GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE July 23, 2004

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Out and excellent

LGBT music awards reveal a new depth and maturity

by Jason Victor Serinus

The fourth annual OutMusic Awards ceremony, held in New York City on June 13, conferred awards on twelve different musi-

a disc with less emphasis on production values might have won, there are a lot of those here. The musical quotation from Ravel's Bolero on "O What a World" is a trip.

cians and groups. Listening to the well-deOutstanding New Recording,

served honorees, it's clear that LGBT music has entered a new era of artistic maturity. Rather than reinforcing the mistaken notion that "indie artist" is a euphemism for mediocre ability, the award recipients have created deeply thought out, well-produced efforts that consistently demonstrate a level of artistic excellence absent from much of the commercial pop market.

Ten of the twelve recipients were chosen by industry professionals and music critics. The remaining two, OutSong of the Year and OutMusician of the Year, were chosen by OutMusic.com members.

Outstanding New Recording, Female

Pamela Means, Single Bullet Theory

From her first lines, "Jersey troopers take a walk/high paid lawyers bargain talk/of the poison in the system," Pamela Means comes armed with more than an acoustic guitar. A self-described Boston-based “Out (spoken), Biracial indie folk artist [with a] ‘kamikaze guitar style, "Means wastes no time taking on everything from Halliburton's Dick Cheney to racial profiling. She also writes a number of deep love songs, all sung in her half-spoken, deceptively little-girl voice. This may not be the happiest of albums, but its eye-opening re-

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ality reminds us how lucky we are to be alive as others serve as fodder for the empire.

Outstanding New Recording, Male

Rufus Wainwright, Want One

No one but a fag would pose in an ill-fitting suit of shining armor big enough to cover a man and a half. Our prince may not have the voice of the century, but his first track, which takes on a mixed up world in which straight men read fashion magazines, immediately lets us know which side he carries his sword on.

This major studio effort is distinguished by lavish orchestral arrangements, in part created by Wainwright himself. Although I must confess a nagging suspicion that if OutMusic judges had not been asked to rate discs on the basis of Performance, Production, and Overall Impression,

Curbside

Debut Female

Jen Foster, Everybody's Girl

It may not seem like deep criticism to declare "what a great voice," but there's something so right, so central about Foster's freshwoman rock effort

that makes it irresistible. Her diction is perfect, her songs about relationship universal in their relevance, and the arrangements great. Foster has assembled a great (male) band, who do full

dealing with heavy stuff—are about love and relationship, mixing nostalgia and sadness with a perfect blend of light voices. Their cover of George Harrison's "My Sweet Lord" induces smiling flashbacks. Given a song such as "Amaze Me" that addresses the chemical water of New York's dirty harbor and the possibility of ecological Armageddon, reincarnating in the past seems a great way to

go.

Outstanding New Recording, Band

Danielle Lo Presti and The Masses, 22 Mountains

This woman gets down. From tackling prostitution to spiritual transcendence, there's a profound sadness to Lo Presti's powerful voice that speaks of a life fully lived and loved. Her lyrics unflinchingly tackle light and dark, allied to music powerful and biting. Lo Presti commands respect with her consis-

justice to songs such as "She" that won first prize in the Great American Songwriting contest's Pop division. Sometimes lyrics and music don't fit together, but Foster's music is all of a piece. A great album. Outstanding New Recording, tent depth of observaDebut Male

Jim Verraros, Unsaid and Understood

The good news is that Jim Verraros and singer/songwriter/producer Gabe Lopez are currently re-recording and remixing this winner for a major label debut on Koch Records. Rather than review the issue that won an

tion and great voice. If the American masses could face the issues at hand with the same technical and musical profi-

ciency of this band, we'd be in a very different place. Anyone with the strength to title their first CD Dear Mr. Penis Head deserves an award. Great music.

award, I note that Jim was an American Idol Outstanding New Recording,

Top 10 finalist in 2002 and can be heard on the

Bi the People CD compilation. His indie flick Eating Out has played to sold out audiences in New York, London and Toronto. You can get a nice taste of his music

at his web site, but his forthcoming professional remix is the way to hear him.

Chorus or Choir

Transcendence Gospel Choir, Whosoever Believes

Discovering that most nominees in this category address either Christ or Christmas can cause a reviewer to take pause, but hearing this astounding transgender gospel choir sing with a fervor and spirit that declare Jesus as real as the gender they've embraced, one can't help but feel the spirit. This is as good as

Outstanding New Recording, gospel gets. With diversity-affirming sermons

Duo or Group

Girlyman, Remember Who I Am

I confess. I love Girlyman. The three artists, one of whom is male, reject traditional gender roles while performing mostly original folk/rock tunes that have a sweet, retro feel to them. Their uncomplicated melodies

there's even a cha-cha are delivered with a lightness of voice and acoustic instrument that all but heavy metal die-hards will find a delight. Most of the cuts some

I STILL DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY I WAS SO INTO THIS KID... HE WAS WAY YOUNGER THAN ME AND HE HAD THIS NERVOUS ENERGY THAT MADE ME. WELL, NERVOUS.

..MY GRAFFITI ART STARTED PRETTY CASUALLY, BUT I STARTED REALLY GETTING IT OUT THERE....

THAT'S WHY I'M! ALWAYS GETTING IN TROUBLE WITH THE COPS.

...I'VE E

GOTTEN ARRESTED TWICE SINCE I

LEFT HOME.

BUT MOST OF ALL THERE WAS THAT GANG HE WAS "ASSOCIATED WITH, NOT REALLY A MEMBER OF", OR SO HE SAID; THAT WAS THE MAIN THING ABOUT HIM THAT WAS WEIRD. YOU'LL EVEN LIKE THEM-I'LL INTRODUCE YOU, YOU'LL SEE FOR YOURSELF!,

WAS ABOUT 12.. THERE WERE 10 OF US KIDS AND MY FOLKS DIDN'T NOTICE I WAS GONE FOR LIKE, 4 DAYS...

I'M HUNGRY. You?

...YEAH, IT WAS A TRIP..

X WAIT'LL I SHOW YOU MY CAT. SHE'S THE COOLEST.

HER NAME'S

ABRA.

LANWENIENCE

by the extraordinary Rev. Dr. Yvette Flunder, and some tracks recorded live, this Bay Area-based ensemble transcends oppression with a faith and love that make you rejoice in being alive and

gay. Prepare to stand up and shout; you'll be playing this disc over and over.

Continued on facing page

by Robert Kirby BLUS HE WAS ALL POLITICAL IN A WAY THAT I'M JUST NOT, AND HE'D ACTUALLY LECTURE ME AND STUFF.

YOU DO KNOW YOU'RE ·SUPPORTING THE TOBAC CO INDUSTRY, RIGHT? AND YOU KNOW WHAT, THEY'RE ABOUT, RIGHT?

YEAH...I REMEMBER THINKING", THIS OUR FIRST KISS WAS PRETTY GREAT.

KID'S A REAL PIECE OF WORK" BUT

I STILL LIKED HIM. I REALLY DID..

WELL, FOR ME AT LEAST.

UGH! ASHTRAY BREATH!

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