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October 11, 2013 - Hear Me Out by Chris Azzopardi

Cher, Icona Pop

Cher, Closer to the Truth

To find the truth on Cher’s first album of new material in 12 years, look beyond that over-polished, Britney-circa-Femme Fatale-era cover art, wherein the diva must’ve confused this shoot for a JCPenney underwear catalog. The truth, it turns out, isn’t immediately apparent; it exists not in a 67-year-old woman trying to be a pinup girl, but in the frankness of Cher’s always-authentic self, when she preaches feminism (“Woman’s World”), tells a prospective lover to “Take It Like a Man” and, at her most honest, warns of her lethal wig-wearing, sequin-shimmering style (“Dressed to Kill”). Picking up where 2001’s Living Proof left off—when Cher, impossible as it sounds, got even gayer—Closer to the Truth, her 26th LP, keeps the gays at her feet and on their knees; all three of the aforementioned songs pulse and bounce and bang like the icon never left the dance floor. And that’s only somewhat problematic, since some of these aren’t quite as ageless as the diva herself. “Woman’s World,” the first single, sounds very turn-of-the-millennium. One of two Pink-scribed contributions, “I Walk Alone,” exercises a country march that both befits early-era Cher and shakes up the sameness of the more vanilla-produced dance jams. Then she gets back to ballads, making magic out of “Sirens,” a glorious slow tempo that proves the timelessness of her voice, and breaking your heart just a little on her cover of Miley Cyrus’ “I Hope You Find It.” The truth is, Cher doesn’t need to turn back time. She’s fine right where she is. Grade: B+

 

Icona Pop, This Is ... Icona Pop

Icona Pop seemed destined to fall into one-hit-wonder obscurity after “I Love It” gained ubiquitous exposure via club play, commercial spots and—not even kidding—as the theme song for the MTV Jersey Shore spinoff Snooki & JWoww. Their other chants couldn’t be that fun, that infectious, that delicious. Except they are. The Swedish synth-pop duo of Caroline Hjelt and Aino Jawo—with their endearing, no-pretense irresistibility—could be your BFFs...if your BFFs wrote joyous dance-pop, bedroom-romping earworms; recorded “In the Stars,” a song that takes you to the sun; and had all the makings for one of the most exciting musical breakthroughs this year. There’s really not a single miss on This Is..., unless you’re a sour puss able to resist the nonstop rush of joyous synth bursts atop ’80s-inspired melodies. From bubbly second single “All Night” to “Then We Kiss,” a fun-loving coda with a Go-Go’s ilk, the girls keep the party balloons bouncing. And when they pop and fall to the floor—like on the lovelorn “Just Another Night,” the closest they come to a ballad, and its fight-song match “Hold On”—they strike a similar authenticity that expands their girls-next-door appeal. Yeah, even pop stars get broken hearts. As an introduction to Icona Pop, This Is... sounds both familiar and like nothing you’ve ever heard. It’s not a game changer, it won’t revolutionize pop music, but it’s fun and unforgettable. I love it, and I don’t care. Grade: A-

Also Out

Patty Griffin, Silver Bell

Patty Griffin’s career-defining Silver Bell is the little engine that could—“the lost album” that her then-label A&M Records shelved and is now, 13 years later, thankfully getting a proper release. Treasured within the singer-songwriter’s fan circle for those poetic compositions and her musical eclecticism (among those diehards are the Dixie Chicks, who covered two of the album’s best tunes, “Truth #2” and “Top of the World”), the LP is another diamond in Griffin’s crown. And newly mixed by Glyn Johns, Griffin’s painterly voice is front and center—right where it belongs.

Chris Azzopardi is editor of Q Syndicate, the international LGBT wire service. Email Chris Azzopardi 

‹ October 11, 2013 - Thinking Out Loud by Abby Dees up October 11, 2013 - Buzz Worthy by Deb Griffin ›

Past Issues

Issues Index

  • February 8, 2013 - Issue Index
  • March 8, 2013 - Issue Index
  • April 5, 2013 - Issue Index
  • May 3, 2013 - Issue Index
  • May 17, 2013 - Issue Index
  • May 31, 2013 - Issue Index
  • June 14, 2013 - Issue Index
  • June 28, 2013 - Issue Index
  • July 12, 2013 - Issue Index
  • July 26, 2013 - Issue Index
  • August 9, 2013 - Issue Index
  • August 23, 2013 - Issue Index
  • September 13, 2013 - Issue Index
  • October 11, 2013 - Issue Index
    • October 11, 2013 - Acknowledgments
    • October 11, 2013 - The Way I See It by Steve Elkins
    • October 11, 2013 - Speak Out - Letters to Letters
    • October 11, 2013 - In Brief
    • October 11, 2013 - CAMPmatters by Murray Archibald
    • October 11, 2013 - Delaware Weddings
    • October 11, 2013 - CAMP Out by Fay Jacobs
    • October 11, 2013 - View Point by Richard Rosendall
    • October 11, 2013 - Rehoboth Beach Film Festival - LGBT Guide
    • October 11, 2013 - CAMP Stories by Rich Barnett
    • October 11, 2013 - CAMP Talk by Bill Sievert
    • October 11, 2013 - Before the Beach by Bob Yesbek
    • October 11, 2013 - Booked Solid by Terry Schlichenmeyer
    • October 11, 2013 - CAMP Sights by Arnold Berke
    • October 11, 2013 - Thinking Out Loud by Abby Dees
    • October 11, 2013 - Hear Me Out by Chris Azzopardi
    • October 11, 2013 - Buzz Worthy by Deb Griffin
    • October 11, 2013 - Volunteer Spotlight by Chris Beagle
    • October 11, 2013 - Volunteer Thank You
    • October 11, 2013 - Ask the Doctor by Michael J. Hurd, Ph.D., LCSW
    • October 11, 2013 - CAMPshots Gallery Index
    • October 11, 2013 - CAMP Arts by Doug Yetter
    • October 11, 2013 - CAMP Dates
    • October 11, 2013 - CAMP Dates - Jazz by the Hour
    • October 11, 2013 - Gray and Gay by John Siegfried
    • October 11, 2013 - CAMP Sports by Fay Jacobs
    • October 11, 2013 - So, Think You Can Sing by Irene Fick
    • October 11, 2013 - CAMPsafe by Salvatore Seeley, LCSW
  • November 15, 2013 - Issue Index

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