ANTONY AND THE JOHNSONS
I Am A Bird Now (Secretly Canadian)
Reviewed by John Sekerka

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This one cleared the office, so you knew it would fall into these hands. Who else would welcome aural pain with such enthusiasm? Sure there's a soaring moment where Antony goes a little berserk, channeling some inner spirit as he moans in tongues and bashes aimlessly on the piano, and methinks he is indeed trying to clear the room. But alas there is payoff in persistence, and the music is obviously not meant for the casual listener. For the most part this is sparse, stark and beautiful voice and piano ballads that rekindle the ghosts of father and son Buckley (Tim and Jeff, read all about 'em). Antony (where's the last name - we need a last name for cripes sakes!) has the golden crackle in his throat and an innate musical gift to make a dent in the biz. Never mind that he looks like a dolled up Boy George and sings about growing up to be a beautiful woman; in this day and age, those are clever marketing strategies.

© 2005 - John Sekerka