Chris Azzopardi
Annie Lennox Speaks Out
Photo: Mike Owen Legendary status, earned through over three decades in the music business, hasn't changed Annie Lennox. Despite being a global superstar, first making an impression as part of the Eurythmics in the '80s before going solo, she's [...]
Hear Me Out... for the Holidays: Mariah's holiday spirit carries sequel. Plus: Indigo Girls and 'Glee'
Mariah Carey, 'Merry Christmas II You' Sequels usually suck, but Mariah Carey's not going down with that sleigh on her cleverly titled offshoot to her "Merry Christmas" behemoth. That 16-year-old album spawned "All I Want for Christmas is You," a [...]
Simply Cher
They don't make 'em like Cher anymore. The superdiva, and queen of all gay icons, has been able to successfully pull off singing and acting throughout her nearly 50-year career – and she does both in "Burlesque," her long-awaited return to the big [...]
Hear Me Out: Taylor Swift has her turn to 'Speak.' Plus: Norah Jones does duets album
Taylor Swift, 'Speak Now' Taylor Swift can't sing unless she's studio-bound, but that never stopped Britney Spears from world domination. Swift cranks out the radio-hogging hits much like her salacious pop-equal – not to say they're one in the [...]
It Takes a Village
Not many bands can say people still get excited over their decades-old hit and arm-spell it, but Village People's "YMCA" is inked into the musical lexicon like a tattoo. The sextet, who stormed the scene in the '70s with their flamboyant style and [...]
Whoa, Nelly!
Like a bird is exactly how Nelly Furtado's career has unfurled in the 10 years since she dropped her debut, "Whoa, Nelly!" The Canadian chanteuse was on top of the world, scoring a Grammy for the album's breakthrough single, "I'm Like a Bird," [...]
Getting to Know Pamela Means
Curve Magazine has praised Pamela Means as "one of the fiercest guitar players and politically-rooted songwriters in the music industry today" – and ain't that the truth. The Brooklyn-based, internationally touring musician performs in East Lansing [...]
Hear Me Out: Sugarland sucks country out of fourth album. Plus: Paula Cole does the '90s
Sugarland, 'The Incredible Machine' Having already bent country music during their glorious hit-making, genre-shaking run, change seemed inevitable for power-duo Sugarland's fourth album. And on the slick "The Incredible Machine," the restless [...]
Dark Dark Dark... and queer
Twin Cities band Dark Dark Dark performs in Detroit on Oct. 27. Photo: Todd Seelie Dark Dark Dark 8 p.m. Oct. 27 The Bakery Loft 4300 W. Vernor Highway, Detroit http://www.brightbrightbright.com You're not the only one reading this, because so is [...]
Pointer Sisters 'Jump' to Detroit
The Pointer Sisters: Sadako, Ruth and Anita The Pointer Sisters 8 p.m. Oct. 28 Sound Board at MotorCity Casino Hotel 2901 Grand River Ave., Detroit http://www.motorcitycasino.com So excited and just can't hide it? Well, no wonder: The Pointer [...]
Hear Me Out: Legends
Elton John and Leon Russell, 'The Union' In his illustrious four-decade career, Elton John's done it all: cut classics, inspired generations of performers and been one of the greatest gay icons ever. For so long, though, the legend's admiration for [...]
DVD reviews: 'Glee,' 'Modern Family'
'Modern Family: The Complete First Season' (Blu-ray, $59.99; DVD, $49.98) So much of "Modern Family" is fall-on-the-floor funny because, come on, who doesn't love families crazier than our own? Since making a buzzy landing last year on ABC (the [...]