The ultimate Cindy Lee vinyl experience: a comprehensive six-album collection that traces the complete artistic journey of Patrick Flegel's visionary project from its earliest experimental expressions to its critically acclaimed apex. This definitive bundle brings together 'Malenkost' (2015), 'Act Of Tenderness' (2015), 'Model Express' (2018), 'What's Tonight To Eternity' (2020), 'Cat O' Nine Tails' (2020), and the magnum opus 'Diamond Jubilee' (2024) — an extraordinary document of one of the most fascinating and conceptually rich musical projects of the contemporary underground. Since emerging from the ashes of the celebrated post-punk project Women, Patrick Flegel has used Cindy Lee as a vehicle for exploring the intersections of gender identity, pop cultural memory, and experimental sound. Working primarily alone with a rotating cast of collaborators, Flegel has crafted a singular body of work that synthesizes the golden age of 1960s pop, DIY 4-track aesthetics, noise, and avant-garde conceptualism into something entirely unprecedented. Each album represents a distinct chapter in this evolution, from the raw bedroom pop of 'Malenkost' to the haunting atmospherics of 'Act Of Tenderness', the synthesizer-driven experimentation of 'Model Express', the Karen Carpenter-influenced songcraft of 'What's Tonight To Eternity', the cinematic scope of 'Cat O' Nine Tails', and finally the sprawling two-hour masterwork 'Diamond Jubilee' that brought Cindy Lee to widespread critical acclaim in 2024. What makes this collection essential is not merely the music itself — though each album stands as a remarkable achievement — but the narrative arc it reveals. These six albums document an artist refusing compromise, working outside the traditional music industry structures, and creating a body of work that challenges conventional notions of pop music, gender performance, and artistic authenticity.
Flegel's decision to perform in drag isn't mere provocation but an integral part of the project's conceptual framework, drawing upon suburban closet queens and mid-century divas to create a complex meditation on identity, performance, and the emotive power of music. The sonic palette across these six albums is remarkably diverse yet consistently captivating. You'll encounter lo-fi indie-pop that recalls the best work of Daniel Johnston and Sebadoh, dense walls of noise that suggest Phil Spector recordings processed through an experimental lens, krautrock-influenced synthesizer explorations, and moments of devastating beauty that stand alongside the greatest pop songwriting of any era. Throughout, Flegel's distinctive vocal approach — sometimes buried in the mix, sometimes heartbreakingly direct — serves as the unifying thread. For collectors, this bundle represents a rare opportunity to acquire the complete Cindy Lee catalog in physical form. Several of these albums have been notoriously difficult to obtain, with 'Cat O' Nine Tails' originally released in an edition of only 50 lathe-cut copies that now command extraordinary prices on the secondary market. Having all six albums together allows for a complete immersion into Flegel's singular artistic vision, revealing the subtle progressions and thematic connections that might be missed when experiencing the albums in isolation. This is essential listening for anyone interested in the outer reaches of contemporary pop music, the possibilities of DIY recording, or the intersection of conceptual art and songcraft. W.25th and Superior Viaduct have given these albums the presentation they deserve, with immaculate pressings and faithful reproductions of the original artwork.
Whether you're a longtime devotee diving deeper into the catalog or a newcomer discovering Cindy Lee through 'Diamond Jubilee', this complete discography bundle is the definitive way to experience one of the most important and uncompromising artistic visions of the 21st century.
