Pop
Here Lies Love by David Byrne and Fatboy Slim
20/05/10 17:08
Released April 10, 2010, Nonesuch.
Reviewed by Stephanie Attebery
On David Byrne’s newest album, Here Lies Love, he teamed with Fatboy Slim to create a modern musical story about the lives of a former Philippine ruler and his wife; Imelda and Ferdinand Marcos.
The story centers around the infamous Imelda, as evidenced by the album's cover photo of the “princess,” but it's also about the people who strongly influenced Marcos’ life, such as her mother Remedios, her childhood nanny Estrella, and Ferdinand’s doomed political rival Ninoy Aquino. The songs center on various important events in their lives, such as Ferdinand's courting of Imelda, his betrayal and her triumphant rise, and the eventual political ousting of this power duo.
Byrne proclaimed the album's theme to be power and what makes the people who hold it tick. Marcos’ very public and vivacious history makes her an easy study. Byrne goes into great detail in the liner notes about how this idea evolved into a double CD “song cycle.” I found myself enjoying the songs on their own, particularly Disc 2, which is the more lively of the two.
A few of my favorites are:
Dancing Together - Sharon Jones brings her sexy R&B sound to this song about a flashy woman who is constantly the life of the party.
The Whole Man - Kate Pierson of the B-52S, brings fun, fun, fun and really transports the listener into the dance era in which Mrs. Marcos thrived. Pierson sings Imelda’s philosophies in a playful Q and A:
What Makes a Home?/ The answer is love.
What is love when its real?/ The answer is beeeaaauuutyyyy
Never So Big - Artist Sia’s lovely coffee house vocals sweeten this very sad song about a woman’s moment of desperation and doubt. It is impossible not to sing out loud. What was I thinking of?/ what am i doing here?????? wa-ooh. wa-ooh. wa-oooooh.
Solano Avenue - Nicole Atkins. Whining sorrowful rant about a bitter, slighted Estrella, who more than money, just wants to be acknowledged by the princess with whom she shared a personal history.
Why don’t You Love Me? - Beware the dynamic duo of Cyndi Lauper and Tori Amos- It is of course always nice to hear Amos’ beautiful voice, but it's even better when joined with Lauper’s raspy goth one (reminds me of Marianne Faithful). In a relentless back and forth, the two women demand to know why they have been wronged.
While Byrne is the mastermind of this project, and Fatboy Slim brings it all together, with catchy dance tracks and beats, it's the women who really rule this album. Byrne very appropriately shored up his bets when he selected such a fine choice of female artists to express the emotions of such a dynamic lady as Imelda Marcos.
This is well worth a listen!
Soldier of Love by Sade
09/03/10 09:01
Released February 9, 2010, Sony.
Reviewed by Stephanie Attebery
Finally a new Sade album! It's been nearly a decade since their last album, and though not a prolific producer, Sade has a rabidly loyal fan base that this latest album will NOT disappoint.
Sade’s music could form the soundtrack of my sexier, more stylish life. While listening to Soldier, otherwise unbearable tasks, (think housework or closing payroll), dazzle with possiblity.
A mixture of sounds ranging from raggae, jazz, and R&B are all brought smoothly together by lead vocalist Sade Adu’s inimitable voice.
A couple of my favorites from this album:
Be That Easy is so sweet and possesses an old country sound that has me imagining myself on a porch swing with a glass of cold sweet tea in hand. Bring Me Home has the vocalist negotiating a staircase of sound one eerie step at a time and you get the feeling that the steps might give out underneath the wary singer at any moment.
In In Another Time, string instruments accompany a consoling lullaby, one that could be sung by a mother to comfort a heartbroken daughter.
Soldier of Love, the title song, has a lively boot camp beat. Sade sings: “I’m at the borderline of my faith/ I’m at the hinterland of my devotion/ In the frontline of this battle of mine/ but I’m still alive
These Soldiers of Love are letting us know that Sade is still around and just as smooth and satisfying as ever. Pick up a copy.