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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk
Many artists strive for eccentricity, but few carry it off as convincingly as Chan "Cat Power" Marshall. Over the past few years, her gigs have become legendarily flaky, engrossing marathons of shyness, fragments, works in progress and moments of transcendent beauty. Five years on from her last collection of original songs (1998's Moon Pix), Marshall has finally managed to rein in the silvery brilliance of these shows.
The 14 pieces on You Are Freestill sound pretty loose and spontaneous, but compared with their rangy, digressive live incarnations they've been pulled into focus, helped by a notable supporting cast featuring Dave Grohl on drums and Eddie Vedder on harmonies. This time, Marshall's impressionistic vision is expressed with a new clarity whilst retaining the understatement and sense of dislocation that's always made it so affecting. Comparisons are sketchy: Marshall has previously been seen as kin to Bonnie 'Prince' Billy and Smog. Here, though, the elegant punch of "Free" and "He War" provide an American underground counterpart to PJ Harvey, while two outstanding piano blues ("I Don't Blame You" and "Names") are wonderfully evocative of Nina Simone. Confirmation, finally, that Marshall is one of the most original and compelling singer-songwriters around. --John Mulvey
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
By Wily Manc
Format:Audio CD
This is just fantastic, and I can't believe that Cat Power isn't better known in this country, with lyrics and melodies as simple as a fire, and just this brooding presence to all her songs. It is a dark album at times, which is great to be sullen to, but the offbeat guitars of He War and Free provide the originality I crave when music all sounds the same. I read that she's a favourite of the Manc(ish) singer songwriter Jane Weaver, and if you like her dark and twisted lullabies, you'll love Cat Power too.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By A. S. Thomas
Format:Audio CD
Chen Marshall has stepped onto another plane with this stunning collection of haunted songs. Stripped bare and creaking like an old derelict museum, the album bleaches your soul and leaves you with a sense of exhausted elation. There are enough upbeat numbers like "Shaking Paper" and "He War" to satify diversity. But these merely put flesh on the bones of a body whose ghostly visage turns sepia pages of thought and memory. Songs like "Names" and "Good Woman" can reduce you to tears at 20 paces.
Wholly recommended. Nobody or nothing sounds like the Cat. A landmark release.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By Emily
Format:Audio CD
This is without a doubt my favourite Cat Power album. Some claim Moon Pix is best, The Greatest has got her most recent acclaim, but to listen to, this is surely the most enjoyable. I was recommended Cat Power and bought this album first, and was completely blown away. It's beautiful, and Chan Marshall has such a beautiful, individual voice that blends perfectly with her lovely piano and acoustic guitar melodies. So many songs on here are amazing, particular the opener, "I Don't Blame You", with a gorgeous piano intro, the guitar-driven "Free" and "He War", and my particular favourite, the poignant and sad but stunningly beautiful "Good Woman". If you've heard of Cat Power and want to get into her, but are not sure which album to start with, I would say this is the ideal opener.
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4.3 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
i love cat power
the album arrived really quick. i really like the album my favourite is either He War or Fool. Cat Power is amazing!
Published on 11 Nov 2010 by maria
5.0 out of 5 stars
Cat at her best
I have this categorising system on itunes, where if I really love a track I give it a 5star, and I if I like it a lot, a 4star. Read more
Published on 21 Jan 2009 by J. E. Holden
5.0 out of 5 stars
Simple. Stunning.
Just a quick review. Ignore the review from Madrid. This guy surely has listened to the wrong album. This album is stunning. Read more
Published on 24 Feb 2006
5.0 out of 5 stars
Cat Rules
Cat Power is the best new (to me) artist I discovered in 2005, and I am now greedily buying everything I can by her band. Her music is endlessly confident and good. Read more
Published on 21 Jan 2006 by moon cup user
2.0 out of 5 stars
More hype than substance
I'm sorry, but I just don't get it - Cat Power - loved by the critics - but why?
The music is extremely simplistic - a few musical phrases repeated endlessly. Read more
The music is extremely simplistic - a few musical phrases repeated endlessly. Read more
Published on 23 July 2004 by simonf
4.0 out of 5 stars
Slow dive
Chan Marshall's voice is as distinctive as her song writing. Seemingly loose and in disarray, these songs have slow purpose, gradually revealed on repeated listenings. Read more
Published on 13 Jan 2004 by G. J. Pearson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Delicately beautiful
Cat Power a.k.a. Chan Marshall has come a long way since Myra Lee, her debut 1996 album. She possesses a voice, which sounds like beautiful honesty, its incredibly raw and rings... Read more
Published on 4 Sep 2003 by Mr. D. N. Reece
5.0 out of 5 stars
Straight into my top 10
For the voice; take the bluesy drawl of Ricky Lee Jones, the folky angst of Beth Orton and add a smidgeon of Nina Simone. Read more
Published on 24 Mar 2003 by "ozthepoz"
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