Published on Mar 18, 2004
OK, I admit it. I’ve become a
Queer Eye For The Straight Guy junkie. I’ve started using
moisturizer. I pay attention to my nails. I’ve redone some of my
wardrobe. I’m either comfortable enough in my masculinity to be
fabulous or else I’m in denial.
For those of you who have been living under a pop culture rock
for the last nine months or so,
Queer Eye is the hottest makeover TV show since Ronald
Reagan’s presidential campaign. Five gay men — Kyan, Carson, Jai,
Thom and Ted — come to the aid of straight men by teaching them
how to be civilized
and heterosexual. They provide help on appearance, home
decorating, manners, couture, food, wine and other fine living
accessories, mostly so the aforementioned straight men can gain
greater favor with a female of their choice.
Sounds like a TV show whose attached CD would scream “gimmick”
from twenty-seven light years away, huh? Guess what; it’s not. Fact
is,
Music From Queer Eye For The Straight Guy is a pretty
delightful compilation of cutting edge dance, techno, and pop,
suitable for playing very loud while you practice your fabulinity.
(Fabulousness? Something like that.)
Music From is a mixed bag, but don’t let that stop you. The
opening track, the theme from the TV show in a more upbeat,
hook-laden mix is infectious, and it’s still stuck in my head. From
there, it’s a wild and varied ride, through techno-remixed dance
(Kylie Minogue’s “Slow,” remixed by the Chemical Brothers), pop
(Jamelia’s “Superstar,” which is a pretty groovy listen), and a
couple of chart hits (Junior Senior’s “Move Your Feet” and Liz
Phair’s “Extraordinary” — both of which I like, and both of which
other reviewers on the DV have disliked. Just goes to show ya
.)
Those, my friends, are the more typical tracks. Even further off
the beaten path is the Edith-Piaf-goes-clubbing riff of Ingrid’s
“You Promised Me (Tu Es Foutu),” the trance beats of Prophet
Omega’s “An Area Big Enough To Do It In,” and the cap of all
weirdness, Barry Harris’ remix of Fischerspooner’s “Emerge” and
Billy Squier’s “Everybody Wants You,” resulting in the freakish
two-headed monster of “Everybody Wants You To Emerge,” which must
be heard to be believed. (Even then you may not believe it.) There
are a couple of weaker tracks — I could have done without Basement
Jaxx’ “Good Luck,” mostly because of its seventies fuzzbox-laden
vocals — but they’re the exception, rather than the rule.
For all the wild and weird fun, this is a solid, well-chosen and
well-presented smorgasbord of songs. There may be no common ground
here but attitude, but for all that it’s a really great CD. Should
your life be lacking in fabulousness, you could do a lot worse than
checking out
Music From Queer Eye For The Straight Guy.