Jobriath

Four years before Meatloaf even seen a bat from hell, Jobriath was making interesting pop/rock with a theatrical flare. These self-written songs are just ripe to be in a top-notch Broadway musical, especially "Blow Away", "Heartbeat" and "Movie Queen". Detailed liner notes on the first known openly gay rock star signed to a major label are fascinating, while the credits lists such top-notch musicians as John Paul Jones (of Lead Zepplin), Peter Frampton and future disco producer Gregg Diamond (Andre True`s "More More More"). Although Jobriath has his own uniqueness, the best way to describe his singing style is David Bowie + Elton John + Meatloaf (although he came before Mr.Loaf). "4 1/2 stars... Musically, Jobriath does sound familiar (this is glam rock, after all); David Bowie is the clear touchstone, and there are elements of the New York Dolls, Brian Eno, and T. Rex scattered throughout as well. But even if the basic sound is not a surprise, Jobriath does bring a personal vision to this music, escalating Bowie`s theatricality to hysterical heights in both sense of the words. This is as theatrical as rock ever got, balancing the heavy guitars and boogie with heavy doses of vaudeville and show tunes. This sound supports Jobriath`s high, keening voice singing campy, cinematic tales of love, sex, outer space, and movie stars. Bowie tried to be an alien rock star with Ziggy Stardust, but Jobriath actually seems like an alien, both in his manner and his outlook, and that`s what makes his music so fascinating, unique, and weirdly vibrant decades after it was recorded. Simply put, this is what all the legends of glam rock are about -- grandiose and defiantly silly, yet sexy and darkly menacing all at the same time. Jobriath may have been dismissed at the time, but Lonely Planet Boy proves he was a man out of time, a visionary who couldn`t be understood even in the heady heights of glam in the early `70s. "-AMG

Listen - mp3

Listen - mp3

Listen - mp3