Cindy Lee – Diamond Jubilee

Review

Can we just talk about Cindy Lee's "Diamond Jubilee" for a hot second? This double album, the brainchild of Patrick Flegel, is the seventh studio delight from his intriguing project. It's worlds apart from his moody work with Women and full of Flegel's daring spirit and undeniable talent for crafting tunes. The record beautifully juggles a mix of '60s psychedelia, hypnagogic pop, '70s radio rock, and those yummy little midcentury girl group vibes. Don’t let those breezy tones fool you though; each song packs a suitcase full of themes like love, longing, and loss.

"Diamond Jubilee" does more than serve up catchy tracks like “Glitz” and “Kingdom Come.” This whole project potently showcases Flegel's knack for making songs that are as haunting as they are pretty—and often feels nostalgically wistful yet thoroughly fresh! And oh, how can we not gush over the wild release strategy? Tossing the playbook out the window, this album is only available on YouTube and a good ol’ GeoCities site! Talk about capturing a cheeky, retro feel while standing firmly outside the streaming merry-go-round. It's a gutsy move, channeling pure DIY energy that fans are definitely vibing with.

By the way, the live shows! There’s Cindy Lee up on that stage—adorned in a sparkling gold sequin number, topped off with a mesmerizing black beehive wig, hypnotizing the crowd with every note—a true down-‘n-out diva spectacle. Although the performances have been closely held due to personal stuff, the essence of Peggy Lee through Cindy Lee lives on hard in those golden moments that just hang in the air. And the world caught on real fast, crowning "Diamond Jubilee" a classic with universal acclaim—it even snagged a luscious 95 score on Metacritic and nods from everyone in the know like *Pitchfork* and *Paste*. In a nutshell, Cindy Lee’s journey in "Diamond Jubilee" flips the narrative of the music landscape and paints Flegel as a singular force of musical reckoning and rebellion. - Sienna