Releasing three records with that group, McCluskey also recorded an album of covers, Curio – technically her first solo work. Joining the French group Telepopmusik ten years after, McCluskey is the featured singer on their two albums, Genetic World and Angel Milk. McCluskey is also the disembodied voice on many a television commercial and film soundtrack — not to mention countless guest spots on albums from Robbie Robertson to Cyndi Lauper.
     Instead of formally practicing and writing, McCluskey says she’ll listen to Al Green or Marvin Gaye and then open her mouth. However she’s feeling while listening to those guys is how her songs first come out. Moreover, McCluskey says she thinks of Empty House as a “best of” album. This is in contrast to The Things We Do, which was written, produced, and recorded exclusively with Shudder To Think’s Nathan Larson. Collecting songs that are as old as ten years and as new as ten days prior to the final recording, Empty House has a number of collaborators. Among these are Joseph Arthur, Golden Smog’s Kraig Jarret Johnson, Girls Against Boys’ Scott McCloud, Bang Gang’s Bardi Johannsson, as well as all the bands with which she has previously worked.
     Understandably, Empty House sounds varied and eclectic. From McCluskey’s signature Billie Holiday-esque torch singing — which permeates every song — to the lighthearted pop of “Stripmallville” to the country-ballad tones of “Day Ditty” to the psychedelic distortion of “Have It For Free”, Empty House is as colorful as McCluskey herself.

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