David Byrne & Fatboy Slim

Here Lies Love (Nonesuch)

David Byrne’s in a revisionist mood and has taken on quite the whopper. Here Lies Love, his “concept” album with Norman Cook (Fatboy Slim), narrates the life of former Filipino first lady/shoe enthusiast Imelda Marcos with breezy strings, disco beats, and vocals from Tori Amos, Cyndi Lauper, Kate Pierson, and a cast of others. Not surprisingly, it feels like it should be a Broadway play instead of an unwieldy two-disc album. Marcos’ life was all luxury and color, but the songs don’t translate. Here Lies Love will play in gay clubs, but for a collaboration between forward-thinkers like Byrne and Cook, it’s pretty safe while also having no direction. The catchy beats meant to replicate Marcos’ dance-floor whirls at Studio 54 are kitsched up by typically thunderous presences (Sharon Jones, Florence Welch) until it feels more like karaoke than concept.

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This article appears in April 23 • 2010.

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