Search - The Flirtations :: Live: Out on the Road

Carol H. from TAMPA, FL
Reviewed on 5/26/2007...

This copy was released in 1992.

Great When They're Straight

acnoth | Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada | 07/04/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The Flirtations are a phenomenal acappella offering. Their harmonies are virtually flawless, and that flawlessness and timing become even more remarkable when you realise that this is a live CD and not a studio offering of many takes. The Flirtations are also a gay group, which does not mean that they're a group comprised of gay singers, but instead means that they are gay men who sing songs deliberately geared towards the gay and lesbian community. That being said, many of their songs are well worth listening by those who are "homosexually challenged." Tracks such as "Living in Wartime," "My Buddy / I'll Be Seeing You," and "Something Inside So Strong" may be aimed at a gay audience, but their power (both in the singing and in the lyrics) can well be appreciated by any listener. Unfortunately, I did not find this true of all their tracks. "Mister Sandman" and "Boy from New York City" are both so far over the top (especially the latter) that I ultimately do not find them enjoyable. I should make some allowance for the fact that this is a live CD and that they were playing to an appreciative live audience. Perhaps it's because I simply don't get the jokes, but I found that I preferred their more straight up (hence the title of this review) renderings. Finally, I found the spoken "One of Us" portion to be very moving, even if it sort of becomes less surprising/shocking upon repeated listenings."

Great when I'm straight!

artdreams | 11/04/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"These guys are amazing. The musicianship, timing, harmonies, it's all there. Yes, they're playing live to a primarily gay audience, but I still appreciate the humor, and definitely the angst. Everything Possible brought me to tears as my daughters went off to college. Listen to the clips. If you like what you hear, you'll love the album."