Must Hear - "Here Lies Love"

For 50 years, Imelda Marcos cast a long shadow over global politics, tabloid society and trannydom at large. The über-fashionable Philippine first-lady-turn-politico is best known for her dual perchants for glamor and excess. The most widely reported antidote of her extravagance being her 3000 pair shoe collection left behind when she and President Ferdinand Marcos were forced to flee Malacañang Palace during the 1985 coup. We can only assume that someone so glitz-obsessed as Imelda is beyond flattered by a new 3-disc album, "Here Lies Love", which chronicles the life of the sequined lady. Orchestrated by the great David Byrnes, a list of the mega-album's collaborators reads as a who's-who of musical mavericks of the past 30 years: Natalie Merchant, Cyndi Lauper, Norman Cook ("Fatboy Slim"), Martha Wainwright, Tori Amos, Steve Earle, Roisin Murphy and Santigold. The album's lyrics borrow largely from Imelda Marco's own words, which helps to achieve Byrne's goal; to not describe the life of Marcos but to get into the head of the woman who lived it. The tremendous artistry behind this biographical work weaves a story that is beautiful without mockery. (There is no mention of the shoe collection.) We dare you not to play this at every dinner/cocktail/rooftop party this spring. It is that good.