When Pansy Division formed in 1993, they were the only game in town, if quirky, lo-fi queer punk was your bag. Band founder and songwriter Jon Ginoli had a knack for writing riffy, three-chord songs that gave clever rhyming structure to all forms of fornicatory declamation (as suggested by singles "Touch My Joe Camel" and "James Bondage"). If you were expecting more of the same, you might be ...
The Hidden Cameras, like the Polyphonic Spree, specialize in swooning pop. The songs on HC's debut album revolve around communal living, gay love, and religious imagery. Singer/guitarist Joel Gibb's 15-member band (some of whom don little more than balaclavas when playing live) overcome possible charges that they're a novelty act thanks to Gibb’s knack of creating expansive, uplifting songs ...