Ingénue

33⅓ Main Series #178

by Joanna McNaney Stein

Canadian performer k.d. lang broke new ground in the 1980s by blending the genres of punk and country, dubbed “cowpunk,” with her band, the Reclines. Despite Grammy-award-winning recordings and frequent North American TV spots, mainstream country radio excluded lang from airplay due to her unconventional gender presentation and perceived sexuality. Not until lang's 1992 pop album Ingénue , the release of the single “Constant Craving,” and her subsequent coming out in The Advocate did lang earn critical acclaim worldwide.

The book addresses lang's rise to fame after switching genres, the successful reinvention of her sound and persona, and how she found herself immersed in the whirlwind of MTV and the "lesbian chic" aesthetic of 1990s pop culture. As an LGBTQ author, Joanna McNaney Stein discusses her adolescence and sexual development by weaving in short narrative prose pieces with her analysis of lang and Ingénue. Also included are interviews with lang's musical Ingénue co-writer Ben Mink, drummer Fred Eltringham, pianist Daniel Clarke, and singer-songwriter Laura Veirs.

Genres: Music

128 pages, Paperback

First published November 2, 2023

Reviews

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I read a 33 1/3 book, I make sure I have the album playing in the background. This was my first time hearing Ingénue and it was an awful first listen - that doesn't necessarily mean the album is bad but I need more time for it to sink in.
The volume is a more traditional one - we get a short summary of k.d. Lang's career, then a track by track analysis of the album then some interviews from artists who collaborated with Lang.

What makes the book stand out is that the author incorporates her coming out with Lang's - it adds a personal touch to an already strong read.

[Hayden Merrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic, immersive read for any lover of music, music writing, and LGBTQ+ stories. The author’s tone is wonderful and her autobiographical snippets are just rich and endearing—I could have read another book of these. There are a few typos that the editor should have caught, but this doesn’t detract from how well written and researched this is.

[Rich · Rating 4 out of 5]

kd lang, Canadian, cow punk turned torch singer, barefoot on stage, incomparable voice, reincarnation of Patsy Cline, gay icon. Funny as all get out in interviews (look up her appearance on Arsenio). I think Black Coffee was the first one that i heard but Down to My Last Cigarette is the one that blows me away, with the steel guitar. This one was full of a little of great detours.

[Tyler Roland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though I know little about lang, I discovered the Ingenue record after hearing of this book (a friend wrote it). A couple of tunes stuck out to me, including the (described here as 'campy’) track "Miss Chatelaine." Oh well. I'm glad this text told me a little more about the LGBTQ+ trailblazer, including her fascination with Patsy Cline, and the personal stamp Stein put on things was nice. As the writer of a 33 1/3 draft (that ultimately didn't get the nod), I read this to see how the form should be tackled. Mission accomplished there.

[Nathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the set up of the book...a little bit of autobiography, some exploration of the making/moment...then delved into track by track breakdown, though not overly indulgent. Perhaps weakened in Part 3, as would have liked a little bit more reflection/info in that section, but the set-up and writing style expressed control and personality, making Ingenue seem like a vital record in your collection...thus mission accomplished.