By Todd Lavoie
Looking for something sass-alicious to wrap your ears around? Something deep and soulful and dripping with attitude? Former Moloko vocalist Roisin Murphy has just released her second solo disc, Overpowered (EMI), and it’s a floor-burner. What a way to spend an hour and work off some cold-weather calories – looks like Murphy is several steps further into divahood.
I’m picky about my divas. Sorry, but a set of bottomless lungs and an octave-leaping vocal range ain’t always a sure-fire point-of-entry into Divaland for me – otherwise, I’d have to include the likes of Mariah Carey as part of the soundtrack to my quest to get in touch with my more feminine side. Nah, the Glitter girl can keep her bird-squawks to herself, and while we’re at it, a great big pass on J-Lo and Whitney (is it even relevant to bring the latter up at this point, I wonder as her shame-spiral/ future Lifetime movie fodder lifestyle keeps her careening further and further from the mic). All style and no substance – and even the notion of style is up for debate in these cases – makes for a pretty lousy diva recipe, the way I see it. Where’s the depth? Where’s the soul? Don’t we deserve more than just mere artifice?
And don’t even ask me about Fergie.