Do A White Hot Shimmy In A Lurex Gown

The B-52’s “Hot Corner” – The B-52’s early classics were marked not only by the incredibly distinct sound of the band’s vocals, but also the specific, strange guitar style of the late Ricky Wilson. The band’s current guitarist and primary instrumental songwriter Keith Strickland can’t hope to compete with Wilson’s game, and so he pushes the group in another direction. He was the original drummer, and so it’s not too surprising that his approach is more brash and brawny. The results aren’t often in quite the same league as material from their classic period, but when it all clicks, as on “Hot Corner,” it’s absolutely marvelous, and not even just for a bunch of middle-aged people who haven’t made an album in 16 years. Essentially, it’s a pumped-up version of the group’s signature vocal and melodic style: Fred’s goofy, sly sprechstimme contrasted with Kate and Cindy’s bold, full-voiced harmonies. Lyrically, they are on separate pages — Fred’s busy describing the scene at the end of a late night dance party, but Kate is dressed up and ready to shimmy her way to the bus stop, eager to hit the road in pursuit of fun and action. It’s, uh, not exactly heavy stuff, but every moment is a thrill, and when she sings “don’t you know that I want you, baby?,” I just feel so so jealous of whoever she’s addressing. (Click here to buy it from Amazon.)