Antony and the Johnsons

Date published: February 20, 2009

The music from this group continues to amaze me. I was first informed about their music from my friend Soco, but at the time I don't remember if I really liked it or not. Apparently their first album was released in the UK in 1998, but it didn't receive it's big acclaim until it's second American re-release in 2004 (the first was in 2000). I've heard their music everywhere this year. It's in the great film V for Vendetta; it's in the Tim Robbins film The Secret Life of Words (well at least it's in the trailer); I even heard Antony on the radio in Old Navy (he was singing lead vocals for a song called Blind by Hercules and Love Affair). Lou Reed, Boy George, and Rufus Wainwright have even lent their voices and music to some songs. They even covered the David Lynch/Angelo Badalementi song Mysteries of Love (which was in the film Blue Velvet).

It's hard to even describe their music. I almost want to say "his" music, just because this music really is made so great from Antony's vocals. He sort of reminds me of Sinead O'Connor because his music sounds so heartwrenching at times. Somewhere online it was called funereal-paced chamber pop about mortality, sibling rivalry, and transgenderism. I think that fits the bill quite well. Antony himself is quite androgenous, in sort of that David Bowie/Annie Lennox way. And just like Annie Lennox, he can take a song and make it all his own. Case and point, I present two videos, one for a cover of Leonard Cohen's If It Be Your Will (unfortunately it's from a documentary, so it's interrupted by a voice over), and the other for Beyonce's Crazy in Love taken from one of his concerts. It's his own music that is so great though, so here are a few video links to help you understand who he is, in all his awkward glory: Hope there's Someone, Bird Gerhl, You Are My Sister (featuring Boy George).

In January, he released his third studio album, and I love it just as much as his other work. I'm telling you, not only do I have all his albums, but I've got his EPs and even albums that just feature him on a few songs. Yes folks, I'm a bit obsessed. Here's one more video, this one is from his most recent album: Epilepsy Is Dancing video.