Queen of Denmark

John Grant used to front the Texas band The Czars, and after The Czars handed in their scepters (sorry), Grant hooked up with the folk-rock outfit Midlake. Queen of Denmark, his first solo album, is actually a collaboration with Midlake. It seems to be a serendipitous event. Grant's vast talents ripple across various pianos and keyboards, matching up with Midlake's woodwinds and guitars, plus guest musicians on strings, trombone, and other instruments. The result is an elegant, smart, and deeply touching affair. Grant's voice (personal, rich, and easy to connect with) is up front in the mix, spotlighting evocative lyrics about childhood, being gay, religion, addiction, and everything in between. His timbre ranges from an occasional Tim/Jeff Buckley–like sensuality ("Caramel") to a dryly ironic tone similar to John Linnell of They Might Be Giants. Most of the time, however, Grant's sometimes-pained, often-wry lyrics are delivered with a genteel poke and a prod, in a voice uniquely his. He delivers painful sentiments with the calm of a man who overcame his self-doubt, and then some.