Music

Marsha Ambrosius – Photo: Courtesy

R&B singer Marsha Ambrosius tackles gay-bashing, suicide and homophobia in the urban community in her latest music video.

OMD

OMD

Devo isn’t the only new wave legend to make a 2010 comeback. Paul Humphreys and Andy McCluskey, better known as OMD (a.k.a. Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark), return to the fore with “History of Modern” (Blue Noise/Bright Antenna). OMD’s first album in nearly 15 (!) years, “History of Modern” does a decent job of reminding us of the band’s contributions to electro-pop music, going back 30 years. OMD’s most commercial period is represented in songs such as “If You Want It,” “History of Modern (Part 1)” and such dance-oriented tunes as “Sister Marie Says,” “The Future, The Past and Forever After” and “Pulse.” That doesn’t mean that OMD can’t rock out with the best of them, as on “New Babies New Toys.” OMD takes advantage of technology they might not have used much in the past on “Sometimes” and “Save Me” (featuring a fierce Aretha Franklin sample).

Perfect Harmony Men’s Chorus opens for the Nylons at 8 p.m. Dec. 18 at the Barrymore Theatre, 2090 Atwood Ave. in Madison.

When Madison’s Perfect Harmony Men’s Chorus opens for The Nylons’ Dec. 18 performance at The Barrymore Theatre, the gay and gay-friendly musical group’s 20-minute set will cap what has been a remarkable year, according to artistic director Ken Forney.

Jennifer Knapp

Jennifer Knapp

Among the musicians who came out of the closet in 2010. Jennifer Knapp, a popular singer in the contemporary Christian music world, was preceded by both Ricky Martin and Chely Wright when she came out as a lesbian. She has gained a whole new fan-base in the LGBT community, despite the impact it may have on her core fans. On the album “Letting Go” (Graylin), which was released around the time Knapp made her public announcement, she proves herself to be a writer of catchy and moving songs, including “Dive In,” “Fallen” and the contemporary country of “Mr. Gray.”

"For Colored Girls"

‘For Colored Girls…’

Tyler Perry’s toxic film adaptation of Ntozake Shange’s “For Colored Girls…” has rightfully come and gone from movie screens. On the other hand, “Music From and Inspired by The Original Motion Picture For Colored Girls” (Atlantic) is vastly better than the film and definitely deserves a longer lifespan. Knockout tracks by Lalah Hathaway (“Sun”), Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings (“Longer & Stronger”), Estelle (“All Day Long”), Janelle Monáe (“Without A Fight”) and, especially, “Four Women” (Nina Simone, Simone, Laura Izibor and Ledisi), make this one a keeper.

Photo: Courtesy

‘Glee’

Here’s a great big holiday surprise (not!): Ryan Murphy and the folk$ at Fox have come up with a seasonal soundtrack. “Glee: The Music, The Christmas Album” (Columbia) features the talented cast making their way through a series of traditional and contemporary holiday selections in full-tilt “Glee” style. The most-spirited include “We Need A Little Christmas,” “Merry Christmas Darling,” “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” (a duet by Kurt and Blaine), “The Most Wonderful Day of the Year” and “You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch” (a k.d. lang/Matthew Morrison duet).

The Superions, "Destination Christmas."

The Superions

The B-52s never put out a holiday record and that’s a shame. But fear not, out B-52s front man Fred Schneider has teamed up with Noah Brodie and Dan Marshall to form The Superions and release “Destination…Christmas!” (Fanatic). Even without Kate Pierson or Cindy Wilson, “Destination…Christmas!” sounds like it could be a lost B-52s record – in spirit, at least. The 11 new songs, with titles such as “Christmas Conga (Jungle Bells), “Crummy Christmas Tree” and “Christmas Tears,” have the kind of kooky lyrics we’ve come to expect from Schneider. There are also plenty of opportunities for dancing on “Santa’s Disco,” “Santa Je T’aime” and the Cerrone-like “Teddy and Betty Yeti.”

Dar Williams appears at 7:30 p.m., Oct. 27, at the Barrymore Theatre, 2090 Atwood Ave., Madison. Call 608-241-8864 or go to barrymorelive.com. – Photo: Courtesy

When singer/songwriter Dar Williams periodically comes out, it’s to remind her LGBT fans that she’s heterosexual. Williams married college friend Michael Robinson in 2002 and had a son, Stephen Gray Robinson, in 2004. But her sexual orientation doesn’t limit her abilities to write songs about gender-identification issues or reach out and touch a community she considers one of the cornerstones of her musical career.

“Finishing the Hat: Collected Lyrics (1954-1981) With Attendant Comments, Principles, Heresies, Grudges, Whines and Anec-dotes” by Stephen Sondheim (Alfred A. Knopf., 445 pps., $39.95)

Hearing Stephen Sondheim interviewed just feet away from me was completely unplanned. During my annual trek to Ravinia to see “Sunday in the Park with George,” a voice came over the loudspeaker and announced that Sondheim would be interviewed on the main stage in 10 minutes, along with James Lapine, who directed a number of Sondheim shows.

Ariel Aparicio says LOGO has “really gotten my name out there.” – Photo: Courtesy

A modern-day gay Renaissance man, Ariel Aparicio had 2009’s third most requested video – “Pretty In Pink” – on the LGBT cable network LOGO. The same year he released the EP “The Bedroom Tapes” (arielaparicio.com).

The Right Now performs on Nov. 19 in Milwaukee at Club Garibaldi, 2501 S. Superior, and on Nov. 20 in Madison at The Frequency, 121 W. Main.

The Right Now

On their debut album “Carry Me Home” (therightnow.com), The Right Now tosses its fedora into the retro-soul revival ring. First-rate belter Stefanie Berecz is a wonder to behold on sizzling tunes, including “You Will Know,” “I’ll Get Down” and “Before I Know Your Name.” Even when she drifts dangerously close to Mariah Carey territory, as she does on “I Could Really Hold On,” she is never less than compelling.

Oasis, Time Flies...

Oasis

Blur, Oasis’s greatest rivals during the 1990s, has already released two double-disc hits compilations. With the double-disc “Time Flies…1994-2009”, a 27-track singles collection (Big Brother/Columbia), Oasis catches up with Blur. Although not in chronological order, the anthology definitely strikes the right chords, with essential cuts from the band’s superb first two albums, such as “Supersonic,” “Live Forever” and “Wonderwall.” The rest of the set celebrates both the sensitive (“Stop Crying Your Heart Out,” “Champagne Supernova”) and raucous (“D’You Know What I Mean,” “Cigarettes & Alcohol”) sides of the brawling Gallagher brothers.