U2 • New Year's Day

Rocking in the New Year with U2!

The Mummer's New Year's Day Parade

Weather permitting, I shall be watching some of the annual Philadelphia Mummer's New Year's Day Parade, like I do every year. To give you an idea of what I will be watching, here is a look at a bit of Mummer history, and a review of the 2011 parade a year ago.

Happy New Year

Top: Daniel Cartier; Bottom: ABBA, Barry Manilow, and Dan Fogelberg.

Every year, I try to bring in the New Year with great music. Daniel Cartier's cover of Auld Lang Syne is haunting and beautiful. The song, a traditional greeting of the new year, is based on a poem written by Robert Burns in 1788. That poem was set to a traditional Scottish melody, and the song was born. Daniel Cartier recorded it, and I just love it.

It seems like I would not be able to bypass the 1980 song from super-group Abba, Happy New Year. It was written by the "B's", Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus. They, along with Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad, make up all the letters in ABBA.



And how about the 1977 song from Pop Maestro Barry Manilow? It's Just Another New Year's Eve was a poignant song released in between the uplifting songs Can't Smile Without You and Daybreak. It was based on a melody from Johann Sebastian Bach's Goldberg Variations.



In 1980, singer/songwriter Dan Fogelberg released Same Old Lang Syne. It was later put on the album The Innocent Age. Like the best of Fogelberg's work, it told a story we could all relate to. It went to #9 on the Billboard Hot 100. It remains a favorite holdiay song for many, 30-some years later.



Here's wishing us all prosperity and lots of love in 2012!

Great 2011 Releases

Clockwise: Hotels & Highways, Nathan Leigh Jones, Angus & Julia Stone, and Mikey Wax.

With my next to the last post in 2011, I thought I would try to show some appreciation for some of the breeders on my playlist. Look, I know you must feel like a real minority on my iTunes playlists, but you really are appreciated. I refuse to discriminate against you just because of who you sleep with. That said, there was some great music from this group, and I loved listening to that music whenever I could.

I first found out about the music of Hotels & Highways because I was a big fan of Syd's music. So when he got together with Lisa Piccirillo and Patrick Thomas, I couldn't wait to hear what came of it. When they released Lost River, I was blown away, and couldn't hear it enough. They fuse together the rootsy sound with a modern edge like few can, and made a great, complete album. Watch this video from a live performance of Train Whistle from their debut.



You can purchase Lost River from iTunes and Amazon.

I have David Raleigh to blame for my preoccupation with the music of Nathan Leigh Jones. David and the handsome Aussie are friends, and Nathan has produced some music of David's, including the beautiful That's What Friends Are For with Raleigh, Sir Ari Gold, Alan Cumming, and Billy Porter. But it was his great music that really won me over, from his 2008 EP, The Way I'm Missing You, to the newly released Sooner Or Later, I just love it all. In fact, I had to go to New York City to see Jones and Raleigh perform with my dear friend David Dust, and it was a magical night. Only recently, Nathan released the video for Beautiful You, off the latest album.



You can purchase Sooner Or Later from iTunes and Amazon.

I still remember the point when I first decided I would be a Mikey Wax fan for a long time to come. It was when I happened across his video for La Vie En Rose, looking for something to use on the blog. Well, I hit play, and developed a big crush on him, one that has not ended yet. I bought the last couple of EPs and a full album he put out, but with the release of his latest album, I was blown away. Mikey focused his energy on the music, and put out a Pop wonder called Constant Motion. I just love it, and think it should be a mandatory listen for all music lovers. Give a listen as Mikey sings Counting On You, which has recently started to get some airplay on the radio!



You can purchase Constant Motion from iTunes and Amazon.

I don't know where I've been for the last few years, but for some reason, it hasn't been on the same plane as Australian siblings Angus & Julia Stone. However, since finding them, I am completely loopy about their quirky music, and lap it up like it was pudding. I found some of their older music, and love it, just like the latest stuff. And it doesn't hurt I am totally crushing on Angus, damn, he's beautiful. They started the year with a single at the top of the Australian charts, and soon that song made it on to a commercial in the US, and I discovered my new obsession. Watch the video for Big Jet Plane off the album Down The Way.



You can purchase Down The Way from iTunes and Amazon.

Even More Great Singles from 2011

Clockwise: Anthony Callea, Brendan MacLean, David Raleigh, and Wes Carr.

In my final look at the singles from 2011, I couldn't resist checking out my friends Down Under. This group is made up of 3 Australians, and one American who splits his time between New York and Australia. The group is made up of three very sexy out gay men, and one very handsome straight rocker. All are talented musicians who made my life just a little bit nicer when I heard their songs.

I have been a fan of Anthony Callea ever since the first time I heard that amazing voice of his. I have run out of adjectives to adequately describe it, so suffice it to say I listen to it whenever I can. So, you can imagine my joy when he released a new single this year, Oh Oh Oh Oh. It is a dance tune, filled with vibrance and joy, and I still can't get enough of it. Watch the amazing video for Oh Oh Oh Oh.



You can purchase Oh Oh Oh Oh on iTunes and Amazon. You can also purchase the video on iTunes.

I was directed to listen to the music of Brendan MacLean by another musician, David Raleigh. As I have mentioned before, when I get a recommendation from another musician, I will listen. And this is yet another time I am grateful to Raleigh, for I love Brendan's music, with it's humor and zest. Watch his video for Cold And Happy from the White Canvas EP.



You can purchase the White Canvas EP on iTunes.

Wes Carr is another artist who captivated me the first time I heard his voice. And he is more than just the token straight man... I find his singing to be original and strong, just a joy to hear. Like Callea, I have ordered Carr's album's to be imported, since I just had to have them. This year, while I waited for a new album to come out, I was so pleased to discover he had a new single. Check out the new video for Been A Long Time.



You can purchase the Been A Long Time video on iTunes.

I just love David Raleigh pm just so many levels, and the first is the great music he makes. His piano-driven songs are just so melodic, so beautiful. And then there is that smile of his, it could light up all of Manhattan. And that is where he lives when he is not in Australia. While he released his great Beginning Again album in 2010, the latest single only recently premiered with a strong music video. Watch as he sings One Together.



You can purchase Beginning Again off iTunes and Amazon.

Great Albums of 2011

Clockwise: Casey Stratton, Gregory Douglass, Chadwick, and Justin Utley.

You'd think with all the posts so far, how could there still be great music that was released in 2011? It is easy, you just listen to the music by the four outstanding men above, how put out wonderful music whenever they sit with a microphone. And, if I am not mistaken, they are all out and proud men who also happen to look very good in their pictures...

That is certainly true for Casey Stratton, who has been making great music since he was quite young, releasing his first EP, Driving To The Moon, in 1995. This year he released two albums, Hear The City and The Vigil. The latter was a response to the loss of his beloved pet, Henry, and it is just beautiful. The former, Hear The City, is a wonderful and so evocative.



I swear that Casey writes his music so that it is addictive, and I must have it all. You can purchase Hear The City at Casey's online store, iTunes or Amazon.

Another man whose music is just totally irresistible to me is Vermont's own Gregory Douglass. It still annoys me I have yet to be able to see him perform live, but hope I get to rectify that very soon. His latest album, Lucid, is a moody and vital work, with honesty pouring off it. I am particularly fond of the song Dream Come True. In the video below Gregory sings Lucid from the latest release.



You can purchase Lucid at Gregory's online store, iTunes, or Amazon.

Well, once you get past Justin Utley's Hulk-like build and dashing good looks, you get to know that he is also a talented singer/songwriter. His vivid and uplifting music touches me so, and let's me know he has lived a life that has not always been easy, but will always be a path for growth. The former-Mormon sings from the heart, and that can't be missed. Watch as he sings Stand For Something from Nothing This Real.



You can purchase Nothing This Real at Justin's online store, iTunes, or Amazon.

I happened across the music of Chadwick while working on this blog, and can't believe I hadn't heard his amazing voice before. The crispness of his tone is amazing, and how he manages to use it while singing great songs is impressive. His latest album, Live & Unplugged, shows off that voice, allowing it to tell the story with simple instrumentation. Watch as he sings What About Love from Live & Unplugged. The song was written by Brian Allen, Sheron Alton, and Jim Vallance and originally performed by the legendary rock band, Heart.



You can purchase Live & Unplugged on iTunes or Amazon.

Last Friday Night of 2011

Clockwise: Elephant, Jimmy Somerville, The Young Professionals, and Sir Ari Gold.

As it is the last Friday night of 2011, I thought I would end it with a review of some great party/dance music from the year to date. And some very hot gay men, too. Well, that is just a very nice bonus point, at least for me. And, as you will be able to hear for yourself, some of my favorite dance music comes in all kinds, from Punky Hip-Hop to Neo-Disco to Euro-beats.

I will start off with one of my favorite tracks from the homo-twins, Coleman and Jackson Vrana, with their biting social commentary set to their own brand of Hop-Hop that sounds more Punk than Pop. Using the group name Elephant, the twins assault the listeners with strong language, hard beats, and bold ideas on the four songs off their debut. Take, for example, their video for the song Notorious H.I.V. off the Queer Nation EP. Being a Friday night post, I just think I will mention this is not safe for work, but great for everywhere else.



You can purchase the Queer Nation EP on iTunes and Amazon.

I have made no attempt to hide my complete infatuation with Ivri Lider and his music. I tell you, if I were to ever meet him, I fear I would embarrass myself, and ask him to marry me or something along those lines. Well, that aside, I was eagerly awaiting his first English-language album, which still has yet to hit the stores. However, we were treated to a release by The Young Professionals, an electronic duo featuring Ivri and Yonathan Goldshtein. Their first album, 9:00 to 17:00, 17:00 to Whenever, is a pure electronic pleasure, one irresistible song after another. Check out their video for the single D.I.S.C.O., and just try to not dance while you listen.



You can purchase 9:00 to 17:00, 17:00 to Whenever on iTunes and Amazon.

Not only is Sir Ari Gold unmistakably hot, he is also incredibly talented. And if you pair him with a legendary voice like Miss Sarah Dash, and you have a single that is impossible to resist. And that would give you the song Sparkle, the second single off Between The Spirit & The Flesh. That is a great album, starting with the sexy first single, Make My Body Rock. But here is the video for Sparkle.



You can purchase Between The Spirit & The Flesh on iTunes and Amazon.

And finally, a night of dancing isn't complete without a some Jimmy Somerville to shake my groove-thang to. And this year, Jimmy released the Bright Things EP, and I just had to buy it. I mean, I've been buying Jimmy's music since he was with the Bronski Beat 27 years ago, and I've been addicted to that voice since. Jimmy might have turned 50 this year, but he hasn't lost a step with that voice, and just makes me hungry for more from him. Check out Overload, off Bright Things.



You can purchase Bright Things on iTunes and Amazon.