The Greatest

Cat Power

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 20, 2007)
• Original Release Date: January 24, 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Matador Records
• ASIN: B000C0X3ZC
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (87 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,425 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

If you are an artist at a crossroads/ "maturing point" in your career, it's a great idea to seek out the original musicians who played on music you adore and that inspire you greatly–it's the opposite of what Rick Rubin does with the old folks. The results, however, are often lackluster; it can just be too hard to forge a connection in a short period of time with studio dudes twenty to thirty years older than you. Chan Marshall, who took just three years between albums this time, returned to Memphis to record with many of the architects of Southern soul music at Ardent Studios on The Greatest. And from the first and titular tune, a mournful and gorgeous ballad with swelling strings, backing singer and shimmery guitar accompaniment that tells the tale of a boy who wants to become a great boxer, it's clear that the results of this experiment are uniformly awesome. The sultry-voiced artiste sounds fully at home within these songs, these lovely analog Southern sounds that bridge black and white musics. It's not like she's on a trip of trying to be Aretha or anything; besides, the arrangements on all the songs are different. The loping, fiddle-accented "Empty Shell" sounds like the Unholy Modal Rounders backing Bobbie Gentry. All the songs are pretty, slow and melancholy; there's nothing like "He War" on here. We are not in the habit of quoting press releases, but it's hard to beat this line from the Matador one-sheet: "If Alex Chilton were today a beautiful young woman, he'd sound like this." Amen, or something. –Mike McGonigal

Product Description

This is not a greatest hits album, despite the title. It contains all-original songs written by Chan Marshal (professionally known as Cat Power), and features the great Memphis session musicians Teenie Hodges on guitar, Leroy Hodges on bass (Al Green, Hi Rhythm Section), drummer Steve Potts, and more. The combination of Marshall's superbly evocative and flexible voice plus some of the greatest Southern soul players, has produced a masterpiece. These songs explore themes of Southern loss, longing, and marginality. The limited first digipak pressing and regular single vinyl contain a bonus track. After the first pressing sells out, the regular jewelcase version will not contain a bonus track.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Never heard of Cat Power before this one ...., September 9, 2006

By	desmond "barrow. marketplace." (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews

... So the other reviews here, necessarily, have me baffled.

I just found out about Cat Power via this CD. So my impression as a first-timer, completely ignorant of her previous works:

Wonderful.

Of course, I grew up in the South, hearing Janis Joplin, Dylan, Van Morrison, and other "blues/gospel-inflected" music (even if these artists are mostly "before my time," and not necessarily from my area).

So I, personally, was thrilled to find this album. And I can honestly say -- in a "scene" where I am constantly bombared with the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Killers, etc. -- Cat Power is the only musician that has had me personally excited in a few years.

So take it for what it's worth. I guess my next step will be to check out Chan's other albums.

But those other albums don't matter to me, at the moment.

I give this a very happy and enthusiastic 5 Stars.

41 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Cat Power Goes Memphis with "The Greatest" (4.5 stars), February 27, 2006

By	Juan Mobili (Valley Cottage, NY USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Cat Power's output will never be accused of being very emotive or lyrically overwrought, yet her latest album goes beyond the austere boundaries of prior releases. This is not to say that Marshall has gone over the edge in any way, yet in The Greatest her voice seems to reach for new tender corners and there's a certain compassion for her songs' characters in this album which- at least to me-have never been this apparent in the past.

This is the case with the title song and opener, a moving piece about a boxer, which already showcases some key musical choices that give The Greatest its particular feel. Whether it's the subtle guitar work, the way the strings and piano unfold its melody, or the drums-which I don't recall being present as often or featured as they are throughout these tracks-ease you into a different kind of Cat Power album.

A similar feel to the opener returns in "Living In Bars," "Where Is My Love" and "Willie," yet not all songs comply to this formula, by the way, songs like Living Proof," "Could We," "After It All" or "Islands" are-in their own ways and by Cat Power' standards-more accessible, more willing to reach out than past material.

Still, this is a Cat Power album, "The Moon"-one of my favorite songs-as well as "Empty Shell" or "Hate," each in its own way, proved this and may remind you of prior albums.

So, enjoy and be moved by a special singer and interesting songwriter who's still willing to explore the music outside her usual world, and had the shy observer she's always been, step out into new moods.

34 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mature, Sultry Approach Wins Me Over, February 26, 2006

By	M. JEFFREY MCMAHON "herculodge" (Torrance, CA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

The Greatest by Cat Power is a great place to get introduced to this original songwriter. Slowed down, acoustic, dreamily textured, these songs reflect the maturity of a songwriter at the top of her powers. Those who warm up to these slower acoustic songs will probably want to check out kindred spirits in the bands Beaumont, The Big Phony, The Clientele, Club 8, The Concretes, Hope Sandoval, Le Mans, The Monglfier Brothers, Ronderlin, and Simpatico.