Provocative in lyric and sound, this latest album from the pointedly misnomered All the Queen's Men (which is, in fact, a combination of three women and one man) assaults the mind with hard-edged melodies and challenging, often barbed messages. Christine Zufferey's trembling and soaring vocal delivery imparts additional anxiety and breadth. Supporting their lilting lead banshee are the heart-twisting acoustic/electronic percussionist Tamora Gooding, lithe bass man Chris Farrell, and guitarist Catherine Capozzi.

From the second-guessing propositions of "You Want Me" to the anti-Stepford "Fit the Dress", AQM refuses to blink. Combining tribal beats with astral tones, the band offers an all-encompassing buffet. And with its closing pair of remixes included, this album is ready to go from the radio to the rave tent with its urgent beats and sparkling instrumentation.- Matt Robinson

This story ran in the Boston Globe Calender and on Boston.com on 10/18/2001.
© Copyright 2001 Globe Newspaper Company.

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