Jukebox

Maybe Cat Powers early recordings are too unique, too personal, and too good. Many who discovered Cat Power in the early days are very opinionated about anything and everything she's done since. They seem to want every new record to be recorded at the same tempo with the same spare sound. When a new Covers record was announced, they were surely hoping it would be just like the first one, or better yet, a retread of Moon Pix. Never mind that those records were recorded long ago when Chan was a different person in a different place.Those same fans crowed that The Greatest was some kind of sellout. It was so glossy that it somehow showed Marshall's true aspirations to become a pop star. Never mind the fact that it was recorded by Al Green's old sidemen on old equipment and had a decidedly low-fi sound by today's standards. (And that she was completely unable to support the album due to personal issues.) They can be forgiven somewhat though; the title track was possibly a bit overproduced. Since it was track #1, some probably tuned out and ended up missing the other great songs and performances.As great and beloved as the early Cat Power recordings are, she's an artist who has grown and has the ability to reach higher now. There is nothing by the numbers about Jukebox. There is more creativity in this one record of "covers" than you will find in 99% of the original music that will be released this year. Each song becomes definitively her own, the band is brilliant, and her voice is clearer and stronger than it's ever been. Those are all good things. The cd is great all the way through with many standouts. New York is almost shocking when it registers what you are listening to. The decision that it was time to cover some of Marshall's own songs after 10 years was brilliant. The Dylan back to back, one cover, one original track, is incredible. I would wager money that Dylan himself would say so.Jukebox is essential listening. (Deluxe Edition is a MUST.)

This physically slim little album by Cat Power has TWO CDs in it, and it's easy to overlook the second, shorter recording. This is a cover album, and Cat Power masters each song in her uniquely breathy, soulful way. Of particular enjoyment are "Ramblin' (Woman)," a cover of Hank Williams' "Ramblin' Man," a delicate version of Joni Mitchell's "Blue," and "Silver Stallion," written by Lee Clayton. On "Silver Stallion," Ms. Power gently inhaled this listener; and you might find yourself, as I did, hanging on her every, oh-so-soft pronunciation of the word "ride." (There's a terrific, live, acoustic version of this song on YouTube -- with accompaniment by Ms. Power's two stellar guitarists, and a great pair of full-length gloves).That said, I can't quite give this recording five stars. It's a cover album, after all, and perhaps some songs should best be left UNcovered. And the leadoff track, "New York, New York," is suddenly over before Ms. Power has settled into it. But there's a lot to like on "Jukebox." So, relax...and enjoy the "ride."

That's right indie kids, Chan is less depressed and therefore able to express a greater range of emotion, in music that will likely appeal to more people. And that, of course, makes the music inferior to stuff that only you and your hipster friends appreciate--I mean, what the hell's the point of listening to something that doesn't make you feel like the coolest kids in the dorm? Alright, enough sarcasm. This may be Cat Power's best album yet, with its trippy tortured version of "Blue" and the original "Song for Bobby" which just might have Mr. Zimmerman seeking a restraining order. The real point of this review, however, is to point out that the songs on the bonus disc in the Deluxe Edition are NOT the usual "bonus" crap that was rightfully left off of (or not even considered for) the actual album. So, it's the one to get, especially considering that, last time I looked, the Deluxe Edition was actually selling at a lower price than the non-deluxe version (and even if that's changed, it's worth whatever extra couple of bucks makes up the difference).

Here's the deal: I just really like her voice. It's one of those voices which I would enjoy even if she were singing the contents of the Boise telephone book. So yeah, I like this CD as I've liked everything she's done. So why 4 stars instead of 5? Just the covers aspect. Cat Power has done, in my view, some wonderful renditions of other people's songs, but covers CDs rarely stand the test of time like a recording of great originals. So one star removed for the "Okay, Cat...enough covers already"factor. Otherwise, hey....it's Cat Power and it's not the Boise telephone book, so four solid, honest stars.

Chan Marshall continues to expand her music in wonderful directions with this great new CD. Back in 2000, she did her really nice "Covers Record" CD which brought her to my attention. For "Jukebox" she expands that concept using her great Dirty Delta Blues Band and other crack musicians, great production, and her own confidence and verve to create another exquisite song collection. This one takes the lush sounds of her last, "The Greatest", and applies it to these great new covers as well as re-dos of a few of her earlier songs. "New York", the first cover song is a brilliant recreation (she did something similar with "Satisfaction" on "Covers"). And the CD flows nicely from there. Cool cover songs choices, and the bonus disc is also worth having.

This album contains the best version of New York, New York to ever be recorded. The rest of the album is very good and perhaps among one the best I have heard from her and I have heard of few. The sound and style is very emotive and soulful. This is a great album to drink/burn or bang to on a rainy day for sure. If you dig doing those kinds of things. Don't pass this up if your looking into it.

Cat Power singing covers her way .. Beautiful..

Diese DoLP im schön gestalteten Hochglanzcover ( Silber, Gatefoldcover ) wurde von Chan Marshall aka Cat Power ganz selbsbewußt JUKEBOX benannt. In einer solchen befanden sich in grauer Vorzeit nunmal lauter Hitsingles. Und genau das ist auf diesen beiden LPs zu finden. Ein Hammertrack reiht sich an den anderen. Große Worte braucht man über diese Ausnahmemusikerin nicht mehr verlieren. Ihre Musik spricht für sich. Mit diesem Meisterwerk läßt sie so ziemlich alle anderen in diesem Metier hinter sich. Die gute Cat ist, bis auf wenige Ausnahmen, ( zwei um genau zu sein, P.J. Harvey und Lucinda Williams ) allen Lichtjahre überlegen. Also, worauf warten? Cat Power hören und Denken: Solche Platten sind der Grund, warum man Musik hört.

Poco más hay que decir de Cat Power que no se haya dicho ya. Su folk dulce, experimental y minimalista es ya un clásico dentro del género.Para mí, éste es uno de sus mejores discos. Un valor seguro.

bonjour,j'avais acheté sont album you are free,grace à une émision de Naguy ou elle faisait un duoavec Buddy Guy,j'avais été subjugué par sa présence,Naguy aussi d'ailleur,mais néanmoins déçu par cettealbum,sans doute pas près.Redécouvert grace à youtube,les chansons naked if want to,song to bobby et bien d'autres,je suis devenu un incondicionnelle de Charlyn Marie Marshal,l'album 2cd jukebox+the greatest sont de pure merveille,malheureusement sont dernier album sun me déconcerte un peu,comme Katie Mélua,Norah Jones,changement de style,dommageils perdent je trouve de leurs identitées ,mais bon elles sont peut-être obligées d'evoluées,moi je suis un papy,ceci explique peut-être cela.cordialement.

数あるCDの中で何度も聞いてしまいます。キャットパワーさん、飽きないです。素敵なヴォイスに曲、良いです。自分的には出会えてヨカッタ一枚になりました！