Album Review: Cat Power

Album review:

Cat Power -‘Jukebox.’ (Matador)

…in which Chan Marshall releases her second covers album (mind you, how many did Bryan Ferry do) of this decade. There’s an impressive cast list of both songwriters (Bob Dylan, Hank Williams and oh yes, Cat Power) as well as collaborators and guest appearances, too many to list here.

The voice sounds as fantastic as ever, and if anything has got even better. It’s been noted that she has re-recorded her own song ‘Metal Heart’ which first appeared on Moon Pix ten years ago. Whilst I like her vocal on this take more, the piano and blues guitar are great (this is the first record she has made with her new band), it isn’t anywhere near as good as the original. Her version of ‘New York’ as popularised by Frank Sinatra is a complete reworking that opens the record and sounds like a completely different song, and all the better for it.

If Bob Dylan is arguably the songwriter’s songwriter, then it’s almost inevitable that his presence is going to be here in some form, and it is twice: Power covers ‘I Believe In You’ with guitars that echo the Stones’ ‘Brown Sugar’ and the only new song on the record called ‘Song for Bobby’ which she wrote about meeting him for the first time.

The versions of this record vary, I was sent a 12 track promo to review, but iTunes has versions with 13 and 17 songs on it. Whatever the song, what strikes me most is her voice, and just how great it is. Perhaps though, the best song on her is the aforementioned ‘Song To Bobby’ which showcases her at her best. Once you have heard Cat Power’s voice, few singers will ever be able to touch you in the same way again.

***1/2 (for the record)
*****1/2 (for the voice)

Jukebox is out now.

Cat Power’s MySpace is here

Matador have been really strict about the mp3s on this one, so here is a link to her official Matador webpage.

Meanwhile, just in case you haven’t ever heard Cat Power before, here are two excellent tracks (linked to Insound. These are free, and legal but you really, really should own these albums. Don’t let yourself down):

Cat Power -‘The Greatest.’ mp3

Cat Power -‘He War.’ mp3 .

Hooray!


I have survived my first week back at work -and it’s now the weekend.

A little braindead – but not so braindead as to want to be without music. Hope you like these.

Nico -‘These Days.’ mp3 Buy it here

Cat Power -‘He War.’ mp3 Buy it here

Jolie Holland -‘Old Fashion Morphine.’ mp3 Buy it here

Unless you haven’t been here before now, you’ll know the drill by now: the tracks will be up for a week. If you like them, please support the artists involved.

Links removed April 28.

At the end of a tiring week…

Cat Power by Rahav Segev, 1999

Not sure this is a week I would want to live through again. My teaching job has seen me go through more emotions than I was aware the human brain could feel, and certainly deal with. From wanting to throttle kids (note to any parents reading: If you do not bring your children up to show respect and earn it as well as having it due to them you should have to stand in front of some of the classes I teach) to feeling that some could be okay, to a few who actually seem to have been listening… Told by two girls today that I’m like Jack Black in School Of Rock, ” ‘cos you’re a teacher, but you know about Rock Music.” Almost a compliment!

Anyway, am now trying to relax and enjoy my weekend. My long-suffering other half has asked for something gentle on (Radioactivity by Kraftwerk is more mental than I had remembered), so currently on the turntable (yes, vinyl) is Cat Power’s The Greatest. This is like soup for the soul (no chicken here, I’m still veggie!) this album. Enjoy.

BTW this is about my 99th post, so am working on something special for the 100th. Watch this space…

And for anyone who’s never heard Cat Power before, this is from her earlier album You Are Free:

Oh, and if you follow this link, you can download a track by Just Jack for free. Here you go…