This CD was given to us by our friends Stephanie and Moe when they visited earlier this summer. Reading an interesting article about Cat Power by Sasha Frere-Jones in this week's New Yorker reminded me that I had not yet blogged about it. Cat Power (real name: Chan - pronounced Sean - Marshall) has been around for a while and has played with some pretty big names including Patti Smith, Liz Phair, and Eddie Vedder. Early success and addiction issues seemed to have led to some uneven performances characterized by extreme stage fright, though most critics recognized her raw talent throughout those perilous years. (She certainly looks like she's having a great time performing now, if the picture here is any indication.) In any case, her new CD, The Greatest, is getting a lot of attention, suggesting that it may well become her breakout recording. She has a great voice, which puts me in the mind of white soul singers such as Shelby Lynne or her foremother Dusty Springfield. (And you really can't go wrong with Dusty, now, can you?)
Fun Fact: This is not the first time The New Yorker has commented on Cat Power's work. Check out this 2003 story, by Hilton Als.
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