Best. Gay. Week. Ever. (March 21, 2008)

FOR YOUR LISTENING PLEASURE!
It's been a while since I've had the chance to write about any of the dozens of CD's that rain down upon my head. You can tell the record companies are desperate to boost record sales as I get just about everything the sun including stuff I wouldn't listen to if it were the last CD on earth. This time I offer up opinions on a range of music from the fantastic — Dolly, anyone? — to the aforementioned not-if-last-CD-on earth.

I think I've written before about how it took my better half (AKA Brent) to set me straight on what an amazing talent Dolly Parton truly is. Her new album, Backwoods Barbie is supposedly more "pop" than her past three efforts which tended to be more bluegrass. But in all honestly, to my untrained ear, it sounded like more of the same — and that's meant as high praise. The higlights here include "Better Get to Living", "Backwoods Barbie", and the remake of "You Drive Me Crazy". I can't recommend this CD enough. Grade: A

Well, the B's are back after sixteen years and if you're a fan, then you should love their new CD. If not, well, then consider yourself warned as Fred, Kate, Keith and Cindy deliver new B-52's that is very reminiscent of "Roam", "Love Shack", and other classic B's music. The highlights here include "Pump", "Keep this Party Going", and "Hot Corner". I feel bad giving the album a "B", but it would be nice to see the guys breaking some new ground. Funplex hits stores on March 25th. Grade: B

The most noteworthy thing I discovered about Ferras, a Los Angeles based singer-songwriter, is that the first single from his upcoming album Aliens & Rainbow,s "Hollywood's Not America" is being used as the exit song for this season's American Idol. I listened to this CD three times and not a single song stuck with me. It's not that the music was terrible; it was just rather forgettable IMHO. But judging from this interview New Now Next did with Ferras, he sounds like a pretty cool guy. Check out his CD if you like what you hear on American Idol. As for me, I'll be humming along with Dolly. Aliens & Rainbows drops April 1st. Grade: C

How many ways can I say "blech" to describe my reaction to this album? Or as Janet might breathlessly coo in her sexy, kittenish voice "bl-e-e-e-c-c-c-c-h....."

According to the press materials with the CD, Janet herself says, ""In putting Discipline out front — as both the title of the album and title of a song about sexual surrender — I wanted to announce that I was venturing into new creative waters."

Really? I couldn't tell. Sounds to me like she's pushing the same sexually-charged music she's been hawking since The Velvet Rope back in 1997. And what worked when Janet was 31 is wearing thin at 41. Give a pass to this overproduced and soulless piece of schlock. Grade: D

BTW, two weeks ago I wrote about another site's compilation of the gayest songs ever and at the behest of Matt, an AfterElton.com reader, I asked you folks to suggest songs that were gay, but not so obviously gay (i.e. The Village People). Man, did you guys ever come up with a list!

I can't include everything but The Pansy Division and Franz Ferdinand were two of the band names most frequently mentioned and here is a partial ist of the songs listed: "Michael", Franz Ferdinand; "Take Your Mama", Scissor Sisters; "Billy Brown", Mika; "The Man I Love," Ivri Lider; "Cowboys are Frequently, Secretly (Fond of Each other)", Willie Nelson; "Two Guys Kissing (Ruined my Life)", Tom Smith; Michael Feinstein's "Only One Life" CD; and John Barrowman's "Another Side" CD.