2008 Woodie Awards
Put another dime in 'Jukebox'
Chan Marshall's (AKA Cat Power) second cover album
By: Mike Fuksman
Issue date: 1/23/08 Section: Lifeline
Not many artists can make a whole record of other people's songs and call it good. Covers have long been the territory of washed-up bar bands and novelty lounge acts.
So how does Chan Marshall (known to most as Cat Power) make the songs of others her own?
"Jukebox," Marshall's second cover record, has the same bluesy swagger that made her recent release, "The Greatest," so appealing. Gone is the lilting, girly voice that was so prominent in her early records.
Marshall is closing in on 40, and she sounds like she's lived in bars.
Opening track "Theme from New York, New York" loses the Sinatra/Minelli glitz of the original, and replaces it with smoky keyboards and guitars. The song segues nicely into Hank Williams' "Ramblin' (Wo)man," a ballad about doomed lovers that seems like it was written just for Marshall.
It's interesting that this is Marshall's first record on which she doesn't actually play any instruments, and only sings.
But when you have veteran blues group Dirty Delta Blues backing you, there isn't really any need for more instrumentation.
The record features covers by other artists, sticking mostly to the famous blues and folk musicians Marshall grew up on.
Marshall takes a believable pass at Bob Dylan's "I Believe In You," and gives an eerily accurate Janis Joplin impression on "Woman Left Lonely."
But the standout track on the record is easily Marshall's take on blues/folk legend Joni Mitchell. Marshall tackles "Blue," one of Mitchell's most-well known songs.
A lesser singer might've wrestled with it and given up, but Marshall sounds right at home.
There are a couple tunes on "Jukebox" that seem a bit out of place. For one, Marshall "covers" her own song, "Metal Heart," without really improving on the original. The R&B/blues sound that works so well for her newer material just doesn't fit well with her older songs.
"Jukebox" also includes a single original tune, the folksy "Song To Bobby." While a decent song in its own right, it doesn't sit right with the bluesy mood of the record.
Marshall's background might explain some of her affinity for the blues. Like the artists she covers on this record, Marshall experienced a lot of pain and heartache before and during her musical career. Her early records were inspired and informed by drug addiction and personal loss, which just makes her blues all the more convincing.
lifeline@cm-life.com
So how does Chan Marshall (known to most as Cat Power) make the songs of others her own?
"Jukebox," Marshall's second cover record, has the same bluesy swagger that made her recent release, "The Greatest," so appealing. Gone is the lilting, girly voice that was so prominent in her early records.
Marshall is closing in on 40, and she sounds like she's lived in bars.
Opening track "Theme from New York, New York" loses the Sinatra/Minelli glitz of the original, and replaces it with smoky keyboards and guitars. The song segues nicely into Hank Williams' "Ramblin' (Wo)man," a ballad about doomed lovers that seems like it was written just for Marshall.
It's interesting that this is Marshall's first record on which she doesn't actually play any instruments, and only sings.
But when you have veteran blues group Dirty Delta Blues backing you, there isn't really any need for more instrumentation.
The record features covers by other artists, sticking mostly to the famous blues and folk musicians Marshall grew up on.
Marshall takes a believable pass at Bob Dylan's "I Believe In You," and gives an eerily accurate Janis Joplin impression on "Woman Left Lonely."
But the standout track on the record is easily Marshall's take on blues/folk legend Joni Mitchell. Marshall tackles "Blue," one of Mitchell's most-well known songs.
A lesser singer might've wrestled with it and given up, but Marshall sounds right at home.
There are a couple tunes on "Jukebox" that seem a bit out of place. For one, Marshall "covers" her own song, "Metal Heart," without really improving on the original. The R&B/blues sound that works so well for her newer material just doesn't fit well with her older songs.
"Jukebox" also includes a single original tune, the folksy "Song To Bobby." While a decent song in its own right, it doesn't sit right with the bluesy mood of the record.
Marshall's background might explain some of her affinity for the blues. Like the artists she covers on this record, Marshall experienced a lot of pain and heartache before and during her musical career. Her early records were inspired and informed by drug addiction and personal loss, which just makes her blues all the more convincing.
lifeline@cm-life.com
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