MARCIA HINES – AMAZING

Not only has Marcia been Australia’s adopted Queen Of Pop since the 1970s (Kylie, take note!), but a true friend of the gay community over the years. She even finished out this year’s Sydney Mardi Gras at 8am, lending her vocals to Macklemore and Ryan Lewis’ Same Love. Now, unbelievably, comes her first self-penned album. It’s a brave move and while we applaud Marcia singing straight from the heart, it has to be said that an amazing voice likes hers deserves amazing songs, not these pale, pedestrian affairs. There are a couple of bright spots, notably Chase That Feeling which borrows Pharrell’s Happy as a template and the elegiac Silent Tears, though no one deserves a saggy rock duet with Russell Crowe, sorry Marcia.