Editor’s Note: The Albumism staff has selected what we believe to be 50 Essential Albums by LGBTQ Artists, representing a varied cross-section of genres, styles and time periods. Considering that the qualifier “LGBTQ” can often be open to various interpretations, for the purposes of this particular list, we have defined an artist as LGBTQ if he, she or they have ever publicly identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and/or queer. Moreover, albums by groups have been included in the list if any of their members fit the aforementioned criteria, even if some members do not.
Click “Next Album” below to explore each album or for easier navigation, view the full introduction & album index here.
MIKA | No Place In Heaven
Republic/Casablanca (2015)
Selected by Quentin Harrison
Recognized as a rare talent with his inaugural album Life in Cartoon Motion (2007), MIKA’s Technicolor pop grew even more sonically elaborate and lyrically intense on The Boy Who Knew Too Much (2009) and The Origin of Love (2012)—his latest record No Place In Heaven (2015) has left fans wanting more.
Handsome, humorous and reflective, No Place In Heaven possesses a striking sense of confidence and sensitivity, traits not always balanced succinctly on one album. As a writer and a singer, MIKA has assuredly set his own standard with his fourth record and that only puts (and keeps) him in competition with himself moving forward.
LISTEN: