar Walls." Before her brief run on Miami Vice, Easton charted in the early '80s with the pop tracks "Morning Train (9 to 5)" and "Telefone (Long Distance Love Affair)." Her last album was 2000's underappreciated disco-focused covers collection, Fabulous. Here, she remakes "Don't Leave Me This Way," "On My Own," "Love Is in Control" and the standout "Giving up Giving In." Few know that Easton recorded "Wind Beneath My Wings" on her 1982 outing Madness, Money & Music, which also contains her take on Janis Ian's "In the Winter."
Another one of the main draws at Northalsted Market Days will be The Pointer Sisters. After singing back-up for Sylvester, The Pointer Sisters scored multiple hits in the '70s and '80s, like my favorites "Neutron Dance," "Slow Hand" and "Baby Come And Get It." The trio's legacy lives on, as "Dare Me" has musicians such as Junior Jack and Dave Armstrong have sampled it. Ultra Naté made a sizzling version of "Automatic" and Babyface and Des'ree turned "Fire" into a duet that never quite took off. The Pointer Sisters are the first female Black singers to perform at The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville.
The mass of attendees at this two-day festival will see talented entertainers such as Levi Kreis, Paris Bennett, Jessica Sutta, Wynter Gordon, Adam Barta, Matt Zarley, Eric Himan, Lez Zeppelin, Sixteen Candles and Jessie and the Toy Boys. For a complete line-up for Northalsted Market Days, go to www.chicagoevents.com .
