| Title | Description |
| Soundwaves: Tracy Young, Atlantis Events, Dance Grammys, Daft Punk, Justice, Wammies, more |
Soundwaves (archive): Tracy Young D.C.'S YOUNG VALENTINE... Last fall, DJ Tracy Young spun in her hometown of Washington for the first time in way too many years, hitting Be Bar. This Saturday, Feb. 14, she'll finally make her debut at Town. The gay circuit's No. 1 female DJ is coming in part to support her latest compilation, Tracy Young Presents Genesis Part 1, released on her own Ferosh label and named after her famed New Year's Day party in Miami, her adopted hometown. In a couple weeks, the lesbian will headline Miami's happiest event, the Winter Party, spinning right on South Beach in the glorious afternoon heat. But first, she'll bring her sweet heat to us. Welcome back to town.... ATLANTIS' BEST MOVE YET... ''Though the album is the second in the Move series, I really didn't pay much attention to the first,'' Wayne G candidly admits in a press release. Last year, Manny Lehman compiled the first double-set in Atlantis Events' Move DJ-compilation series, released on Tommy Boy's Silver Label. But everyone would be better off just focusing on the second edition, Wayne G's Move: Atlantis Dance 2009. Wayne G, one of Europe's leading gay DJs who will make his D.C. debut at Town Saturday, Feb. 28, proves why he's been a staple on the leading gay cruise company for five years now. He demonstrates real versatility. Whereas Lehman only thought to produce one disc of vocal-based club mixes and then a second simply with dub versions of the same songs - wow, how creative - Wayne G created a light, swaying tea-dance disc and then a dark, sweat-pouring late-hours disc, the kind of music you hear while ''at sea.'' A couple artists factor on both discs - Darren Hayes, Rosabel, Bimbo Jones, Ultra Naté -- but no one song repeats. More than a third of the 24 tracks here are Wayne G's own productions or remixes, and they're all first-rate, including many re-worked classics. He also has a clever way of pairing songs together. Opening the set, for example, he ties Ultra Naté's ''Twisted'' to Kristine W's recent dance chart-topper ''Never'' by repeating Nate's command, ''Don't let nobody steal your joy'' as ''Never'' begins. Just a minute later, Kristine W. sings, ''You can't steal my joy'' in her song's chorus. Message received! Party on.... ... (more) |
| Soundwaves: Grammy Awards, Rufus Wainwright, Robyn, Annie Lennox, Lance Bass |
Soundwaves (archive):GRAMMYGIRLS (AND RUFUS)... Did you hear- KathyGriffin did, in fact, get her Grammynomination. You know, the one she was angling for. The one for whichshe specifically created last year's ForYour Consideration. Ain't that cool-She's up against Lewis Black,Flight of the Conchords,Harry Shearerand the late George Carlinfor Best Comedy Album. Robyn (Photo by Samantha Rapp)Didyou also hear about Rufus Wainwright-His Rufus Does Judy at Carnegie Hallwill battle albums by NatalieCole and BarryManilow for Best Traditional PopVocal Album. And how about Madonna-Madonna earned a total of three nods -- though HardCandy didn't get nominated for BestElectronic/Dance Album. I repeat, HardCandy did not get nominated as BestDance Album, the category Madge won in 2007 for Confessionson a Dance Floor. So instead, let'sall root for the opening act from select European dates of her Stickyand Sweet Tour -- and here's hoping Robynbeats out Cyndi Lauper,Kylie Minogue,Daft Punk,Mobyand Brazilian Girlsfor the Best Dance Album Grammy. Tall order, for sure. But Robyn isballsy enough to take on all comers, and Robynis far and away better than all thoseartists' albums -- it's one of the very best albums released the pastcouple years, bar none. Thealbum nod was the only one for Robyn, alas. Madonna got two in thethree dance categories, the first courtesy of JunkieXL's remix of ''4 Minutes.'' Thatwill battle for Best Remixed Recording against StoneBridge's''Closer'' by Ne-Yo,Justice's''Electric Feel'' by MGMT,Deadmau5's''The Longest Road'' by Morgan Pagefeat. Lissie and - are you ready- -Moto Blanco's''Just Fine'' by Mary J. Blige.Yep, it's a newer crew of remixers this year. Meanwhile, Madonna's''Give It 2 Me'' will duke it out with Rihanna's''Disturbia'' for Best Dance Recording. That's a battle right there,but then there are the other contenders: Daft Punk's ''Harder BetterFaster Stronger,'' Lady Gaga's''Just Dance,'' Hot Chip's''Ready for the Floor'' and SamSparro's ''Black & Gold.''Sparro- Black- I've never heard of that one, either. Oh well.... ... (more) |
| Soundwaves: Madonna, Good Charlotte, Hot Chip |
Soundwaves (archive):MADONNA'SNEW MARRIAGE... Maybe Madonnawill finally come back to D.C. with her next tour, since GeorgeW. Bush will no longer be president-- apparently the reason she hasn't stopped here since 2001's DrownedWorld Tour. Chances will be greaterif Barack Obamawins, of course. But for now, the only way to see her eighthworldwide show, the Sticky and Sweet Tour, is to either travel orwait for it on DVD. No word on when that will happen, but since thetour doesn't wrap until December in Brazil, it likely won't be untilearly next year at the earliest. MadonnaWhenyou do get a chance to see it, chances are you'll fall for hermashed-up recreation of ''Like A Prayer'' -- and chances are you'llsoon be hearing it in clubland, too. ''It feels like; It feels like;It feels likehome,'' Dino Lennysings, as Madonna replies, ''Just like a prayer, your voice can takeme there.'' Dino who? Actually, ''Feels Like Home'' is a Europeandance hit from last year credited to Meck,the alias of DJ Craig Dimech,a behind-the-scenes player in British dance music. He worked with theItalian Lenny, who has a wonderfully haunting voice reminiscent ofDepeche Mode's Dave Gahan,to fashion what has become his first international hit, the raw basisof which comes from a 16-year-old house hit, Felix's''Don't You Want Me.'' Soin marrying ''Feels Like Home'' with ''Like A Prayer,'' Madonna notonly recreated for today's dancefloor one of her best older songs.She also once again spotlighted a budding act worthy of moreattention. Ready? Meck is. The follow-up single ''So Strong'' isfantastic, and it serves as Dimech's M.O. as well as a promise. ''AndI feel so strong, if nothing goes wrong, I'll pay back tomorrow,''Lenny seems to be singing, based on what I can make of the lyrics.''Stay right back, 'cause it's taking on the dance floor!'' Andit will. Dimech works those intense high-church, pipe-organ stylesynths that trance gave us (think Faithless'''Insomnia''). Actually, Dimech samples heavily from this year's clubhit ''Hold That Sucker Down,'' a serviceable number from DavidVendetta/QTQuartet that you wanted to like morethan you did. Meck's ''So Strong'' original hits with NineInch Nails-esque force, while theInpetto'sremix is a fascinating rework that'll floor you.... ... (more) |
| Soundwaves: Barack Obama, Rachel Panay, The Killers, Depeche Mode, Franz Ferdinand, NYC's Day of the Dead Party |
Soundwaves (archive):OBAMAPOP... The pop stars are coming out loud, proud and in droves forBarack Obama.Of course, that's not really news. It'd be news if anyone you knewand listened to created songs or planned concerts for JohnMcCain. Instead, McCain's camp hastaken heat from Heartand Foo Fightersfor using their songs at events. JacksonBrowne even sued to force the McCaincampaign to stop playing his song ''Running on Empty.'' Nosuch bad news for Obama. Artists are lining up to compose andcampaign for him. Even Boy George hassurfaced in the cause. He may have been kept away from touringAmerica this summer due to visa issues, but the Brit is still keen onour country -- or at least Obama. The gay Culture Club singer hascreated his own tune honoring the candidate. ''Yes We Can'' isn'tnearly as inspiring as the message. But electronic music magazine BigShot reports PeteHeller and Tom''Superchumbo'' Stephan have bothturned in remixes, so there's still hope. D.C.-nativeRachel Panayhas released an optimistic dance-shouter ''Change is Just Around theCorner.'' Techno veterans CrystalMethod have reworked its 18-year-oldsong ''Now is the Time,'' which they say was inspired by civil rightsspeeches, this time including a sample of Obama saying as much. Andthen of course there's the official compilation -- does McCain havean official campaign compilation? If he does, it surely doesn'tfeature Kanye West,Stevie Wonder,Jill Scott,The Eurythmics'Dave Stewart,John Legend,Sheryl Crow and other pop A-listers,as Obama's does. Available on the Obama website, YesWe Can: Voices of a Grassroots Movementcosts $24.99 as a digital download or $30 for a physical disc. ... (more) |
| Soundwaves: Deborah Cox, Beyonce, Britney Spears, Lily Allen |
Soundwaves (archive):WHODO U LOVE... Are you ready? One of gay clubland's favorite singers isreturning with new material this fall. Well, yes, WhitneyHouston mayreturn, if she can get her acttogether. But that's not who I mean. Same script, different cast:Houston's one-time duet partner DeborahCox will release ThePromise later this fall. Of course,just last year Cox released DestinationMoon, her fourth studio album, but noremixes ever surfaced from it. As a high-concept tribute to jazzsinger Dinah Washington, it had limited appeal. Her previous set, TheMorning After, was released all theway back in 2002. Deborah CoxThe34-year-old Canadian native started as a backing vocalist for CelineDion, then became a protégéof Arista Records' Clive Davis,the legendary label honcho who also championed Houston. Exactly onedecade ago Cox scored her only major mainstream hit, ''Nobody'sSupposed to Be Here,'' and HexHector's remix of that song was justone of over a dozen hits she's had in clubland. Four years ago, shemade a rare foray on Broadway, starring in the EltonJohn/Tim Rice Disney musical AIDA.But she got her start in R&B, soto R&B she now returns. OnThe Promise,which Cox will release Nov. 11 on her own label, the artist workedwith many notable producers, including JohnLegend, who co-wrote the album'stitle track. ... (more) |
