DJ Randy Bettis, Sarah McLachlan, Patricia Barber, Elisa, Dennis Wilson, Craig David, Cut Copy, The Presets, Klea Blackhurst and Billy Stritch, Kathy Griffin.
By David Goldberg, Nancy Ford, Suzie Lynde
DJ Randy Bettis
Party Groove: Gay Days, Volume 5
For the rest of the summer, you may find yourself missing the glamorousity of Pride weekend. To relive the joy of the parade without all the sweat and beads, you’ll want to check out this divine mix. With jams such as “Hot Stuff” and “Dance Like There’s No Tomorrow” by Paula Abdul, it’ll help you resurrect your inner glitter. Centaur Music (centaurmusic.com). More: www.gaydays.com. — Review: David Goldberg
Sarah McLachlan
Fumbling Towards Ecstasy: Legacy Edition
This three-pack from legendary Lilith Fair founder and tear-jerking animal rights activist will have fans screaming with ecstasy. With multiple versions of the 1993 triple-platinum release including “Possession” and “Good Enough,” as well as a collector’s DVD, it’s better than ice cream. Available August 5. Arista/Legacy (legacyrecordings.com). — Preview: Nancy Ford
Patricia Barber
The Cole Porter Mix
As anyone who has seen the outrageous Anything Goes can attest, the music of Cole Porter is sexy, theatrical, and over the top. I mean, the man wrote “Blow Gabriel Blow,” for God’s sake! Unfortunately, Barber, who is openly gay, wastes a chance to indulge in essence of Porter, and instead gets snooty and boring. Not that I am against artists remixing Cole Porter. Prince, are you listening? Blue Note Records (bluenote.com). — Review: David Goldberg
Elisa
Dancing
Italian-born singer-songwriter Elisa, already a multi-platinum, award-winning superstar in her native country, makes her North American debut with Dancing. The album powerfully showcases the genre-bending artist’s emotionally resonant pop-rock sound. The title track was featured on Fox-TV’s So You Think You Can Dance. Sugar/Universal (elisatoffoli.com). — Preview: Suzie Lynde
Dennis Wilson
Pacific Ocean Blue: Legacy Edition
According to some sources, Dennis Wilson was the only member of the Beach Boys who actually qualified as a surfer boy. He was also the first member of the group to release a solo album — 1977’s Pacific Ocean Blue, a pleasant excursion through Wilson’s psyche which didn’t quite approach the grandeur of the BB’s best. Either of these achievements should earn him a place in the rock-and-roll history books, but his status as a rock icon probably rests more on the fact that he was the most gorgeous man to live on earth during the past three million years. With this in mind, you may be curious enough to sample Pacific Ocean Blue: Legacy Edition, commemorating both the 30th anniversary of the record and the 25th anniversary of Wilson’s untimely death at 39 (an alcohol-related drowning). Caribou/Epic/Legacy (legacyrecordings.com). — Review: Jack Varsi
Craig David
Trust Me
Craig David’s voice, in the words of Linda Richman, is like a stick of butta! The man can definitely soothe and relax you, even while belting out ballads of heartbreak. While some of his tracks are forgettable, David’s vocal strength is not. Warner Music Group (WMG.com). — Review: David Goldberg
Cut Copy
In Ghost Colours
The past 25 years have given birth to the perfect music lovechild, a dance-rock band called Cut Copy. The young Aussie group touches on many classic and current influences, from Dee-lite to The Cure to the Pretenders to Bloc Party, but still brings sweeping originality to every song. I’m just ashamed I hadn’t heard of them until now. Modular/Interscope (myspace.com/cutcopy). — Review: David Goldberg
The Presets
Apocalypso
The Aussie group dives into ’80s dance rock with this appropriately titled dark second album. It’s a treat, but couldn’t it be happier? A little more A-ha is needed and a little less Nine Inch Nails. Modular Recordings (thepresets.com). — Review: David Goldberg
Klea Blackhurst and Billy Stritch
Dreaming of a Song—The Music of Hoagy Carmichael
Blackhurst took New York by storm with her tribute to Ethel Merman; Stritch is an award-winning composer, arranger, vocalist, and jazz pianist. This collaboration mines the catalogue of Hoagy Carmichael, who wrote such standards as “Skylark,” “Georgia on My Mind,” and “Star Dust.” Ghostlight Records (www.sh-k-boom.com). — Preview: Troy Carrington
COMEDY CD Kathy Griffin
For Your Consideration
The queen bitch has been making quite a splash with her first attempt at winning a Grammy and giving Jesus another reason to suck it. Consideration is the highest-ranked album by a female comic to date, and will definitely please diehard D-list fans. Red hits all the basics of her comedy in this disc, including bits on Steven Spielberg, her mother, and, of course, Oprah. Red Int/Red Ink (kathygriffin.net). — Review: David Goldberg
