PERPETUAL CHANGE — CD Review

HOUSE OF JOY by Roger Anthony Yolanda Mapes

CD review

Starting with this first installment of Perpetual Change for the new year, we’re going to post the occasional CD review. With all the great music being released by the many talented artists within the GLB and trans music communities, it would be a shame not to help promote even in a small way.

Roger Mapes, a.k.a Yolanda, has been featured in this column several times-August 2001, June 2003, in a two part series August 2009, and as part of the Abbalicious review in last month’s Transvocalizers, our companion column. Last fall, with the release of his new project, House Of Joy, his career has received a shot of creative adrenaline.

“For ten years I played, recorded and toured with my indie/alt/cult/jazz/rock/pop band called Yolanda and The Plastic Family,” Mapes said. “I decided to take my music in a different direction with House Of Joy.

“I am originally from Muscle Shoals, Alabama, and my first bands were bluegrass/gospel/folk, and Southern rock. I have now returned to those roots.”

One listen to House Of Joy and you will definitely hear all of those elements — and more. Produced by Robert Urban, the project’s 11 tracks stay true to that statement, with one exception.

The CD opens with I Wanna Know, followed by Mapes tribute to his hometown, Muscle Shoals. Both are pure Southern rock.

We Are Angels, the next track, is a song Mapes has gotten a lot of mileage out of. Along with the song Freedom, both tracks were choosen for inclusion on the National Equality March CD compilation issued last year. Angels can also be found in two different versions-acoustic and a full band production-on Mapes 1999 release Welcome To Yolandaworld. The House Of Joy version is the best produced of all versions and has a real bluegrass/country feel.

The other dominant Southern rock tunes are Nice Girl (“…it doesn’t pay to be a nice girl,” great lyric line); A Man Ain’t Supposed To Cry (perhaps the heaviest tune on the album); and, The Greatest Love.

Mapes provides one cover, 1967’s Ode To Billy Joe by Bobbie Gentry. Mapes’ version is heavy on acoustic guitar, and (to me at least) seems to give the song a much darker feeling than the original ever had.

The aforementioned Freedom, yet another Southern rock tune, has a definite anthem feel. While the song has a prominent transgender theme by discussing Brandon Teena, it doesn’t belabor the fact which would make it almost unlistenable by the end. The message, coupled with Urban’s excellent production, should definitely have an impact from its inclusion on the Equality CD.

Control Queen, which could be any self-respecting drag queen’s theme song, is one of the few laid back tunes on the project. Done with excellent piano and acoustic guitar, it pretty much drives home the mantra of “I am a control queen/and everything has got to be my way.”  (Gee, I’ve never met anyone like that — not in our community.)

My personal favorite track, Legend, is also the most standout track on the CD. The playing is superb, especially the flute work of Robert Urban, which gives the song a real Jethro Tull feel in the bridge section.

The musical accompaniment for Legend provides a pad for a song about loneliness. However, the reason I regard this as the album’s standout track is only partly because of the aforementioned musicianship. Lyrics such as “in my living room/where all my dreams come true”, and “…I am a legend in my own mind…” make it very apparent that some things in life are universal and truly experienced by all.

House Of Joy closes with a bonus track, Intimacy, which is definitely techno, and from Mapes Plastic Family days. Compare this track to the rest of the album. I don’t know if Mapes would agree with this, but his new direction is light years beyond the Plastic Family material.

His songwriting and vocal prowers have grown. In a musical landscape where unintelligible rap and barking band vocals have practically become the norm, it’s refreshing to hear an excellent singer who actually has something to say.

Mapes has also known and worked with Robert Urban for many years, and their collaboration on House Of Joy is evidence of the professional trust and respect they obviously have for one another. A good producer doesn’t oveshadow his musician client, but rather knows how to create an environment in the recording studio that allows the artist to fully express themselves. Urban’s production isn’t overbearing, but instead compliments Mapes’ voice and songwriting perfectly. Working together, Urban and Mapes are a real hand-in-glove fit.

Besides Mapes on lead vocals and acoustic guitar, Urban also plays guitar, flute, Hammond organ, piano, bass, bottleneck slide, as well as arranging horns, strings, the choir, and providing backing vocals. Other musicians include Steven Sullivan, bass; Tom O’Neill, organ, synths, keys, bass, sound fx, and music for Intimacy; Mark Vollenweider, drums and percussion; Glen Munoz, blues harp; and Maxine, mandolin.

One thing you’ll notice on the cd cover is that it’s credited to Roger Anthony Yolanda Mapes. During last fall’s CD release party for the project, Mapes found something out. “Yolanda lives!” he said. “It’s so funny. I was not as ready as I thought to put Yolanda away for good. She’s back. I’m out and about as Roger Anthony Yolanda Mapes now.”

Late Breaking News: In an email update, Mapes also mentioned that he has enrolled in One Spirit Interfaith Seminary in New York City. He will also be appearing at the Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 West 42nd (between 9th and 10th), New York, NY, on January 22nd. Cover is $15. (www.beechmantheatre.com) Mapes is also nominated for a 2009 L.A. Music Award for his song Love Divine. Check out www.rogermapes.com. Click on his photo to get to the main site. From there, you can access his music, artwork, and performance art. There are also links to reverbnation.com, facebook, linkedin, myspace.com,and twitter.)

ALSO THIS MONTH…

Jennifer Leitham has an interview on AfterEllen.com. She is the subject of a documentary entitled “I Stand Corrected”, produced and directed by Andrea Meyerson.

Beth Isbell, featured in our companion column Transvocalizers, has several new music videos posted on YouTube. Couple of them, such as “A Father’s Love Will Never Fail” and “Merry Christmas Baby” are holiday fare, but we didn’t get the post for this in time for the December deadline. Sorry. Anyway, check out her extensive video presence while you’re on YouTube. She also has videos on reverbnation.com and www.mytexasmusic.com

Calpernia Addams has sent links to several holiday videos on YouTube. One in particular, Calpernia versus Swedish Candy, is quite long (33 minutes and something…), but entertaining in only a way Cal can be.

Nick Granato, who was mentioned in this column last year as part of our Internet Radio series, will be touring in 2010 in support of his new project, “In Real Life”. There have been some changes on the schedule, so check out www.nickgranato.com for details.

Category: Music