Chan Marshall, a.k.a. Cat Power, started out in the mid-90's as an indie lo-fi singer/songwriter, helped along by former Sonic Youth and Dirty Three members. She's since gradually shifted toward a more "adult" mainstream sound, culminating in her critically acclaimed album "The Greatest", recorded with seasoned southern soul veterans. As implied by the title, follow-up "JukeBox" is a covers album in which she celebrates her new style by paying tribute to her influences. The musicians here may come from the indie rock scene (J.S. Blues Explosion, Dirty Three) but they manage to recreate The Greatest's swampy blues/soul sound. Cat herself wisely chooses not to compete with the classic soul divas she's influenced by. Instead of pushing her voice to the limits in a vain effort to imitate Aretha, she sings in her own airily soulful manner. The album opens with an unexpected bluesy cover of Liza Minnelli/Frank Sinatra's "New York". It is a testament to her ability to transform familiar songs, first evidenced around 2000 in her "Cover Record" album. Another good example is her treatment of Hank Williams' "Ramblin' Man" where she inverts the gender and covers it in a smoky atmosphere and slow beat reminiscent of The Portishead. Her own "Metal Heart" is also re-imagined along those lines while in "Silver Stallion" she proves that, while she's quite good at soul, where she really shines is country. On the pleading "Lost Someone" she removes the funk from a James Brown song while "Lord, Help the Poor & Needy" is an almost hypnotic take on a rousing spiritual. George Jackson's "Aretha, Sing One for Me" is more standard R&B, with nice groovy organ. Cover "I Believe in You" makes for a weaker Dylan tribute than the folkish original composition/fan letter "Song to Bobby". Billie Holiday's "Don't Explain" is so low-key it passes unnoticed. Her version of "Woman Left Lonely" has nothing of Janis Joplin's grit and power but is nevertheless almost worthy of the original, in a warm and emotive way. Joni Mitchell's "Blue" is slow and sexy and, once again, reminds me of Portishead. My own version of the CD ends with a cover of a contemporary song, for a change. It's a naked, funereal-paced take on Nick Cave's "Breathless", originally on 2004's "Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus" album. It's not surprising to see this among songs 30 or more years older as Cave's music has the mark of classic about it. Cat's "Juke Box", in contrast, ends up sounding more retro than classic. Which is alright by me: these covers are innovatively arranged, well sung and played. One can't ask for more, really...
**** for New York (Liza Minnelli), Ramblin' Woman (Hank Williams) Silver Stallion (The Highwaymen a.k.a. Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and Kris Kristofferson), Song to Bobby (Cat Power)
*** for Metal Heart (Cat Power), Aretha, Sing One for Me (George Jackson), Lost Someone (James Brown, Blue (Joni Mitchell), Breathless (Nick Cave)
** for I Believe in You (Bob Dylan), Don't Explain (Billie Holiday)
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