So yesterday I was scanning the used racks of the friendly neighborhood reckid store and this song was playing. At first I was merely intrigued. It sounded like some Bryan Ferry solo album that I probably already sold, but then it got more interesting... started to sound like Bryan Ferry bumplanked by Jobriath in Motown. I had to ask who it was. ("What's that playing?", by the way, is no longer a simple request. The store uses one of those 200 CD players set on random.)

Anyway, after some searching I discovered it was Antony and the Johnsons. I snagged the only copy of I Am A Bird Now in the store, got it home, and have since noticed that guest musicians include Rufus Wainright, Devendra Banhart, Boy George (!), and Lou Reed. So what's the deal? Is this some well-known act that's failed to register in my consciousness? Why have I never heard of this?

[img][200:200]http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000777J2S.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg[/img]

BTW: it's pretty damn good, in a mordant queer cabaret sorta way. RIYL: Jobriath, Bryan Ferry, Klaus Nomi, Nina Simone, Paul Morrissey flicks.

This sounds likes something I might be into, knowing also that they're playing in town shortly. All I know is that they have a track on that glorious Golden Apples of the Sun comp.

http://obner.org/bb/viewtopic.php?t=343 ... y+johnsons

funny this was posted just a couple of days ago. before that i'd never heard anyone mention him/them

Ah, one of them blind "this" links. I never click on those.

We've had a number of peeps coming into the store asking about this. First there was just the single... but I think the album has been out since a little before X-mas. It is quite interesting sounding. Not sure exactly how else to describe it.

I do believe that's him on the cover.

yeah i downloaded it. not my thing though.

According to the liner notes, it's a photograph taken by Peter Hujar in 1974 of Candy Darling on her deathbed.

my bad

There's a little extra background information in this Pitchfork review.

Picked this up at lunch today with the new Six Organs, 10 year anniversary edition of the Holy Bible by Manic Street Preachers, and a used copy of Go! Team.

Haven't got to this one yet, but am excited to. A little phad thai as well... one of my better lunch breaks in recent memory.

has anyone else tried to get into this?

i've got a few tracks of of it on the ipod. to be honest i haven't really given it a fair shot. but then if i liked it right away i would've.

I downloaded it yesterday from emusic but haven't gotten around to listening to it yet.

np: Isaac Hayes "Hot Buttered Soul"

It took me a while, but I've come to like it a lot. Initially it was kind of tough with the operatic vocals and the hard-to-relate-to subject matter, but after a few listens the melodies really start to stick with you. It's really good.

i tried. i've heard two songs -- the single and "fistful of love" (i think). i liked 'em both, but not enough to explore further.

Its fucking great- they were mind blowing live as well.

first time i heard it, i liked it a lot.
second time, i hated it.
i'm scared to try again.

yeah, i've got it and i've been giving it a fair shot but i'm just not into it.

i think this album is fucking fantastic....i've been listening to it at least once a day since i got it

that cover really disturbs me.

same here. tried a few times late at night in headphones, and it's just not doing much for me.

Dalen and Chase agreeing on something? I think I may have to flush my toliets to see which way the water swirls.

np: Teenage Fanclub & Jad Fair "Words of Wisdom & Hope"

anyway its one of my favorites this year.

so was it a slow grower or was there just a moment where it all clicked at once for you? because i can tell that there's something there that maybe could grab me, or at the very least i can see where other people like it, but while i'm not trying to overcomplicate things i feel like i'm missing something.

i think we've even agreed on the duke spirit and [gasp] quasimoto.