Cat Power "The Greatest" (Matador)
Oh what a mystical creature the beautiful Chan Marshall is. Is there any more enigmatic artist in indie rock today? I've never seen the lady live but her performances/antics are quite legendary by now. No matter what her on/off stage rhetoric has been, her albums have always been some of the strongest efforts by any singer/songwriter. Unlike many singer/songwriters though, Chan has stayed remarkably consistent in releasing worthwhile albums. The Greatest simply continues that tradition.
The Greatest is a slight departure from past albums. Instead of having the Dirty Three as her backing band or having superstars like Dave Grohl and Eddie Vedder play on this record, Chan decided to head to Memphis and record with some R&B/Soul legends. This decision creates a rather loose feel to the album that makes The Greatest seem less dark and not as heavy as some of the earlier Cat Power releases. I can definitely see why people have been proclaiming this to be the most accessible Cat Power record. I believe that this album will win some new fans for Miss Marshall and that can only be a good thing in the long run. The Greatest should not be an album that alienates Cat Power’s older fans though. While, this album probably will not rank as a favorite for long-time Cat Power fans, I still think there is more than enough here to satisfy the diehards. While the backing bands may change, one thing that stays the same is the sultry vocal performance of Chan Marshall. Her vocals have a way of transporting you to other places. On The Greatest, the trip just feels a little less traumatic.
RIYL: Dusty Springfield, Fiona Apple, Kristen Hersh
Listen: Cat Power - The Greatest (mp3)
