Chan Marshall’s (a.k.a Cat Power) greatest instrument is her voice; she sings with such hypnotizing conviction that we often forget the minimalism of the instrumentals. Her career began in the early ‘90s in New York City where she was associated with the free-jazz and experimental music scene. This has certainly influenced her overall style, molding it into what it is today.
In her latest album, The Greatest--not a compilation of greatest hits--Cat Power sounds more upbeat than usual. The album has been described as more “polished” compared to her other works. Fans will recall that her live shows are rather messy and sometimes border on being improvisational; in the past, she has ended performances early with no explanations, sometimes under the influence of alcohol. Her performance style in itself is often non-traditional; she would often meld songs together without a clear end or finish. Some are turned off by this lack of professionalism, while others applaud her for her authenticity. But with the release of The Greatest--by far, her cleanest work in terms of both structure and sound--it seems Cat Power has taken a positive new direction.
The album kicks off with the slow and easy “The Greatest,” in which she sings with a type of triumphant defeat: “once I wanted to be the greatest…” This leads us to the buoyant and quietly anthemic “Living Proof,” where light drums and melodic keyboards come together for a pleasant effect. “Lived in Bars” starts off slow and loungey; its tone precedes its title: it\'s mellow and solemn, but it leads us to a heavy, feel-good finish where Chan picks up the pace and the drums get a bit heavier (though never too loud). The bluesy “Hate” features bare guitar chords and Chan’s raw voice, a combination so private, it\'s as if she\'s singing directly to you.
Marshall isn\'t short in the songwriting department either. She writes with a kind of elegant simplicity reminiscent of Emily Dickinson poems; her lyrics are artistically effortless, yet they always hit the right nerves. In "Islands," for example, she tells us simply that she misses her lover:
I want to rule the islands
And I want to rule the sea
But if you\'re not coming back
I will sleep eternally
In "Lived in Bars," she employs colorful imagery, yet manages to radiate a melancholic, jaded tone mixed with content, a mood especially highlighted by her unique voice:
We\'ve lived in bars
And danced on tables
Hotel trains and ships that sail
We swim with sharks
And fly with aeroplanes in the air
This mixture of simple but elegant songwriting, light instrumentals, and mesmerizing vocals makes The Greatest an album full of gems (the jazzy mid-tempo “Islands”) and surprises (the quick stroll-like ballad, “Could We”) that’s sure to draw any listener in. The Greatest is soothing, mellow but upbeat at the same time, and pensive; it\'s the type of album you would want to listen to on a long train ride or a tedious flight that calls for contemplation.
"The Greatest" is on sale January 24, 2006 from Matador Records.
