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Given that we're smack dab in the middle of Pride Month, it's appropriate that we focus some attention on some music and literature that's come into BOI in recent months that may be of particular interest to our GLBT readership. . Music -- THE INVISBLE
LINE by Temposhark (Paper & Glue) While I'm not sure if the
Books - For light reading
on the beach, THE GREAT COCK HUNT by Alex is just the
ticket. This is an interesting story of a guy going back to
his 10th college reunion and slutting it up. In the book we
learn about his relationships with his "Grace"-type
and "Jack"-esque best friends, previous affairs, and
of course his never-ending pursuit of penis. If reading this
book on the beach, you'll inevitably need to turn over on your
stomach to avoid embarrassment. |
TRUTH STAINED LIES by Ron Morris (RoadWorm
Music)
Fittingly during this Pride season, openly out singer/songwriter
Ron Morris is set to release his third album, a collection of
11 melody-rich, folk-infused pop songs. An expressive storyteller,
Morris uses acoustics as well as the electric guitar in presenting
songs that inform the listener about the universal experiences
and aspects of his life. An artist who has been featured on
National Public Radio, LOGO-TV, and Sirius Satellite Radio, Morris
is an important and impressive GLBT voice that richly deserves
the audiences he's had and is sure to continue to attract.
members of Temposhark are gay or not (and frankly
I don't really care), I do know that this attractive bunch of
British hipsters make damn good music as witnessed by this 12-track
LP. Most often described as an electronic pop-rock band, the
group has strong appeal to dance and underground audiences, often
compared simultaneously and favorably to Depeche Mode, Duran
Duran, Goldfrapp, and Fischerspooner. One description of their
dirty synth grooves: "This is music from the dark backroom
of Studio 54 in 1982 " Oh, you gotta love that! And trust
me, you'll assuredly love Temposhark! 
BOULDER by Ferron (Short Story Records) Rolling Stone Magazine
has called Canadian folk artist Ferron "a cultural hero."
I simply call her one of my favorites and am tremendously impressed
with BOULDER, the fourteenth album of her career. The new
CD features guest performances by the likes of Ani Di Franco,
The Indigo Girls, and Le Tigre's JD Samson and has a freshness
and vitality that demonstrates that Ferron is still going strong.
Two novels came to me recently from Kensington
Books and both are excellent reads for the summer, but for vastly
different reasons. THINKING STRAIGHT by Robin Reardon
is a fascinating story of a gay high school junior, Taylor Adams,
sent away to a religious "gay de-programming" summer
camp by his parents. Despite his anger stemming from the confinement
and forced estrangement from his boyfriend, Taylor has a strong
faith in God and in himself, believing that being gay is okay
with God. Reardon weaves a nuanced and suspenseful tale with
fully-developed characters and wonderful dialogue. This is a
terrific book with appeal to ALL segments of the GLBT community,
and indeed to all segments of society. 