Poly Styrene “White Gold” - from 2011’s Generation Indigo.

2011’s best pop album so far was released by an iconic rock/pop/soul figure who sadly died of cancer on the eve of this album’s release. Pretending there is such a thing as ‘fate’, Fuck You ‘fate’ and the cancer you bring.

As far as the twenty-tens’ nu-disco generation ruled by the post-Killers/Rapture/Lady Gaga empire, this album obviously has an ear for that sound, as it’s the primary influence here. What’s rarer is that every song is written as a potential hit single. Some really stand out, such as “White Gold”, others are merely beautiful. The only exception might be “Thrash City” and the “Straight To Hell”/”Paper Planes” pseudo-cover “No Rockefeller.”

You will not hear the urgent and thrilling screams of Germ Free Adolescents era X-Ray Spex on this album at all.  Poly Styrene gave that sound up anyway just a year later since her first solo album from 1980, Translucence. You *will* hear the same wrapping of politics and inquisitiveness around very catchy music, however.

I’m still at a loss for words for the passing of Poly Styrene. I’ve felt married to her music at least a decade ago, when I dove hard into the X-Ray Spex and very undersized solo discography of Ms. Styrene.  Rest in peace.