The honest and abstract, Chan Marshall (pronounced 'Shawn') , better known as Cat Power whom uses her emotional voice, minimal guitar and piano and light instrumentation, released 'You are Free' after her last release of a covers album on Matador Records.
'You Are Free' begins with 'I Don't Blame You' a piano-driven piece which Chan sings of possibly, Kurt Cobain as she laments 'You were swinging your guitar around/'Cause they wanted to hear that sound/That you didn't wanna play.' 'What a sad trick you thought you had to play.' 'I don't blame you.' The instumentation is minimal which is a great back drop for her heart felt voice.
The album picks up with 'Free' with tight crunchy guitar, Lo-fi drummachine beats, and upbeat lyrics which make up this, garage hit complete with Go Go-esque Lyrics 'It's ok, it's alright , Come on and take a chance, True romance, When you dance'
Marshall does an amazing cover of Michael Hurley's 'Werewolf' with dark and delicate strings and hauntingly beautiful vocals.
Eddie Vedder joins Marshall by adding some light backup vocals dabling here and there, while Dave Grohl beats the skins on three songs, the first half of 'You Are Free' really takes flight pulling the listener in. The following half seems to loose it's initial momentum, winding down to more meloncoly chambers, but all in all it is well worth the purchase.
'You Are Free' finishes off with a cover of John Lee Hooker's 'Crawlin' Black Spider' retitled 'Keep on Runnin,' and a tender duet with Eddie Vedder on 'Evolution.' |