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\line{\seventeenpointroman Antirandom Music\hfil\tenpointsanserif Apr 92}
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{\tenpointconcreteroman\bf SIDE A:} {\it Jimmy Sommerville} performed�
in {\smc Bronski Beat} (now defunct) and {\smc The Communards}. I hate�
disco. He does disco. I love his music. Go figure. He is ``out'' and�
always supports the people around him. He is an asset to the planet.�
Songs: {\it Disenchanted; Small town boy; There's more to love than�
`boy meets girl'; So cold the night}. {\smc The Smiths}, with lead�
singer Morrissey, is one of the best gay-identified pop bands ever,�
even though he refuses to say ``I am gay'', etc. If you ever get a�
chance to go to one of their shows, take it. A show in Oakland about 5�
years ago was amazingly cool open and friendly. High school kids�
dancing together, boy/boy/girl/girl/etc. At least here in the Bay�
Area, which might be different than out there. Songs: {\it How soon is�
now?; What difference does it make?} These songs are from 1985 or so;�
their newer stuff is less ``rock''. {\smc The Passage} is a band from�
the early eighties' ``new wave''. I only have this song of theirs {\it�
X-O-Y-O}, on a compilation from 1982. Too bad! {\smc The Cure} is�
great, and Robert Smith, the lead singer, is gay and very talented.�
Songs: {\it In between days; Close to me; Push}. {\smc Red Emma} is a�
girl band from DC, on a record called {\smc The State of the Union}�
compilation LP by POSITIVE FORCE; a benefit record for the DC Homeless�
Coalition. Song: {\it Candle}. Sad but beautiful. Most everyone�
involved with POSITIVE FORCE is not gay, but they are totally cool.�
Our household knows some of them, and my roommate Donna just moved�
there -- boo hoo, we miss her! {\smc Red Emma} considered a punk band,�
for your information.

{\tenpointconcreteroman\bf SIDE B:} {\smc Cabal}, a gay-punk band from�
Massachusetts, on the same record as the next band (one each�
side). Sloppy, fun, homemade punk music. Who needs to know how to�
play!? Not much of the punk world is very friendly to gay punks�
(though its pretty OK here) so these guys have even more respect from�
me (lyrics are nearly unintelligible, typical of punk bands\dots)�
Song: {\it Open the door}. {\smc Angry Kids}, same record. Annoyingly,�
the damn record skips. Oh well. More bad but fun and homemade music.�
Song: {\it A lie}. Another song by {\smc The Smiths}, an EP before�
they released an album. Yes, most of their songs are sad. Maybe a�
surprise (maybe not) {\smc Metallica} next. These guys are amazingly�
cool. They are not your typical metal band. They are not sexist pigs.�
They pack their CDs with 70 minutes of music, they don't have any hate�
songs, and I love them for making such a cool non-gender-specific�
song. They don't do ``oooh baby'' type junk at all. Songs: {\it�
Nothing else matters; Thee unforgiven}. I debated whether I should put�
{\smc Coil} on this tape for you, or not. They are kinda scary and�
very intense. There is no one else like them. They are technically�
extremely proficient and musically diverse, and lyrically and�
emotionally threatening. They push limits no one else goes near. It�
may bother you. I thought I should at least give you a sample of the�
range of music out there. They are I guess rather extreme, but in a�
direction no one else goes. Songs: {\it Restless day; Godhead ==�
deathhead; Titan arch; Window pane (last 1:06 cut off)}. They are my�
favorite band. 

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