Dynamic Meter

Tomorrow, Cat Power (Chan Marshall) is back with her second disc of cover tunes, Jukebox. The aptly named The Covers Record was her fist, released in 2000. She recorded Jukebox with the Dirty Delta Blues, which has replaced the Memphis Rhythm Band that she was previously touring with. She will also be touring with this lineup in 2008.

Jukebox is another great album by Cat Power. Like any compelling artist, she strikes the difficult balance of having some connectivity to her previous work, The Greatest, while still showing growth as an artist. I think this is made even more difficult by a record that is made up of all but two songs by other performers. And to her credit, she does this very successfully.

Beyond the songs, to me, one of the most appealing aspects of Cat Power is there’s a cracking or a rawness to her singing that is so compelling. It draws you into the music—wanting to listen carefully—so as not to miss what is coming next.

There are some gutsy choices on Jukebox, such as “Don’t Explain,” which was made famous by Billy Holiday or Joni Mitchell’s “Blue.” To attempt and successfully re-interpret songs by some of the great vocal stylists goes to show what an immense talent Chan Marshall is.


Here is the listing for the album. And if you just can’t wait until tomorrow, you can listen to it here.







1. New York (Frank Sinatra)
2. Ramblin’ (Wo)man (Hank Williams)
3. Metal Heart (Cat Power)
4. Silver Stallion (The Highwaymen)
5. Aretha, Sing One For Me (George Jackson)
6. Lost Someone (James Brown)
7. Lord, Help The Poor And Needy (Jessie Mae Hemphill)
8. I Believe In You (Bob Dylan)
9. Song To Bobby (Cat Power)
10. Don’t Explain (Billie Holiday)
11. Woman Left Lonely (Janis Joplin)
12. Blue (Joni Mitchell)