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23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best I've heard all year..., May 2, 2000
You'd think that starting at the beginning of the year and ending now I'd hear something better than a covers record wouldn't you? Covers records have historically stunk. Generally speaking, you don't want to hear someone do covers because the original is unbeatable. However Chan Marshall has made what I feel is the best album to come out this year (thus far... it's early, so there's still time) Where I can never say that someone, anyone, has performed a song better than the original, I can say that Chan Marshall has matched them. Her beautiful voice and stripped down performing style are perfect for these songs. Highlights are "Naked If I Want To" "Salty Dog" and "Sea of Love." One of the most interesting tracks is when she does a cover of one of her own songs "In This Hole," originally appearing on "What Would The Community Think." Also does wonderful folkish countryish songs Dylan's "Paths of Victory" (sounds wonderful on the piano) and traditional "Salty Dog." Where for the type of album this is, I would normally recomend for listeners new to Cat Power go for a Chan Marshall original, like "Moon Pix" however, either will do. This is an excellent introduction to Cat Power, and even though it's all covers, one of the more original albums to come out this year.
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17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A voice as gorgeous as she is., March 22, 2000
Covers records can be such a tricky thing. There are inherent dangers for an artist trying to pull one off. Do you do it exactly like the original? No one wants to hear that. Do you place the song in a new genre? Ugh, Madonna's "American Pie" has shown the world the errors of THAT. I mean, just think of that awful Duran Duran cover record (Simon LeBon singing Public Enemy's "911 is a Joke"?) or Guns N Roses "Spaghetti Incident." Ew.Chan Marshall, however, manages to do it right on this album. Just listen to what she does on the opening track, with the Rolling Stones' "Satisfaction." Just as you get over the confusion of the song sounding completely different, Chan's voice kicks in and says, "for the next half hour, these songs are mine." And once you hear her beautiful version of "Sea of Love", all harp and creaky voice, you should agree. It's a perfect late night, sitting around smoking cigarettes kind of album.
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Less Is More, December 15, 2004
Clearly of the Less Is More faith, Cat Power spent two years stripping back to nearly nothing this esoteric set of covers, exposing their bare essence and reinventing them as minimalist sound sculptures.
Getting the makeovers are songs associated with Bob Dylan (Kingsport Town, Paths Of Victory), the Rolling Stones (Satisfaction), Helen Merrill (Troubled Waters), Moby Grape (Naked If I Want To), Michael Hurley (Sweedeedee), Velvet Underground (I Found A Reason), Nina Simone (Wild Is The Wind), Smog (Red Apples), Mississippi John Hurt (Salty Dog - with extract of Candy Man), Phil Phillips and the Twi-Lights (Sea Of Love) and Chan Marshall (her alter-ego) on In This Hole. Sublime
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