Link: Cat Power
The Inside Pulse:
If you’ve been on the fringes, thinking about investing in a Cat Power CD and feel like this is the time to jump in — wait. This disk is firmly in the “try before you buy” category (see link above for the trying). There are some talented musicians here, but their talent doesn’t raise the level. If anything, with Cat’s (Chan’s) vocals so far down in the mix, it’s more like she’s drowning and overpowered by the musicality around her.
The glowing reviews you’ll see elsewhere are a direct result of the tendancy of some in the reviewing community to reward favorite acts for taking a bold leap in style. Call it the “Ugly for Oscar” phenomenon. Roughing up (or in this case “rootsing up”) your style is not always a path to a truer sound. Here, it’s an awkward half step to somewhere she seems to want to go.
There are a couple golden moments where her sincerity carries the proceedings, but not nearly enough. “The Moon” and “Hate” are sparse enough that she can rise above and “Love and Communication” is a much needed exception to the rule (likely because it’s literally a different band), but anything else with a full band makes you feel like the session musicians are running the show, and that’s because it’s true. By the time it feels like she’s confidant in the company of her “band,” it’s far too late in the album.
Positives:
– It’s an interesting listen if only because it’s different for her and shows that Ardent Studios is still on the map.
– The good songs here point to a future point where “Cat Power” can drop the façade entirely and do something a little more real.
– It’s short, so the bright moments can almost carry you through the whole album. If they were front-loaded instead of hidden at the back, that would have helped.
Negatives:
– The whole thing has a “Looka me! I’m playing with real musicians!” feel that takes the spit out of the songs. If anyone took credit away from Joss Stone for being a fabrication should listen here for a study on how hard it is to front this kind of band. At least Joss sounds like she belongs.
– The juxtaposition of Cat Power and Southern soul has some critics in a tizzy. Not this one. Surrounding yourself with something real is just picking up a new façade and she just doesn’t sound like she buys herself in this role yet.
– The talent of the musicians is wasted on very simple songs. You can hear them wanting more to work with. Picking out quotes and improvs is a fun side game, by the way, but credit the band with those, not Cat Power.
Cross-breed:
Ani Difranco, Alex Chilton and Dusty Springfield (Neat, right? If it only worked…)
Reason to buy:
You love Cat Power (but be prepared to forgive a ton) or you (like too many reviewers) have a fascination with musical transitions.
