The CD opens with the crystalline ballad “Come with Me,” which she penned about her own past as a sex worker. It is followed by the upbeat “Ron’s Got a Dui,” which is an ode to love and loss. “Moran and Miiri” is uptempo and a story song about Korean names and 60s immigration. In the acoustic ballad “Daddy, I Miss You,” she pays homage to all fathers.
She picks up the pace with the vindictive “Georgia Sky,” while she celebrates fat pride and love for one’s self-image on “Fat Pussy.”
Cho eloquently covers the dark history of Los Angeles in “Beautiful in L.A.” She pays a moving tribute to her late friend Anna Nicole Smith, with a tender yet quirky version of “Anna Nicole,” for which she would subsequently film a well-crafted music video.
A pleasant surprise for fans of country music is “Gentleman Jim,” which features lap steel, and it closes with the cheery “Topaz.” It closes with two bonus tracks, which include “We So Worry” and the sophisticated “I Wanna Kill My Rapist,” which tackles the serious subject matter of sexual abuse.
The Verdict
Overall, Margaret Cho excels on her latest studio effort, American Myth. It is one of her best albums to date, since it showcases her artistic growth and creativity. It deserves a Grammy nomination for “Best Comedy Album” at next year’s Grammy ceremony. It garners 4.5 out of 5 stars.
