Review:

Mark Weigle: "SoulSex (Wrestling The Angel / Versatile)" (March 2005)

By John Frame 25^th March 2005

Mark Weigle www.markweigle.com These comments were also posted at: http://cdbaby.com/cd/markweigle5 The best way to enjoy a Mark Weigle CD is to sleep with it for a few nights – drifting off after taking in poignant and beautiful music and waking up occasionally to amazing stories in song. "Inspirational" is too small a word - but "highly original and thoroughly entertaining" are right on the money. “SoulSex” is another superb sounding recording – continuing the Mark’s own high standard of attention to detail in arrangement and production - comparable in finesse to fellow gay songsmith and soundcraftsman, Rufus Wainwright. "How I See You" is a fine start and acts as an introduction to the personal and introspective nature of the rest of the songs on CD1 “Wrestling The Angel”. Nothing is held back – the dialogue is 100% honest. For example: "And I Love Horses" is just about the most ideal ode to what a gay man would really love about country life. “Why Not Fly” deals with suicide by challenging us to choose a self-empowered, purposeful life instead. Mark gives us a range of songs that make an ideal resource for a gay radio program – but as a man of the real world he does not limit himself to “gay” topics. “Blatant and beautiful” could describe many tracks on “SoulSex” – including the title track. On CD2 “Versatile”, Mark relives his youthful heavy metal band obsession with Judas Priest (he always knew that Rob Halford just had to be gay) - we’re taken for a high velocity pillion ride, driven by Mark’s very butch voice, in “Desert Plains”. It’s every bit as powerful as the original. SoulSex is 28 tracks of proudly gay, life-shaking entertainment. Hear samples from each Mark Weigle CD at http://www.cdbaby.com/group/markweigle