Cat Power - Jukebox Deluxe Edition (17 tracks) +Album Reviews

The old and the new

Eric | Somerville, MA United States | 02/01/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"The album to compare this to is her first covers album The Covers Record; that was from 2000, and the young singer has grown and changed a lot since then. Her stunningly stark, almost gothic (but spare) setting of some familiar and lesser known songs was raw and powerful then. Now she's working with experienced musicians, and is more experienced herself, and the sound is warmer, more assured, more rock and blues oriented. I like the new disc fine, but only a few tracks really stand out: a new version of "Metal Heart" that is moody and acoustic, and her love song to Aretha Franklin, whom you can really cite as an influence on her current retro-rock sound. Chan Marshall is feeling her Southern Soul roots.

The point of this review, however, is to say that if you're a fan of her earlier albums, be sure you get this deluxe version with the extra E.P., because it's actually better than the main album. Here you find the Patsy Cline classic "She's Got You," but Chan's delivery makes even Patsy's version sound happy in comparison, plus an epic and meandering and devastating version of "Angelitos Negros." The EP has an overall downbeat vibe that recalls the stripped down and minimal Cat Power of old.

"

Get the deluxe edition

J. S. Winston | Ithaca, NY | 02/17/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"That's right indie kids, Chan is less depressed and therefore able to express a greater range of emotion, in music that will likely appeal to more people. And that, of course, makes the music inferior to stuff that only you and your hipster friends appreciate--I mean, what the hell's the point of listening to something that doesn't make you feel like the coolest kids in the dorm? Alright, enough sarcasm. This may be Cat Power's best album yet, with its trippy tortured version of "Blue" and the original "Song for Bobby" which just might have Mr. Zimmerman seeking a restraining order. The real point of this review, however, is to point out that the songs on the bonus disc in the Deluxe Edition are NOT the usual "bonus" crap that was rightfully left off of (or not even considered for) the actual album. So, it's the one to get, especially considering that, last time I looked, the Deluxe Edition was actually selling at a lower price than the non-deluxe version (and even if that's changed, it's worth whatever extra couple of bucks makes up the difference)."

Amazing transformation

J. Keegan | Vancouver, BC | 01/24/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I first saw Cat Power in the Fall of 1996 in a small, half-filled, smokey now-defunct nightclub in Seattle that was owned by Peter Buck of REM's ex-wife. She played an insecure and frightened and very moving set of tracks from her first record, "What Would the Community Think?" She spoke very little to the audience, and looked a little bit like she was performing on the Moon. In fact, the whole show sort of felt that way. Fortunately she still managed to display her talents that evening, and as a number of us lined up to purchase the CD following the show, there was unanimous agreement that this girl had potential. Twelve years later, its remarkable to note the transformation which has occured with this artist. Cat Power has ridden her remarkable talent, and unique perspective on life right to the top of the game. And while the acclaimed "Greatest" was clearly indicative of the hard-earned courage and masterfulness finally possessed by the singer-songwriter adopted from NYC's indie rock scene into the Adult-Oriented Album radio format, "Jukebox" makes a more powerful statement. On this, her latest album focused mainly on covers of her favorite influences, Cat Power reaches a level better described as devestating. One is prone to smiling on your first couple listens as she works her magic into your heart as usual, only this time, not so much asking you to welcome it, but ramming it into you. She demonstrates an impressive culmination of fortitude and soul that arrives best through the type of battle-scarred experience that she has had. A veritable music warrior for years, Cat Power is now an all-star working her way toward the hall-of-fame. PS - the best 2 tracks may even be her own "Metal Heart" and "Song to Bobby." Get it and get ready to love it."

Not "The Greatest" - But Very Close

Rick D. Moore | Delavan, WI USA | 01/28/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Following up The Greatest - which by many accounts was just that for her - Chan Marshall apparently turned to her iPod for inspiration. Where else would you find the songs ranging from Nick Cave to Joni Mitchell to Bob Dylan to Billie Holiday? However instead of the almost painfully spare production of 2000's Covers, this one is fully fleshed out with the likes of Spooner Oldham and Larry McDonald making guest appearances in addition to the several of the musicians who added so much to the musical landscape of her previous outing. Nonetheless, even given the talented players manning the hardware, it's Marshall's voice - powerful, harsh, and yet amazingly tender - that's the star of this show. That same voice gives her the courage to take "New York" and if not own it outright, at least gain some level of joint custody. Perhaps the pinnacle of this successful album is her interpretation of Dylan's "I Believe in You." Much like her outstanding rendition of "Stuck inside of Mobile With the Memphis Blues Again" from the I'm Not There soundtrack, Marshall imbues a gorgeous Bob Dylan cut from her "born-again" days with a new life all its own. This album may not be The Greatest, but it's pretty damn close."

Cat Power - Jukebox

S. D. Mason | Greenville, NC | 08/12/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Jukebox (2008, Matador) Cat Power's eighth studio album. ****

Chan Marshall has always been an enigma in the music community. Her raspy, deep voice, her strange performance at concerts, etc. Either way, she's had her fair share of brilliant moments and miserable misses, but thankfully Jukebox is a hit.

This is not the first time Marshall has done a covers album. In fact, she was brave enough to tackle "Satisfaction" by the Rolling Stones, a song successfully covered by only one band before her (Devo, in case you're wondering). On Jukebox, Marshall again displays her eclectic taste in music, tearing each song down and giving it a new structure, a new sound, and most importantly, a new view. She opens by covering Frank Sinatra's "New York," with a slow drum easing the song off. It's a brooding affair, certainly Chan's style and a complete opposite of the uplifting version we know from Frank too well. It isn't a bad cover, rather, it's just strange, almost unrecognizeable. It begs the question of why she even bothered to cover it when she could have written her own lyrics. Only a few tracks make you ask that question, as many of these are excellently done, most notably George Jackson's "Aretha, Sing One For Me." The soft keyboards and Hammond organ accompany Marshall's voice, with a soft bouncy and soulful yet eloquent keyboard line.

The same style is applied to James Brown's "Lost Someone," a very risky choice. This cut is more mellow than "Aretha," but Marshall's strutting vocals make it a sincere moment. She also manages to work in a cleverly executed Dylan cut, "I Believe in You." The tempo is slowed and adds an echoing guitar riff. These and all the songs are fairly minimalist, and all are turned into flok, blues, or jazz-leaning renderings. It isn't a perfect way to do things, in fact, cuts like "Metal Heart" could have been left in the studio. I'd be interested to see if Marshall took any clues from Vanilla Fudge's self-titled debut, an album that consisted solely of covers, all brilliantly done. If she hasn't, she might want to brush up on them to see masters in action (Aretha, Sing One For Me, Lost Someone, I Believe in You, Song For Bobby).

-Stephen

www.politicianrock.blogspot.com"

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