Electro-smart Chicks on Speed began as a fake art band in the late ’90s with a deliriously twisted remake of “Warm Leatherette.” Now, after releasing a “best-of” compilation (“The Re-Releases of the Un-Releases”) and one studio album (“Will Save Us All”), the Berlin-based Chicks—Kiki Morse, Melissa Logan and Alex Murray-Leslie—deliver their most mature recording yet. Still, we are talking about a Chicks on Speed creation, so it is, thankfully, strikingly left of center. In addition to production outfit Glove, “99¢” finds the trio collaborating with Miss Kittin, Le Tigre, Peaches and Tina Weymouth (Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club), among other dance-rock luminaries. In fact, Weymouth appears on a festive cover of Tom Tom Club’s 1981 No. 1 club hit, “Wordy Rappinghood.” Other high points include “Sell-Out,” “We Don’t Play Guitars,” “Fashion Rules!” and hidden track “Flame On.” The Chicken Lips house-spiked re-rub of “We Don’t Play Guitars,” which appears on the bonus disc, is way fine. Distributed by Caroline.—MP
