Just when you think David Byrne couldn’t get any more out there, he pairs up with Fatboy Slim to produce a conceptual double-album about Imelda Marcos, the shoe-loving widow of the Philippines’ dictator, who was no stranger to the dance clubs. Structured like a four-act musical, leading up to Marcos’ fated fall, noted female musicians like Santigold, St. Vincent and Martha Wainwright take the lead parts. Those who shun 1970s disco beats, funk or Broadway belters should avoid this. But for those who love a big finish and aren’t picky about lyrics, Florence Welch from Florence and the Machine gives it her stage-best in the title track, while Tori Amos and Cyndi Lauper blow glitter all over the disco ballad “Why Don’t You Love Me.” A surprisingly humane tribute, wrapped in fashionable drama, for a woman best known as the Iron Butterfly.
This article appears in Apr 29 – May 5, 2010.