Musica: Beautiful Burnout

"Beautiful Burnout," the stand-out track from Underworld's Oblivion with Bells, gets the single release treatment and a low-key video, above. Some may say it's boring but I say it's enigmatic and ethereal. Actually it reminds me of some of the film shorts I use to do when I was a cinema major eons ago (don't laugh, one even made it to PBS!).

Previously, on Blabbeando:

• A moment of pure blissful happiness (Sept. 16, 2007)

Musica: Choice cuts from 2007

I certainly didn't intend to go on hiatus but that seems to have been what's happened to the blog in the past few weeks. Not sure it will be up and running soon after the beginning of the new year but I'll leave you with a very subjective end of the year list of some of the best music that came my way this year.

This is the year that I saw the last of the local store outlets for actual CD-singles (with Virgin records folding it's in-store singles aisles and keeping just a fraction of the releases), another casualty to the rush to digital downloads, legal or not. Which means online stores like Hollywood's Perfect Beat can prove to be indispensable.

No top ten list here, just a sampling of stuff. Check details at the bottom on how you can win a CD-selection of some of these songs as compiled by yours truly!

Notable music of 2007:

Women Power: Three women that dominated the soundtrack of my youth released new albums this year which speaks to their longevity despite the volatility in the pop universe.

Siouxsie Sioux released "Mantaray," Annie Lennox released "Songs of Mass Destruction," and Alison Moyet released "The Turn" (not yet in the US but you can pick it up from this Canadian store).

I have yet to give a proper listen to Mantaray but the standout track is "Sea of Tranquility" - a gorgeous track with a nice burbling underpining rhythm and Siouxsie's immediately recognizable voice soaring over it. Alas, no video to show you.

In the meantime, I've seen a few online pans of Annie Lennox's latest which surprises me quite a bit because the album has some of her strongest material in ages and a couple of tracks that really stand out: "Smitheereens" and "Fingernail Moon."

The gist of the pans, from what I've gathered, is that this is the umpteenth album from Lennox with a confessional bent and that some of the tracks here, such as the anti-AIDS song "Sing," are more didactic than entertaining.

Here's a YouTuber lip-synching to "Smitheereens" a-la Chris Cocker.


Most noteworthy, to me at least, was Alison Moyet's return. The new album doesn't quite match the brilliance that was 2002's "Hometime" but sees Moyet as self-assured as ever and in better control of the songs she has chosen to sing (at least according to the liner notes). If you have time, you could check her cheeky - if infrequently updated - blog which includes this entry on her memories of a gay friend who died of AIDS in observance of World AIDS Day earlier this month.

Here she performs the first single from "The Turn" - "One More Time" - live.


Up-and-comers: Yes, I spent the year listening to the one-two British punch of Amy "Back to Rehab" Winehouse and Lilly "Knock'em Out"Allen, finding Allen's "Alright, Still" to be the better of the two. Part of it is just how funny her lyrics can actually be which is refreshing in an industry that seems to thrive on drug-abuse scandals and sexed-up tarts.

Here's Lilly Allen's "LDN" (love the record shop intro bit):


Thing is, both these albums are actually material released well over a year in the UK so I'm not that sure that they could be considered newcomers anymore.

Jump in New Young Pony Club with "Fantastic Playroom." You probably know them if you've watched some television as "Icecream" was the soundtrack to some I-pod or cell phone commercial, I believe:


The album is full of punky electro ditties such as this, my fave being "F.A.N."

Favorite song of last year: I also picked up Just Jack's "Overtones" this year with material also released in the UK in previous years and was captivated by the pop perfection that is "I Talk Too Much" featuring Kylie Minogue. Best Kylie duet since "Kids" with Robbie Williams and maybe even better. No video but the full song's stream is available at YouTube. Have a listen:


Favorite song of this year: No big surprise for those of you who know I adore this woman: From Róisín Murphy's great new album, "Overpowered," it's "Let Me Know":


The full album is probably in my top five of the year with an amazing title track as well and an array of songs that could easily be chosen as singles including "You Know Me Better," "Primitive," "Dear Miami," and "Scarlett Ribbons."

Top albums of the year: If you'd asked me at the beginning of the year which albums would probably make my year's end top list I'd probably have said 4hero, Underworld, Gus Gus and Róisín Murphy. That Róisín's made it but not the others doesn't mean that the work that the other bands released this year wasn't noteworthy or good but personally I thought that 4hero and Underworld turned in spotty albums with some brilliant tracks (4hero's "Give In" and "Morning Child" and Underworld's "Crocodile/Beautiful Burnout") while, if it wasn't for the remixes, the Gus Gus CD did actually disappoint despite "Need in Me".


I'd be shocked, actually, if you had told me that come year's end I'd still be loving Calvin Harris' "I Created Disco" which I previewed back in July. The tale of a MySpace music geek getting a record contract and then becoming one of the UK's biggest selling albums of the year certainly seems a bit last year considering that this year the new thing is offering a pay what you want download of your album.

Here's the "official" video for his new single, "Colors."

Speaking of pay what you want though, I paid $0 for Radiohead's "In Rainbows" and still loved it! You can buy the CD pressing of the album here.

So yes! Sue me! I have a thing for British pop and dance songs! But I am still loving Philadelphia's very own Jill Scott and her under-appreciated "The Real Thing: Words and Sounds, Vol. 3." This woman's work is just amazing and she's just getting started. Here, for you, "My Love" (even if my fave track on the album is "Only You"):


Best album of 2007: So, what gives? Which is the album of the year? Actually, the year that saw all the major studios seek out producer (and former Missy Elliot and current Justin Timberlake co-hort ) Timbaland to put a gloss on albums ranging from Nelly Furtado to Duran Duran to - gulp! - Ashlee Simpson, the fate of my album of the year almost fell in the same trap.

Following up on the success of Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam's first album, "Arular" (2005), rumor was that her new album "Kala" was supposed to prominently feature Timbaland as a producer and, while Timbaland might have produced some of the best and most innovative tracks of the last ten years (Missy Elliot's "Get Your Freak On" and "Work It" come to mind), I'm not sure the last thing we needed was another Nelly Furtado/Justinn Timberlake sound hybrid on "Kala."

And yet, due to restrictive US immigration policies, Arulpragasam found herself with visa problems (according to WikiPedia) and spent the last couple of years taping tracks for "Kala" during segments of her world tour in countries such as India, Trinidad, Liberia, Jamaica, Australia and Japan.

Amazingly it's all reflected in the album's sound and so much the better for it. One wonders what Timbaland would have done with this masterpiece and while it's not always an easy listen, it certainly sounds like the music of the future. The newest single, "Paper Airplanes" by the woman better known as M.I.A.:


Bits and pieces: What follows are the rest of the best songs of the year in no particular order.

"Can't Do Without" - Peven Everett
"Jus' Dance" - Mr. V
"Beautiful (Fred Everything Mix)" - Tim Fuller
"Let's Be Young (Paulo Mojo Remix)" - Quentin Harris
"It's All True (Martin Buttrich Remix)" - Tracey Thorn
"Dust (Induceve Remix)" - Recloose feat. Joe Dukie
"Song 4 Mutya (Out of Control)" - Groove Armada feat. Mutya
"Soñando Contigo" - Kiko Navarro
"The Sun Can't Compare" - Larry Heard feat. Mr. White
"Us vs. Them" - LCD Soundsystem
"Neighborhoods" - Matthew Dear
"All Woman (Sandy Rivera's Blackwz Remix)" - Skwerl
"Make Me Want You" - Mondee Oliver
"Love Song" - Sarah Bareilles

You can also do no wrong by supporting a worthwhile cause end getting a copy of "Stomp Out Cancer: Indie Artists Fight Ewing's Sarcoma" which was released in honor of my friend Steven Mackin earlier in the year.

And the best for last: If you've made it past aaaaalllll that and you want a nifty compilation of some of the music mentioned here (plus and minus a few tracks), be the among the first five people within the United States to send me an e-mail at blabbeando @ gmail . com requesting one and you will get one sometime after the new year. Happy holidays!

Musica: A Matter of Time

As long as we are talking about Argentina, here is a translation of Homostone's "A Matter of Time" (Cuestion de Tiempo) as available on their MySpace page (ps: They are looking for singers):

You always playing the little fagg*t
And you don't even take a little bit inside
You leave the boys all hot and bothered
And they are left with all these questions

What are you looking for?
When you leave your girlfriend hanging and you come to the disco floor to dance
What's behind it?
Behind your feline stare, of your special affinity
For getting close to boys
Who get close to other boys
And only find in a macho man
Happiness

If you're high, the flannel suits you
You are a pampered cub
But if a guy throws his dice
You get all jittery

What is there to do?
To get you to loosen yourself and try it at least once
With so many pieces falling, nobody can now believe
That you won't be overcome by your desires
To do certain things
When you hang up your clothes
You will be able

A matter of time, you will soon fall under
Let things go slowly, it will do you a lot of good
Light the fuse, good things will come later

Don't be afraid, you will learn
Sooner or later, you will lick yourself
I'll be happy if I taste you once

Homophobic reggaeton: Mr. Fox and the "afeminaos"

A while back, when reggaeton was breaking through as the next big thing in Latino music and before it's bubble burst as many of the top acts failed to build on their initial success, I remember reading an article that said that one of the things that distinguished the raunchy lyrics of reggaeton acts from those of hip-hop and rap was its comparative lack of homophobia.

I'm not a reggaeton music fan so I couldn't say whether this is true or not but when I saw this article in a Panamanian newspaper last week about a performance by Panamanian reggaeton singer Mr. Fox (pictured), it made me do a doubletake.

Franklyn Robinson writing for Critica says:

"Artists have yet to realize the power and influence that they have among their fans and it's not fair that they use it for evil purposes. For example, Mr. Fox, while singing [on the stage], shouted all around that he didn't want homosexuals at the event and that they had to leave. This provoked disorder and a lack of respect for the homosexuals that were present, and who had paid for a ticket to be entertained. We have to remember that many eat off the money that the homosexuals paid."

Doing a search for Mr. Fox online I found out that no one should have been surprised by his homophobic outburst. After all, he released a single called "Afeminaos" ("Effeminate Ones") which he also released as a single.

The lyrics? Well, in the song Mr. Fox calls a rival singer a fag who prostitutes himself to other men in order to sustain a wealthy life instead of earning his money with sweat and effort. Here are a few choice excerpts:

I know that there are lots of rappers
That wear condoms
What does it matter to me if I do it bareback

What are you laughing at, asshole
At my faded pants
What the f*ck - What the f*ck
This is mine, not borrowed
This was worth lots of sweat and lots of work
Throwing bags at the [Panama Canal] like a disgraced one
And you... are well dressed
Thanks to the fags that have f*cked you
Those who have you screwed
They have you mounted
It's noon and you haven't even gotten up

CHORUS:
What luck you have, friend
That AIDS has not been detected on you
If in every car I've seen you getting inside the drivers have all been faggots and effeminates
[...]
You like anal
Mentally ill you
That's why you sleep with what's his name
I already see your funeral
Or you laying in a hospital... and that's going to be very lethal

Yes, you read right. Mr. Fox thinks he doesn't have to worry about wearing condoms or AIDS just because he doesn't sleep with other men (and promotes the idea in his music). He thinks that gays are mentally ill and seems to believe the worst way to denigrate a rival is to call him homosexual. Nope, no surprise about his onstage antics.

What's interesting is that in other songs, the singer actually riles against drug use and how it has destroyed his neighborhood, the poverty of those he grew up with, corruption in politics and the way other reggaeton singers and rap artists seem to jump over each other to show their wealthy lifestyles in their videos. He actually comes off as extremely charismatic and sincere and in touch with young disaffected black Panamanian men which, of course, makes his homophobic boasts that much more dangerous (he is also unabashedly religious in his music, despite the many guns shown in his videos, so I guess his particular form of rabid homophobia comes from the spread of conservative evangelical ministries that have taken over huge swaths of Central America).

I'm not sure if Mr. Fox is the exception to the rule when it comes to homophobia in reggaeton but let's hope it's not a trend that spreads to other singers.

My New York: Time gous by con Loli (Redux)

Grab on to something! Take a couple of deep breaths. Relax. Ready?

Spain's La Terremoto de Alcorcon is making their New York debut at Narcotheque this Saturday (at Fontanas bar). I won't be able to make it but you certainly can!

We usually don't promote bar night events here at Blabbeando but who can forget the immortal "Time gous by (con Loli)?"

I mean, it's totally ruined my appreciation for a certain Madonna track so much that I always skip it on the CD unless I wanna be overcome by an incontrollable fit of the giggles.

Who is La Terremoto? Hm, a little reminder below.

Musica: A moment of pure blissful happiness

It might have started hours after the announced 4:30pm start time but it was right about the time that the bright little blue plankton started to float up into the Central Park air that I just felt myself go and start almost levitating with euphoria.

The feeling of pure unadulterated bliss caught me by surprise, then again it was the one and only Karl Hyde and Rick Smith of Underworld on stage joined by Darren Price opening up their Friday night Central Park set with the beautiful pulsing, mournful, driving "Luetin" from their 2002 album "A Hundred Days Off" (the plankton business starts around the :43 second mark).

"New Yoooooooooork..."

(Sorry about the sound quality - the speakers were booming, and the shakiness - there were hundreds of people jumping up and down and bumping into each other).

James Holden opened up earlier with a techy techno set that had heads bopping but was boring the heck out of my boyfriend Raul and my Colombian-Venezuelan bestest friend Diana (above) who had no idea what they were in for. I kept imitating Holden twirling his knobs while holding his headset to keep them entertained, promising that Underworld might be a tad more vocal and visual an experience. Boppin' to Holden:


Considering that this was Central Park, I didn't necessarily expect the Everything, Everything live experience but shockingly Underworld seemed more than prepared to tackle the outdoors in ways that actually played into the setting (they were also scheduled to perform at the Red Rocks amphitheatre in Denver but had to change venue when tickets didn't sell as well).

I mean there also were some giant color-changing inflatable wormy thingies that made it seem like another planet altogether:


I'm not sure if they sold out in New York but the Rumsey Playfield stage grounds were packed. And very appreciative of the band, specially when they performed their biggest hit "Born Slippy. NUXX" from the "Trainspotting" soundtrack (not a personal favorite):


Chills went up my spine though when that classic Moroder/Donna Summer "I Feel Love" riff announced the start of "King of Snake" from 1998's "Beaucoup Fish."


The closer? "Jumbo" also from "Beaucoup..."


All in all an unforgettable night. More YouTube videos here.

Underworld are releasing a brand new album called "Oblibvion with Bells" on October 16th (their first studio album since 2002 although they have since made music available exclusively through website downloads and produced a soundtrack to a Bristish film). A video of their new single, "Crocodile," is available at their website. A limited edition of the CD/DVD that also includes a groovy T-shirt is available for pre-order here.

The complete set from Friday night's show was:
1. 'Luetin'
2. 'New Train'
3. 'Crocodile'
4. 'Pearl's Girl'
5. 'Biro the Leggy'
6. 'Two Months Off'
7. 'Rowla'
8. 'Glam Bucket'
9. 'Rez / Cowgirl'
10. 'Born Slippy Nuxx'
11. 'King of Snake'
12. 'Jumbo'

What others are saying:

• Underworld in Central Park (Channel Six) - the definitive look at the Central Park show
• Underworld live in Central Park (Erich Ian)
  
• Underworld @ Central Park (Music Snobbery) - has some great photos!
• Underworld surfaces in New York City (Spinner) - more great photos by Redboy, his full set here
  
• Underworld at Central Park (Varnelis) - has a MySpace vid of Underworld performing "Dark Train" which I didn't capture on vid
• Underworld (BlipTV) - Karl Hyde's ode to New York which started the set

La Lupe: Our own Judy Garland

I missed this documentary when it was first shown on the PBS "Independent Lens" series but it's back on their schedule this week so I'll finally have a chance to see it.

"La Lupe: Queen of Latin Soul" uses archival footage and interviews to take a look back at the life of the legendary Cuban-born singer Lupe Yoli, lesser known than Celia Cruz, but perhaps just as magnetic a performer- and certainly a lot more expressive: During some of her shows she'd end up taking off her scarves, her wigs, her high-heel shoes and even her fake eyelashes, throwing them at the public in fits of insanity even as she sang her lungs out.

With as dramatic a figure and tragic a life, it's no surprise that the gay Latino community, at least in the Eastern coast, has embraced her as an idol (much as I assume Selena has become a Latino gay idol in the South) and I'd be willing to say that her following is such that she can probably be described as our own Judy Garland.

Unfortunately, by the time of her death in 1992, she had faded into obscurity. But her legacy certainly lives on.

In the New York metropolitan area, the documentary will be shown on Channel 13 this Monday, September 10 at 10pm and also on Sunday, September 16 at 3:15am. For local listings elsewhere check here. There's also an elaborate and perhaps over-crowded MySpace fan page that has much more on the singer here.

Below is a Youtube video from a rare 1971 appearance on American television ("The Mike Douglas Show") in which she puts her own spin on that old Frank Sinatra classic "I Did It My Way."

A public confession: I am no longer Latino or Hispanic

So there's something truly shameful that I have been hiding from you. And, yes, I tried to keep it under control but now I feel the need to come clean. I hope you'll be understanding and also be able to forgive me...

It all began a few weeks ago when Jorge Valdivia, the Vice President of the Association for Latino Men in Chicago/ALMA, sent a message to me with a subject that read "Frida Fascination."

I was shocked! I mean, everybody certainly knows ABBA but nobody that I know truly adores ABBA's Anni-Frid Lyngstad, better known as Frida, for her solo work. And I guess I am specifically talking about her 1982 album "Something's Going On" which was produced by the then-great Phil Collins immediately following his first successful bid as a solo artist with 1981's "Face Value" (also a great album). Both albums document the disintegration of each artist's marriages and they also share one song, the beautiful "If Leaving Me is Easy." Collins also provided back-up vocals and drums for several tracks on the Frida album. I recommend it highly.

Anyway, so I'm about to write to Jorge to tell him that I can't believe that he also loves Frida and the moment I open the message I just know my Latino cred has just been shot to hell - maybe forever. Jorge, of course, was sending a note about a successful showing of Mexican artist Frida Khalo paintings or some sort of retrospective, NOT the other Frida. OMG!

The first to react was, well, Jorge himself who said he was ashamed and that I should really consider enrolling in a "Latin American icons 101" class.

Because I needed understanding and support I reached out to others and, well, I got no such thing. Pedro Julio Serrano from New York, Monica Taher from Los Angeles and Lorenzo Herrera y Solano from Austin engaged in cross-country cyberterrorism and plastered images of Frida Khalo on my MySpace page (hm, my MySpace page disappeared this weekend by the way, what's up with that?). So much for friendship.

So, like, am I still Latino?

Update: Clear Channel has dropped sponsorship of Carifest

[NOTE: Newsday has a poll on Power 105/Clear Channel's decision here] One of the biggest sponsors of this weekend's Carifest music festival has dropped their sponsorship:

Clear Channel, which owns Power 105 (WWPR/105.1 FM), quietly withdrew its support from the festival on Wednesday after receiving a call from The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (Glaad). Clear Channel did not issue a statement, but on Thursday a spokeswoman noted that Power 105 does not play Bounty Killer or Buju Banton. She declined to say, however, whether that's because of their lyrics or because reggae artists are not regularly featured on the hip-hop station.

- from "Power 105 pulls Carifest sponsorship" (Newsday, August 23, 2007)

Also:

• Today's Gay City News has an extensive article on the organizers of Saturday's protest, some criticism that the protest amounts to censorship and of a response to those charges from the UK's Peter Tatchell. Full article here.
• Poet and actor Emanuel Xavier has some things to say here.
• Jamaican lesbian poet and performer Staceyann Chin talks about the protest with blogger and political commentator Keith Boykin here.
• The NYC Parks Department has also spoken to the AP here.
  

This Saturday: Say NO to hate music at Reggae Carifest

There is a heartbreaking article in this month's POZ Magazine about Jamaica, homophobia and HIV care that is a must read ("Jamaica: Trouble in Paradise"). I can't say that I am shocked since it's been going on for quite a while but it does give you a good perspective of what some gay and HIV positive people have to go through in the Caribbean island. I imagine that the damage caused to the island by Hurricane Dean will also sap some needed resources for the immediate future which might make the situation even worse.

I bring this up because this Saturday a number of organizations and anti-homophobia advocates are staging a protest at Randall's Island where some of the most homophobic Jamaican dancehall reggae singers will be performing at Reggae Carifest.

They include Buju Banton, Beenie Man, Bounty Killer and Elephant Man. Full details below as well as additional information about another two events being targeted on later dates.

Interestingly, some of us have been here before. In September of 2004 I was amongst the picketers outside a Hot97-sponsored concert at the Hammerstein Ballroom featuring Beenie Man, Vybz Kartel, T.O.K. and Elephant Man. And, most recently, in July of 2006 this blogger joined other bloggers in denouncing the HIV/AIDS charity organization LifeBEAT for inviting Beenie Man and T.O.K. to perform at an AIDS fundraiser.

In the UK, activist Peter Tatchell and Outrage! have led a recent campaign called "The Reggae Compassionate Act" asking dancehall reggae performers to sign a statement renouncing to past homophobic statements and agreeing not to include homophobic lyrics in their future music.

Some leading performers, including the above mentioned Beenie Man, Sizzla, Capleton and Buju Banton have signed on although both Buju Banton and Beenie Man have subsequently denied signing the statements to Jamaican press.

As for LifeBEAT you would think that they would know better considering that in 2006 they decided to scratch the concert due to the rising criticism of hiring two virulently anti-gay performers for a concert. And, sure! None of the performers appearing at Saturday's concert showed up at the Reggae Carifest kick-off event last week but it certainly was promoting the concert and it seems that LifeBEAT was there as well.

Additional resources:

• Mudrer Inna Dancehall
• Peter Tatchell / Outrage! (UK)
• Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals and Gays/J-FLAG (Jamaica)
• Human Rights Watch: Jamaica

---
SAY NO TO HATE MUSIC

We demand an end to music and speech that advocates hate or violence against any group, including gays and lesbians, women, or people of color.

We take a stand against hate speech in any form of music: hip hop, rock, metal or Jamaican reggae/dancehall.

We call on all reggae artists to sign the Reggae Compassionate Act, a simple statement that there is "no space in the music community for hatred and prejudice, including no place for racism, violence, sexism or homophobia."

At least 4 of the over 30 artists scheduled to perform in NYC in August (Buju Banton, Beenie Man, Bounty Killer and Elephant Man) have refused to sign the RCA and some have stated they will never do so. We commend the two performers, Sizzla and Capleton, who have signed the RCA.

We call on the concert promoters - Clear Channel (LiveNation), Team Legendary, HOT 97, Team Irie Jamboree - to stop giving these performers a platform to spread their message of hate, and to drop them from the concert lineups.

Join us to continue this campaign to end hate music in all its forms around the world - we will not be silent!

Anti-Violence Project, Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, Gay Men of African Descent, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Foundation, People of Color in Crisis, Queer Justice League

Protest/Speakout: Reggae CariFest, Randall's Island, Sat. Aug. 25th, 5 pm (meet at GMAD, 103 E. 125, #503, at 3:30 pm)

On Da Reggae Tip, Hammerstein Ballroom, 311 West 34th St., NYC, Fri., Aug. 31st, 7 pm

Irie Jamboree, Roy Wilkins Park, Queens, Sun. Sep. 2, 5 pm

Planning meetings: Thursdays at 8 pm, Think Coffeehouse, 248 Mercer St. (between 3rd and 4th Sts.), NYC

For more info: www.gmad.org

Musica: Alison Moyet's Turn

Rejoice! The voice is back! Even if she could not make it to New York City the one time I hoped to meet her thanks to Homeland Security, Alison Moyet is set to release her new album "The Turn" in October on w14 Music, a division of Universal Music Group.

As a preview, snippets of four of the album's tracks have been uploaded on Alison's MySpace page. First single "One More Time" seems to be a show-stopper and a showcase for the singer's glorious voice, themes about longing, relationships and desire resurface; "Fire" is plaintive and heartfelt, an indication that the album is a stripped affair without some of the electronic flourishes of the past, just a voice and a guitar; "World Without End" almost sounds like a chamber piece; while "It's Not the Thing, Henry" seems to belong in one of her past albums, namely "Hometime," with it's multiple instrumentation and synth stabs.

All in all great news from the UK.

• Alison Moyet's MySpace page here
• Alison Moyet's official website here
• Alison Moyet's blog here
• w14 Music webiste here (oh my! They also seem to be getting ready to release a new album by Siouxsie Sioux!)
  

Musica: Andrés Duque was acceptable... in the 80's

[This is a good review, so bear with me...] Yes, my friends, we have arrived a the exact moment at which Blabbeando sells out for no money whatsoever (and no, stop snickering 'cause it wasn't when we placed the Google Ads on the site).

Sneak Attack Media has adopted this puppy by endearingly placing the Blabbeador on their advance music release mailing list. And we're like all happy.

Can't say we weren't dreading it though. The moment they sent links to remixes for fields (only one of which I truly liked), we checked them out and found out that they were setting to promote the debut CD by Calvin Harris. Immediately I thought "Oh-oh! Hope they don't ask me to review that shit!" (pardon my French).

Calvin who? Well, you must not be European, Italian, Australian, British, Argentinian or from anywhere else except the United States because the man has achieved world domination in just a few steps with his recent single "Acceptable in the 80's" (video above MP3 here).

Yes. Acceptable in the 80's. Electro synth stabs. Neon colors. Shoulder pads on men and women. George Michael is straight. Make up on long-haired "rockers." Love is a Battlefield. Dynasty. Scott Baio. You get the point. But wasn't New York's own Fisherspooner trading on this stuff half a decade ago?

Then I actually heard the song and I was all "holy-mother-of-god! this is so bad I hope it never invades my sensitive ears ever again." Hence the apprehension.

I mean, imagine a Debbie Gibson type of bumpty-bump track (I mean the cheesy synths, not the vocals) with lyrics such as "I got love for you if you were born in the aight'ies, the aight'ies. Yeah!" - Yikes?
Hm. Apologies to Mr. Harris. Now I just can't get it out of my head along with so many other neon-colored leg warming tracks from his debut CD "I Created Disco."

Tongue firmly planted in cheek (check grandiose album title above) Harris has the balls to begin the album all LCD Soundsystem-like with "Merry Making at My Place" - a knock-off of LCD's own "Daft Punk is Playing at My House" - and he actually comes out on top.

With all those orgasmic ah's and oh's and lyrics in his opening track such as "I've seen it before, lots of people at my front door, lots of people in my front door, trying to get into my house" and the chorus "Merry making, drug taking, at my place, baby, at my place" how can you not drop your guard and love all the geeky boasting and groovy beats?

Then there's the fact that there's thirteen more fun electro groovers from where that came from - including the now lovable - not shitty - first single and the infectious "Industry" (robotic chant: "I am in tha in-das-tree, you are in tha in-das-tree, we are in tha in-das-tree, this is tha in-das-tree" OMG, so funny!), the great "Neon Rocks", "Vegas" (fake disaffected teutonic accent: "I got my drugs, and my stuff and my pills, when I go to Vegas! That's right! I've got my girls and my boys and my girls! That's right! When I go to Vegas!") and the faux sex-grinder instrumental "Love Souvenir." It's all good!

Even the clunkers like "Electro Man" ("Electro man, eeelectronic man. Electro man, eeelectronic woman") makes you giggle like crazy.

And rumors that he's upset because the songs he produced for Kylie Minogue's upcoming album were dropped from the final product fit in nicely with the duffus act.

In a stupid way, a classic album that strips away what kills most neo-electro acts (their seriousness) and gets all giddy and silly with the genre's possibilities.

For more info you can always check the following:

• Calvin Harris TV here
• Calvin Harris MySpage page here
• Calvin Harris on WikiPedia here
  

Funny, the press materials say that it will be out in the US on September 4, 2007 on Almost Gold Recordings (great website by the way) but Amazon.com has the release date listed as this Tuesday.

In the meantime, the newest single: "The Girls" - Enjoy!

BFF: Paulina Rubio

My best-friend-forevah Paulina Rubio (pictured above with el Blabbeador) stopped by to wish me a happy birthday a few weeks ago (yeah, right!). We love La Pau because, as you already know, she has been crowned in Mexico (and Miami) as the Queen of the Gays for a number of consecutive years (sometimes even twice a year, depending on which gay bar in Mexico you are talking about).

Once-rumored to be a lesbian and having played coy with the rumors, La Pau recently got married to a man - which did not tamper our admiration or our enjoyment of her song-craft (except with that unfortunate attempt to sing in English).

I must say that she is a stunningly beautiful woman, even in fluorescent lighting. Or maybe her make up was better than mine?

We absolutely love La Pau. For the uninitiated we recommend Paulina, released in May of 2000. Too bad you missed her recent Beacon Theatre concert.

Rubio recently became the New York-based Latino Commission on AIDS first official godmother, a designation which sounds cooler in Spanish than in English ("madrina") - a great reason why the United States should not become and English-language-only country. Yay for La Pau!

[NOTE: Click once on the YouTube image below, then wait a sec and click again and it will open up a YouTube window to the PG13-rated version of "Y Sigo Aqui" with lots of lesbotastic stuff - something about biting into ripe mangoes]

Indie Musicians Fight Ewing's Sarcoma: A Steven Mackin Tribute

The official site will be fully functional on July 11th but Blabbeando has been given a sneak-preview at an online project by The Indie Music Resource Group to raise funds in the fight against Ewing's Sarcoma, a rare form of cancer that usually strikes children and young adults between the ages of 10 and 30.

The project, which would compile the top 20 mixed-genre song submissions for a CD that will be released in October 28th of 2007, is the brain-child of Jake Wheat, Station Manager of Streetblast.com.

The idea, Wheat says, came from his desire to say good-bye to Steven Mackin (pictured), who died of the illness on October 28th of 2006 - something he was not able to do while Steven was alive.

Steven’s loss has saddened and angered me more than I can explain. Steven is owed a distinctive honor. Some good has to come from this sadness. This project is dedicated to Steven Michael Mackin, and this tribute to him will help find a cure, and to also support others cope with Ewing’s Sarcoma. We will stomp out Ewing’s, one way or another

100% of the CD earnings will go towards efforts to find an Ewing's Sarcoma vaccine and improve early detection efforts. Bands are encouraged to submit contributions through the StompOutCancer website beginning July 11th.

For additional information contact Jake Wheat at 502 489-1501 or e-mail at jake@stompoutcancer.com.

Previously on Blabbeando:

• June 15, 2007: Steven Mackin would have turned 28 today
• March 7, 2007: The Associated Press profiles Steven Mackin
• February 19, 2007: Steven lives on!
• October 30, 2006: Goodbye, my friend
• October 28, 2006: Word is out so...
• October 26, 2006: Damn, Steven
• October 13, 2006: LJ Bears *heart* Steven Mackin
• September 29, 2006: I *heart* puppies
• September 26, 2006: We love Steven Mackin
• June 20, 2006: Oh no he didn't! Oh yes she did! More bloggers!
  
• April 12, 2006: More fun with Steven
• January 31, 2006: KY = KY jelly or Kentucky?
• November 3, 2005: Time for some good ol' butt

Musica: A couple of tips come my way

The 8th Annual Latin Alternative Music Conference is coming our way (July 10-14, NYC) and our friends at I-Tunes Latino have tipped us to free performances by three of the best bands participating in the conference this year. Each performance is open to the public and starts at 2pm in the afternoon so maybe if you have a lunch break or are free on any of those days make sure to check them out:

Wed., July 11th: Zoe (MySpace / I-Tunes)
Thurs., July 12th: Pacha Massive (MySpace / I-Tunes)
Fri., July 13th: The Pinker Tones ( MySpace / I-Tunes)

Pacha Massive, as we've noted, will also be performing for free at the Central Park Summerstage on Saturday, July 14th along with the massively influential and respected Cafe Tacvba and La Sista.

In the meantime, our friends at Sneak Attack Media have been promoting fields (MySpace) here in the United States and have also tipped us to some new mixes for a couple of songs from their current album "Everything Last Winter."

Theres the SebastiAn mix of "If You Fail We All Fail" available here which will probably be the trendy favorite since it comes from the ascendant Ed Banger crew from France. Me? Never been able to get into the Banger crew sound so...

There's also an Ewan Pearson rub of "Song for the Fields" here which is nice and all but not up to par with some of the mixes he did for Goldfrapp.

No, the banger here is the short, sweet, great, rocking, emotional Badlands remix of "If You Fail We All Fail" here (who dat?). Hope you enjoy.

Actually, that remix leads me to my own tip. Not that I wanna give you incredibly high expectations because those always sink a movie-watching experience but if you haven't seen "Once" I suggest you seek it out at your local indie movie theatre.

It's a small independent movie shot in Dublin, Ireland, that is deceptively simple in it's portrayal of two people falling in love with each other. Oh, and in some ways, it's also a musical so expect stretches where there's nothing but people singing. If you manage to get past that and if you've ever been in love, you'll probably fall for this flick.

Even now as I hear the amazing Glen Hansard singing (see below), a tear wells up in my eye. His voice is just so amazing.

In any case, if you're in the United States, I hope you are enjoying your fourth of July.

Blog roll addition: HotShitRecords

Yes, indeed, it's HotShitRecords and you can find it under my Music Blogs column on the right.
...and, yes, if you note any similarities it's because that's non-other than my brother Juan, editor of HotShitRecords, as he prepares his latest post.

Come July, I'll be visiting him in my home country as I make one of my periodic pilgrimages back to my roots. Looking forward to it big time.

Musica: SummerStage 2007

The Central Park SummerStage concert and performance line up has just been unveiled. Here are some highlights:

July 1: Rodrigo y Gabriela / Vietnam / JDH and Dave P
July 6: Ronald K. Brown (Evidence) /Full Circle Soul Productions
July 14: Cafe Tacvba / Pacha Massive / La Sista
July 10: Nortec Collective / Federico Aubele
July 11: Femi Kuti & The Positive Force / DJ Rich Medina
July 16: The Decemberists / Grizzly Bear / Land of Talk
July 29: Wild Style 25th Anniversary Reunion

To check the full line up and see if you might have other favorites, go here.