Rage Recommends

Rage Recommends

By Tim Parks

Hear This:

 

Play My F**kn Remix

Sir Ari Gold

 

Openly gay musician Sir Ari Gold returns with a bit of attitude on his sixth CD, Play My F**kn Remix. The title has its roots in the line from the Jennifer Lopez song “Play,” when she tells the DJ to play her motherf**king song. That sentiment goes along perfectly with Gold’s commanding nature of being called sir; especially on the first single “Play My Record,” where it is demanded lyrically that the DJ better do as he is told. Sir, yes, sir! And listeners would also be wise to give into its infectious beats on the track. 

The remainder of the  remix retrospective disc is a  literal mixture of his well-known  songs, such as “Where The Music Takes You” and “Love Will Take Over,” which comprise his 13-year-old music catalog and also features previously released efforts. Out Now.

 

Electric

Pet Shop Boys

 

With over 70 million records sold and 28 years in the music business, The Pet Shop Boys are in an interesting place in their careers. They recently left their Parlophone label and have started up their own, x2, through Kobalt Label Services and their 12th album, Electric, finds the Boys going back to their dance floor roots.

The first single, “Axis,” is indicative of the CD’s title, in that it features few words, just the synthesized beats that have made them fan favorites, lo these many years. The second single, “Vocal,” highlights Neil Tennant’s distinctive singing style, fused together with Chris Lowe’s mastery of the keyboards as it crescendos into a dance floor anthem. The track “Thursday” is a definite throwback song that could have been a song that was left off their very first CD, Please, and is a nice reminder of the nature of this full circle project. Out July 16.

 

The Way I Am

Colton Ford

 

Former porn star Colton Ford is back in front of the microphone for his third CD, which highlights the nuances that make up the man behind the moniker. Ford has enlisted producers, such as NERVO who has worked with Britney Spears and Kesha, on this latest project that is a combination of dance, pop, funk and even a little jazz thrown in for good measure. 

The dance portion of the CD features “First in Line (Shadow of the Night),” and “Let Me Live Again,” his Billboard hit from earlier this year. The track, “Realize,” sounds like something that Seal would sing in its vocalizations that sound reminiscent of the artist formerly known as Mr. Heidi Klum, while “Get To You” harkens back to the kicking it old school sounds of The Dazz Band. Out Now. 

 

Watch This:

 

In The Family 

 

In The Family tackles the subject matter of sexual orientation and race relations against the backdrop of “family values” in the Southern portion of our country.  When Joey (portrayed by the film’s writer and director Patrick Wang) loses his partner Cody (Trevor St. John), he must find the strength to raise their young son Chip (Sebastian Banes) on his own.

He faces a complication in that endeavor, since the six-year-old was willed to Cody’s sister, and the resulting scenario results in a legal battle for custody of his child. The ensuing plotline highlights a fair assessment of conservative America’s stance on homosexuality. Out Now.

 

The House I Live In

 

The makers of the documentary The House I Live In train their camera lens on the U.S.’s war on drugs during a 40 year period; chronicling the government’s concentrated effort of attempting to eradicate drug use and distribution from the days of the Nixon administration to the present.

The Sundance Film Festival  Grand Prize Winner focuses on stories from those in the trenches, including drug dealers, those who have lost loved ones to addiction and judges and jailers in a series of revealing interviews. Out July 2.

 

Quartet

 

While it’s no Downton Abbey, the fictional Beecham House for Retired Musicians does feature one of its stars, Maggie Smith, and a slew of other British actors, including her Harry Potter co-star Michael Gambon. The residents, including four opera singers are prepping for the Verdi Gala, an annual event that is about to have an unexpected plus one in the guise of a new resident and old friend Jean (Smith). 

Quartet also marks the debut of Dustin Hoffman in a directing capacity. Out Now. 

 

Want to know what to listen to this summer?

Then check out my new article on just that at on pages 28 and 29:

http://content.yudu.com/Library/A27r98/RageMagazineSanDiego/resources/index.htm?referrerUrl=http://free.yudu.com/item/details/944925/Rage-Magazine-San-Diego-Edition—JUNE-2013

Gaywatch: Stop, Look and Listen

Gaywatch: Stop, Look and Listen 

     

By Tim Parks 

 When Elvis Presley sang the song, Stop, Look and Listen back in the day, I wonder if he had any idea of the multi-media connotations it would hold some 41 years later. It seems like there are always a slew of things to watch on TV (some of those being shows to avoid like the plague), and an earful of new music to make note of every single day.

Please allow me to bring you up to speed on what is what, as far as things to keep an eye and ear out for.

                                                            Stop

Looks like “American Idol’s” slurring sweetheart, Paula Abdul, may be getting her own reality show on Bravo entitled, “Hey Paula.” The show promises to “give viewers an intimate glimpse at the real woman behind the headlines.” So that automatically makes my mind jump to the conclusion that it will be endless shots of Abdul performing plays with an array of empty pill bottles, while sitting in front of  her dressing room mirror at 2 am in tears. Note to Paula, while this may seem like a good idea on paper, the reality of it could do more harm than good. Straight up!

 Ok, the next show I am on the fence about. “Flavor of Love Girls: Charm School” definitely has some entertaining moments, and could be likened to “The Facts of Life Goes Ghetto” (there’s even a Blair look-a-like, prissy and insane “Hottie,” who has the worst blonde weave ever!), and host Mo’Nique fills the Mrs. Garrett role quite nicely. Alas, this is the fourth “Flavor of Love” incarnation, five if you want to count “Strange Love” (a very sure sign of The Apocalypse, if ever there was one). C’mon, VH-1, come up with something original, you know like playing music videos – and please, no third season of “Breaking Bonaduce!”

 Another VH-1 show that needs a makeover is “Celebrity Fit Club.” The latest edition will feature Maureen (Marcia Brady) McCormack, Dustin (Screech) Diamond, ex Mall Queen Tiffany, Ross “The Intern” from “The Tonight Show”, female rapper Da Brat and a few others. Sure, some of the contestants look a little “thicker” for lack of a better word, and it does beg the question is Tiffany now singing “I Think We’re Alone Now” to a can of whipped cream? But the participants don’t appear to be grotesquely overweight (all Da Brat needs to lose is her attitude – for reals), and it really brings into play the whole perception of what is acceptable weight-wise in Hollywood. Perhaps, VH-1 should take the opposite tack and do a show where wafer thin starlets are force fed ham sandwiches! Airs Sundays at 9.

 Tori Spelling’s first attempt at spoofing her celebrity, “So NoTORIous,” was a wee bit of a guilty pleasure. Her new reality show with hubby Dean McDermott, “Tori and Dean: Inn Love” kinda sucks, and not in a good way. Do we really need to hear about Tori’s flatulence while preggers? A show I’d like to see is Tori and her mom, Candy, fighting it out ala Thunderdome over the late Aaron Spelling’s mega millions – two women enter, one woman leaves…loaded!

I really wish that “Inside The Actor’s Studio” would stop scraping the bottom of the acting barrel, as was clearly evident when Diana Ross was the guest on a recent two-hour episode! Granted, she had success as an actress in the 1970’s, but creepy host James Lipton had his head so far up Miss Ross’ ass, it was downright embarrassing. Maybe that could account for his bad hair and beard dye job! Hmm…

                                                 Look    

  Bravo TV continues to out gay other networks, and a case in point has to be their newest competition show, “Shear Genius,” in which creative hairdresser contestants go scissor-to-scissor with each other. The show is hosted by former “Charlie’s Angel” Jaclyn Smith; and I truly hope that somebody on that show gets the exact details of her pact with the devil, as she still looks gorgeous (see, I can be nice). Airs Wednesdays at 10. Speaking of “Charlie’s Angels,” there may be a reunion movie in the works for the three original “Angels,” and I will keep you posted, of course.

Another Bravo show will be entering its third season when “Kathy Griffin: My Life On The D-List” returns on June 5^th. This time around the celebrity bashin’ comedienne will go on a prison comedy tour, attend her high school reunion, and hosts the recent Gay Adult Video Awards, where the competition can get pretty stiff!

Jackie Warner and her pump you up pals are back for another season of “Work Out.” Too bad they aren’t calling the show “Work Out 2: Electric Boogaloo,” as I am thoroughly convinced any type of sequel should be followed by the subtitle “Electric Boogaloo” or “The Quickening.” Airs Tuesdays at 10.

 Over on LOGO, there are two new tres gay shows starting up. “The Big Gay Sketch Show” is being likened to straight counterparts, such as “Saturday Night Live” and “Mad TV.” Well, I hope that means it will be funny, because the other two haven’t been lately. Anyhoo, the show stars a lot of fresh gay and lesbian faces (and even “Gay Pimp” Jonny McGovern), and a few behind-the-scenes ones you may be familiar with like, director Amanda Bearse (“Married With Children”) and executive producer, Rosie O’Donnell. Airs Tuesdays at 10.

 In July, audiences will be treated to the first all gay animated series, “Rick & Steve The Happiest Gay Couple In All The World,” which is based on the 1999 short film that featured LEGO actors spewing very non PC dialogue. I am so there!

  For you insomniacs, if you happen to be channel surfing at four in the morning, try to look for an infomercial about a penis enlargement product called Extenz. It is pure comedy gold, and probably the fakest infomercial ever, especially when a “roving reporter” (AKA some girl that didn’t wow them at a porn audition) hits the streets to ask everyday folks about Extenz; every single guy has (a) heard about it and (b) is currently taking the pill. The best part of the infomercial is its fake talk show segment, “Sex Talk,” where one woman extols the virtues of Extenz by saying, “It’s always Christmas at our house.” Talk about male enhancement! 

                                                            Listen

  By now you may be familiar with Amy Winehouse, the singer who has been described as “a Ronette from Hell,” and has been making the rounds promoting her CD Back To Black. And, if you haven’t heard of her, you should, as she is one of the most refreshingly original chanteuse’s around in the cookie cutter world of pop music.

  What is it about some female singers that make them shed their respectable personas in favor for a Hoochie Mama look? Jewel did it, so did Nelly Furtado, and now its Joss Stone’s turn, as the singer has said bye bye credibility and hello hot pants! Her newest CD, Introducing Joss Stone is a far cry from her hippie incarnation of the past, and I understand an artist’s need to grow – is that why their clothes shrink in the process?

 Ivory tickler Rufus Wainwright will have a new CD out on May 15^th. His fifth studio album (yes, I said album) is called Release The Stars, and is executive produced by The Pet Shop Boys.

 Synth poppers Erasure are back with a new CD, entitled Light At The End Of The World, dropping May 22nd. Look for them on tour this summer with Debbie Harry and Cyndi Lauper as part of The True Colors Tour set to hit SD on June 27th.

 It appears as though Hilary Duff is on the verge of becoming somewhat of a diva-ette with her new dance CD, Dignity, and the first single With Love is so infectious it ought to come with a shot of penicillin. 

 Kelly Clarkson’s latest disc, My December, is slated for a summer release and the song Never Again will be its first single.

 For all you show tune aficionados, four Stephen Sondheim musicals, including Sweeney Todd and Into The Woods have been re-released and digitally remastered.

File this one under something to look forward to…Madonna will have a new CD out later this year (most likely in November), and she will be working some wood on this disc. No, not that kind! She has recruited Timbaland and Justin Timberlake to assist her in the song writing arena.   

                                    Cut.Print.That’s A Wrap!

 So there was your look at some TV trends that need to be stopped, some hows worth a looksie, and music for your listening pleasure. Until next time, that’s all of the news that’s fit to print.

This column was originally publsihed in April 2007