Nona Hendryx - Mutatis Mutandis (2012)

2012 release from the R&B vocalist and former Labelle member. Whether you've been a fan since the days of Labelle and her acclaimed solo albums of the '80s or you're new to her signature sound, Nona will have you moving your feet and working your brain at the same time. On focus tracks "The Tea Party" and "Black Boys," the groove is deep and the lyrics are as current as the crawl on the 24-hour news networks. Powerhouse vocals, blistering guitars, killer horns, gospel flourishes, and unstoppable beats fuel scathing attacks on political and religious conservatives, corporate greed, and black-on-black violence, among other targets. The result is an album steeped in vintage R&B and soul, but totally in tune with the here and now.