The Greatest (no, it's not a hits collection) makes it clear just how much Chan Marshall grows with each album she releases. Three years on from You Are Free, she sounds reinvented yet again: Marshall returned to Memphis, TN -- where she recorded What Would the Community Think nearly a decade earlier -- to make an homage to the Southern soul and pop she listened to as a young girl. Working with great Memphis soul musicians such as Mabon "Teenie" Hodges, Leroy "Flick" Hodges, and Dave Smith, she crafted an album that is even more focused and accessible than You Are Free was, and pushes her even closer toward straightforward singer/songwriter territory. The title track is a subtle but powerful statement of purpose: with its lush, "Moon River" strings and lyrics about a young boy who wanted to become a boxer, the song is as moving as her earlier work but also a big step away from the angst-ridden diary-ock that her music is sometimes categorized as. Likewise, on the gospel-tinged "Living Proof" and the charming "Could We," Marshall is sexy, strong, and playful, and far from the stereotype of her as a frail, howling waif. But the truth is, sweet Southern songs like these have been in her repertoire since What Would the Community Think's "They Tell Me" and "Taking People" (You Are Free's "Good Woman" and "Half of You" are also touchstones for this album); The Greatest is just a more polished, palatable version of this side of her music. This is the most listenable Cat Power album Marshall has made, and one that could easily win her lots of new fans. It's also far from a sell-out -- The Greatest sounds like the album Marshall wanted to make, without any specific (or larger) audience in mind. And yet, the very things about The Greatest that make it appealing to a larger audience also make it less singular and sublime than, say, Moon Pix or You Are Free. The productions and arrangements on songs like "Lived in Bars" and "Empty Shell" are so immaculate and intricate that they threaten to overwhelm Marshall's gorgeous voice. And, occasionally, the album's warm, soulful, laid-back vibe goes from mellow to sleepy, particularly on "Willie" and "The Moon." Two of The Greatest's best songs show that she doesn't need to be edgy and tortured or gussied up with elaborate productions to sound amazing: "Where Is My Love" reaffirms that all Marshall needs is a piano and that voice to make absolutely spellbinding music. On the other hand, "Love & Communication"'s modern, complicated take on love gains a quiet intensity with judiciously used strings and keyboards. For what it is, The Greatest is exceedingly well done, and people who have never heard of Cat Power before could very well love this album immediately. However, it might take a little more work for those who have loved her music from the beginning.
My wife and I went to the Cat Power show Friday night at The Granada Theater in Dallas. We were both excited when we found out that Micah P. Hinson would be the opener.I love the venue, which has a great old-world theater style and generally good sound. They also have what may be the friendliest and most helpful staff in town.Micah P. Hinson came on alone, armed only with his guitar (an electric
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love that song! it is simply "the greatest" - really mellow and a great way of listening to true lyrics
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so the "official" "schedule for Langerado is here":http://www.jambase.com/festivals/langerado/, for those who are interested. Just about time to start formulating my battle plan!
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Performed live on the Jools Holland show.
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well, i final bought a fresh tower of CD-R's to burn mix after mix like the old days. I decided to wait until the new year to pop one of those bad boys into my laptop, and I have been pondering what super songs should be honored on such a cd. I have been making a mental list of musical splendor, and though it took me about an hour (i struggled with the last song, and settled on Novacaine for t...
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I love being able to look at a playlist for a radio station and say something like, "Wow, they actually played two Sia songs in the same day!" Not because I dislike Sia or anything having to do with her, but just because that's what I just did. It's so rare that The Current plays 2 or more songs by the same artist in the same day. It just doesn't happ that often. I love constantly being able to...
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Here's Cat Power in Rennes, France. Chan 2.0, now with eyeliner!I love that she's embracing her emo side... All the top 10 lists of the year better be coming soon, guys! I want all of yours... to kick things off here's my number 10:Cat Power - Lived In BarsThis is by far the most soulful song on The Greatest ... and it happens to sum up her year of climbing out of the bottle and triumphantly re...
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I avoided this album for ages because I didn't think I'd like it. I don't even like most of its songs much, and I don't know most of the words. I've lost track of how many times I've listened to the entire thing in the last two weeks.Those are boxing gloves, right? What's reflected in them? It looks like maybe a bathtub. I've been ignoring Yo La Tengo and the Decemberists and Belle & Sebastian,...
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Finally, Cat Power in Paris, we had been expecting this moment for quite a few months now, well since she cancelled her tour at the beginning of the year.Needless to say, it was well worth the wait; backed by the tight Memphis Rythm Band she is brimming with energy & confidence; maybe she relies too much on them, the solo part of the set showed her nervousness from the old days.Altogether a top...
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Ahhhh, my eMusic downloads finally refreshed yesterday. I'm gonna try to download one album a day until they're gone, so they don't go to waste this month. First up is: Cat Power - ??The Greatest??. You all seem to like it lots, so I went for it.I downloaded it last night and was instantly calmed by the opening title track, and for some reason, I still can't get past it. It's too gorgeous. I've...
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Cat Power and the Dirty Delta Blues Band...which is comprised of former members of Delta 72 and Jon Spencer's Blues Explosion plus the amazing Jim White behind the drums.should be a great night to be alive...
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Every year a panel of people who either produce cool indie rock or really like indie rock put together a list of everyone’s new favorite indie acts. This list being the Shortlist Music Prize and this year’s panel includes Franz Ferdinand, Wayne Coyne of the Flaming Lips, one of the dudes from Snow Patrol, Panic! at the Disco among others. Even the Killers’ drummer Ronnie Vannucci makes the p
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On the heels of a European tour, Indie Rocker Cat Power set her sights back on the homeland. Or at least maybe just a couple places. As opposed to her European tour where the artist made 14 stops, Cat Power a 6 stop US Tour or stint in comparison.??One might ask, 'Where's the love'???Her album ??The Greatest?? was released in 2006 by Matador Records."Cat Power's Site":CPBrooklyn, NY - McCarren...
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Failed my drawing exam.(I wish I could be Mozart and rise back from the dead, believe me, someone should be spanked with my ultra-curly-white colonial wig - euphemism for _*“in the mood to kill someone”*_)
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so i went to a party. i got toasty on the insides. i grabbed a microphone. and i sang karaoke once. and this is what i sang... yeah, it really was...
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Ahhhh, my eMusic downloads finally refreshed yesterday. I'm gonna try to download one album a day until they're gone, so they don't go to waste this month. First up is: Cat Power - ??The Greatest??. You all seem to like it lots, so I went for it.I downloaded it last night and was instantly calmed by the opening title track, and for some reason, I still can't get past it. It's too gorgeous. I've...
More >
My wife and I went to the Cat Power show Friday night at The Granada Theater in Dallas. We were both excited when we found out that Micah P. Hinson would be the opener.I love the venue, which has a great old-world theater style and generally good sound. They also have what may be the friendliest and most helpful staff in town.Micah P. Hinson came on alone, armed only with his guitar (an electric
More >
so the "official" "schedule for Langerado is here":http://www.jambase.com/festivals/langerado/, for those who are interested. Just about time to start formulating my battle plan!
More >
This Saturday night Cat Power is finally making good on the Stubb's show that was originally scheduled for April, but postponed for whatever reason. The strength of Cat Power's live show is her voice, all dramatic and soulful, performing original songs and refashioning classic material in her own minimalistic style. What's more, she is very easy on the eyes. Like, super easy. I'm gonna go ahe...
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So I just got through listening to Cat Power's "The Greatest". Is she really that big of a downer or is it me?Now I feel depressed and headachey.
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Cat Power (aka Chan Marshall) was awarded the Sixth Annual Shortlist Music Prize, for her album The Greatest today it was announced. Cat Power, who was also a Shortlist finalist for her 2003 You Are Freealbum, beat out other finalists Band of Horses, Beirut, Bonnie Prince Billy, Cat Power, Girl Talk, Hot Chip, Joanna Newsom, Regina Spektor, Spank Rock and Tom Waits. Among the judges for this ye...
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Cat Power (aka Chan Marshall) was awarded the Sixth Annual Shortlist Music Prize, for her album The Greatest today it was announced. Cat Power, who was also a Shortlist finalist for her 2003 You Are Freealbum, beat out other finalists Band of Horses, Beirut, Bonnie Prince Billy, Cat Power, Girl Talk, Hot Chip, Joanna Newsom, Regina Spektor, Spank Rock and Tom Waits. Among the judges for this ye...
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May I suggest two reasonably clear indications you are being stalked on MOG…which altogether I would assume is much better than being stalked on myspace.Uno) XOXO on MOG mail headings: no actual message on the email, just a heading with XOXO, at least 2 times within a one week period.Deux) Being referred to as “sugarlocks:” I don’t even know what a sugarlocks is. Do I have to look that up
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well, i final bought a fresh tower of CD-R's to burn mix after mix like the old days. I decided to wait until the new year to pop one of those bad boys into my laptop, and I have been pondering what super songs should be honored on such a cd. I have been making a mental list of musical splendor, and though it took me about an hour (i struggled with the last song, and settled on Novacaine for t...
More >
i listen to a local college radio station on the way to work everyday, and it is sort of hit or miss. they have a playlist for sure because they always play the same band of horses and sia song. not such a big fan. but then they play really interesting music too. they seem to play a lot of badly drawn boy for some reason.anywho... i have nothing to write. just rambling. listening to a cat...
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| Title | Lyrics | Buy |
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| 1 The Greatest |
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| 2 Living Proof |
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| 3 Lived in Bars |
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| 4 Could We |
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| 5 Empty Shell |
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| 6 Willie |
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| 7 Where Is My Love |
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| 8 The Moon |
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| 9 Islands |
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| 10 After It All |
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| 11 Hate |
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| 12 Love & Communication |
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| 13 [Untitled Track] |
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Click to purchase…
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 "The Greatest")
