Stuff we Like #84: Jay Brannan

Scott's in the house with this week's SWL - this one sort of fell into his lap...

Once a month, the giant Stuff We Like hand turns around and points to me, and I have to decide which of the many things I like is the one to get shared this time around.

This week, I had NO IDEA what to write about. I've done Jelly Bellies, my distant relative Elizabeth Coatsworth, Robotech, and the Italian language. What's left?

Then, like a star from heaven, one of my favorite gay singers appeared in my inbox with a new album.

I first ran across Jay Brannan when I saw a video for his song "Your Body's a Temple" on VH1. Remember when music video channels used to play music videos? I fell in love with the sensuality of it, and tracked down the album (yeah, this was pre-Shazam too). I got his album, and it blew me away. Especially "Housewife":

Two bodies pressed together
Two boys are falling hard
The smell of sweat and leather
A kinky greeting card

Crazy about each other
We both got fucked up pasts
But when we are together
We have a fucking blast

I want to be a housewife
What's so wrong with that
I want to be a housewife, yeah
And that's just where I'm at

Jay is unapologetically gay, and his songs reflect that. Even when they are ugly, they are beautiful.

​And so we come to his new album, New York, New York. And no, it's not a bunch of show tunes.
​

This new compilation of five songs that came out Monday continues his amazing run of songs. In particular, Desert Roses pulled me in with its rich lyrics and haunting melody, one of Brannan's specialties.

Imperfect Lover also got me. What I love about Jay, well, among many other things, is that he readily admits he's flawed. It's part of what makes him such an amazing artist.

In the first track of the new album, he says "I've said all that I have to say, and I believe in what I done... and I'm gonna burn this damn guitar."

Don't you dare, Jay. We need singer songwriters like you, and I hope to hear much more from you in the future.

You can get the CD here:

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/jaybrannan6 (Jay gets the most money from this one)

or from iTunes:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/jay-brannan/id205753505