Amanda Palmer has been working hard on her solo career, but also on some side projects, including a book of photography with artist Neil Gaiman. Stemming from the initial leftover works she had while putting together CD artwork for Who Killed Amanda Palmer, the bisexual musician decided to put together an entire book of the same name with 128 pages of images that she describes as “grotesquely beautiful” and “gory bloody” – in true Amanda Palmer fashion! The book is now available for pre-order.
Palmer has also taken time to work with students at her alma mater Lexington High School in Lexington, Massachusetts for a musical called With the Needle That Sings In Her Heart. She will be performing the original play alongside students May 7, 8 and 9 in their theater, singing songs inspired by an album by defunct indie-rock band Neutral Milk Hotel.
No one can say Amanda Palmer is a one-trick pony, that’s for sure!
Releases Reviewed
The Cliks second album, Snakehouse, got them major play on Logo and an invite to join Cyndi Lauper’s True Colors Tour for two years in a row. The band’s third, Dirty King, doesn’t stray too far from the sound and style of the first, most likely with the idea that they shouldn’t fix what’s not broken.
Dirty King, like the first album, has a few throwaway songs, but is mostly straightforward pop-rock, with singer Lucas Silviera’s voice giving the music an edge of cocky coolness. Songs like “Haunted” and “Career Suicide” give me the impression that Dirty King will be just as popular with fans of the first album, while also appealing to those who weren’t impressed the first time around.
Dirty King will come out on Tommy Boy Records on June 23.
Girl in a Coma have been through some troubles lately, including a recent run-in with the law, but they’ve managed to continue to do what they have been doing for the last few years of their lives: Working on music non-stop. One of the hardest-working and most prolific bands around, it’s probably no coincidence Joan Jett is their mentor and major support system.
The Texan trio’s new album Trio B.C. is a little less fast-paced than 2007’s Both Before I’m Gone but that does not make it any less exciting. Slow songs like “El Monte” show off the group’s multi-faceted influences, from goth rock to old school rockabilly. Stand out track “Pleasure and Pain” is also a highlight, with pop elements that are more reminiscent of the first album’s single “Say.”
Lesbian musician Sharon Isbin is an accomplished guitar player and her new album, Journey to the New World, shows that she’s still the reining queen of the strings.
The album is 29-tracks, including four Renaissance Lute Works, two English folks songs and two tracks featuring vocals from folk singer Joan Baez. Baez joins Isbin on the traditional tune, “Wayfaring Stranger,” which is one of the best on Journey, because it highlight’s Isbin’s ability to be the center of attention, while still sharing the spotlight.
If you’re not into instrumental-only type music, you can at least appreciate her collaborations with Baez, which are also piano-laden and beautifully melancholy.
News and Notes
San Francisco trio Von Iva are joining up with Minnesota girl band Sick of Sarah for the Emerald Tour beginning May 2 in Bloomington, Indiana.
The Sounds, a Swedish rock band with bisexual frontwoman Maja Ivarsson, will release their new album, Crossing the Rubicon, on June 2. They will be touring with No Doubt and on select headlining dates now through August.
Kaki King‘s joint EP with the Mountain Goats, Black Pear Tree, is now available for purchase online. Kaki was also recently remixed by the Hood Internet, who combined one of her tracks with one from Tupac.
Queer video artist K8 Hardy directed a video for JD Samson’s new band, MEN, for the single “Off Our Backs.” MEN was formerly a DJ duo featuring Samson’s former Le Tigre bandmate Joanna Fateman but has morphed into a full electro musical outfit that is now touring Europe.
The Gossip have announced a June 22 release date for their new album, Music for Men. The first single, Heavy Cross, was recently leaked on the internet.
Los Angeles queer group Mika Miko will release an 11-song CD, We Be Xuxa on May 5.
Indie noise band Ponytail, which includes out singer Molly Siegel are on a small venue tour now through this summer.
Aussie singer Sia has a new Live EP downloadable from iTunes, and is also releasing a DVD, TV is My Parent, on May 19. The DVD will feature footage from a performance at Hiro Ballroom in New York as well as several music videos and behind-the-scenes shots from tour and recording.
Queer artist Wynne Greenwood of the now defunct band Tracy and the Plastics has a new performance piece called Sister Taking A Nap that is currently showing in Seattle.
Missy Higgins appears on the song “I Love Pop Music” with Ben Lee on his new album, The Rebirth of Venus.
Tegan Quin of Tegan and Sara sings on the track “Broken Song” of former Sparta singer Jim Ward’s new EP, In the Valley on the Shores.
