the studio album features female singers including florence welch, allison moorer, nellie mckay, cyndi lauper, tori amos, martha wainwright, natalie merchant, sia furler, santigold, charmaine clamor, nicole atkins, sharon jones and kate pierson, alternately playing the roles of imelda marcos and estrella cumpas. "it's a series of 22 very danceable songs…" wrote byrne, "…and is sung by 20, count 'em, 20, amazing singers. a theater piece for your ears."