DJ Ricardo! Presents

(Ultra)

OK, I admit that when I read that the album was by Ultra Records, I was immediately biased. Ultra Records, the biggest straight dance label in the country, releasing a gay CD? Sure, their N.Y.C. Underground Party Vol. 3 is the country’s all-time best-selling DJ mix compilation, but the gay world already has its own dance labels, Masterbeat and Centaur. Do we really need a straight dance label invading gay territory? The answer is yes. Those heteros at Ultra prove they rule all dance music subcultures, as this album kicks bootay.

Out. Anthems is a continuous mix by DJ Ricardo!, a virtual unknown gay DJ now but obviously someone we’ll be hearing from more this year and in the future. True to its name, the album is packed with some of the best gay anthems, including three number-one dance radio singles: Freemasons’ “Watchin’,” David Morales’ “How Would U Feel” and Jonathan Peters’ “All This Time.”

Ultra entering into the dance mix may just be the kick in the pants the gay dance labels need. What was Centaur thinking with that tediously monotonous Gay Days CD? Blah. Ultra understands the importance of ear and eye candy. The cover of Out. Anthems is as delicious as the beats in the album.

Danielle Bollinger

(EsNtion)

Danielle Bollinger is leading the pack of new dance floor divas. Gone are the dark, screaming divas of yesterday. Today, it’s all about happy divas pushing their fun beats. When The Broken Hearted Love Again may not sound like a festive, all-out romp, but Danielle’s powerful vocals and catchy melodies will get your feet moving and backside shaking. The title track is a great tune, but “Kiss The Sky” is the standout single on the album. It’s already a dance radio favorite and, if rumors are to be believed, has made Danielle the dance music darling of music industry bigwigs. Word is her single “You’ll Always Have Me” is currently undergoing the Junior Vasquez treatment. If Vasquez is jumping on the Bollinger train, this young girl from Michigan is going places.

Various Artists

(RCA/Arista/J Records)

Club music fans rejoice. The RCA Music Group is the first major label to release its classic dance mixes to the mass-market consumer. With its rich history in dance music, the label is presenting out-of-print and never-before-released mixes of the greatest dance tracks of all time by the biggest names in music: Kelly Clarkson, Christina Aguilera and Alicia Keyes, as well as ’70s classics like Vickie Sue Robinson’s “Turn The Beat Around” and ’80s gems from Evelyn Champagne King, Taylor Dayne and the Eurythmics. Many of the remixes are by gay DJ faves like Peter Rauhofer, Junior Vasquez and local cutie Joe Bermudez. This is what club music fans have been begging for. And just like the wait, these beats are ovah! Visit www.dancevault.com for more details.