by bill biss
Queen of the Clouds Tove Lo
Utilizing her inherent songwriting talent, which has delivered songs for Icona Pop, Lea Michelle and Cher Lloyd, Swedish songstress, Tove Lo has quite some skills as a singer as well. Her full-length debut Queen of the Clouds captures the essence of overcoming obstacles in relationships…from the sex, to the love, to the pain. Just take a listen to “Habits (Stay High)” and you’ll understand that a broken heart may lead to being quite the “hot mess.” Then there’s the sparkling glow of “Paradise,” which reveals that nothing can stop the positive energy of love. A fresh and vividly done look inside the musical heart of Tove Lo. Available now.
Cold Revival Matt Turk There’s an “everyman” element in Matt Turk’s song- writing and voice that is refreshingly appealing. His music covers the wide and emotional spec- trum of life, relationships, sorrow and joy, as he brings his natural skills as a musician clearly to the front. Whether it’s the cynical anger of “Cracked Egg” or the laidback love vibes of “When a Boy,” his voice and delivery bring to mind Harry Nilsson in the raw and passionate qualities of his style. His storytelling through song exudes the classic troubadour with guitar in the rock n’ roll arena that is sorely needed today. Available October 7.
Evergreen Broods Ethereal yet energized with striking and emo- tionally real lyrics, the brother and sister team of Georgia and Caleb Nott make up Broods. The duo hails from New Zealand and their debut Evergreen takes the listener on a mesmerizing musical jour- ney, courtesy of the stunning vocals by Georgia and the innovative and clean musical production from Caleb. Imagine a softer yet still modernistic “Eurythmics” in their musical touches. The track “L.A.F” is an excellent place to start as it pulses with a beat and energy that can be found in various and enjoyable degrees throughout Evergreen. Available October 7.
To Be Takei “Oh My!” Not only is George Takei part of a land- mark television series Star Trek, he’s now known as an openly gay man and ground-breaking ac- tor in representing the Asian persuasion in Hol- lywood. His life story is creatively presented and is both humorous and inspiring. With interview footage from several of his co-stars from Star Trek and a very personal input from Takei, himself, To Be Takei is an invigorating watch in any galaxy. It is his very struggles in dealing with being interred with his family in a American camp in L.A. during World War II and as a closeted gay actor that bring his story dramatically down to earth. “Warp speed ahead” for a thoroughly entertaining To Be Takei. Available October 7.
Corpus Christi: Playing with Redemption Award-winning playwright Terrance McNally said one of the main reasons he wrote Corpus Christi is he believed that we are all created in God’s image. In his re-telling of the greatest story on earth, he created a gay “Jesus.” The firestorm and controversy, along with the positive reaffir- mation and accolades as the production travels the U.S. is documented. With personal perspec- tives from the cast and McNally as well as the negative impact revealed by protesters and the public, Corpus Christi: Playing with Redemption takes a good hard look at prejudice and accep- tance. Available October 14.
Floating Skyscrapers In what could be construed as just another “coming-out” journey, Floating Skyscrapers takes the sexual and sociological impact to a more substantial and thought-provoking level. Polish filmmaker Tomasz Wasilewski tells the story of a young man who is a professional swimmer and what happens when he questions his sexuality and embarks in an affair with another swimmer. Beautifully photographed and truly realistic Floating Skyscrapers has created a masterful nod to the fluidity of sexuality. Available now.
The Harlot’s Guide to Classy Cocktails Jeza Belle Drag queens and drinking? Who would have thunk it? New York City drag star Jeza Belle has compiled messy…I mean “classy” cocktail recipes from an international array of 27 of the finest queens. They not only share the spirits, they offer up a little drunken escapade of personal experi- ences to go with each of the recipes. Lady Bunny provides the introduction with recipes from Barbie Breakout, Coco Pop, Glitz Glam, Gloria Glamour, Heidi Liscious, Kevin Aviance, Chardon- nay and more. With Halloween and the holidays on the horizon, spike it up, make it classy and raise your glass to The Harlot’s Guide to Classy Cocktails. Available October 7.
Terminal Bar Sheldon and Stefan Nadelman Terminal Bar is known for being one of the infamous dive bars in New York City, located right across the street from the Port Authority Bus Terminal. A former bartender, Sheldon Nadelman, took it upon himself during his ten-year job there [1972-1982], to photograph the scores of faces and patrons of the bar. 900 black and whites of countless people who stopped in for a libation, are now presented along with Sheldon’s recollections of this notorious watering hole. Talk about a time warp. The book stunningly captures a moment in time where regulars, locals, tourists, drag queens, pimps and prostitutes all come together for this rich visual history at Terminal Bar. Available October 30.
Queer in the Choir Room: Essays on Gender and Sexuality in Glee Michelle Parke As Glee presents its sixth and final season, here’s a “gleek” alert of a different variety. Author and edi- tor, Michelle Parke takes an in-depth look at how the innovative and well-loved show presented gay and lesbian characters and gender and sexu- ality in its television format. A variety of essays are presented to give credit, offer critical evaluations and open a new conversation to the issues of coming-out, bullying, the intersection of musical theatre and gayness and sex education. Queer in the Choir Room truly presents the question, “Just how gay was TV before Glee?” Available on October 31.
HEAR THIS: WATCH THIS: READ THIS: 28 RAGE monthly | OCTOBER 2014
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