I started writing this article two months ago with Cat Power's style in mind. After extensive research I deleted everything I'd written. I knew she was a musician and a Lagerfeld muse but I didn't know that I would fall in love with her music. Chan Marshall has released quite a few records so far, but I've started with her ten year old album Moon Pix. The songs have a soul of their own. Some stories are told with such penetrating intensity that is not doubt influenced by Chan's voice has the ability to lack emotional inhibition. She isn't afraid to feel the burn of tears that won't fall or stutter or let words almost unrecognizably drawl out in a hushed tone. Guitars quirkily layer and it works even though some may think it shouldn't. They don't take away from Chan's feelings, they create an atmosphere. In one song, "Say", the sound of grey roaring clouds complement the music while providing a darker atmosphere. "Moonshiner" is the tale of an alcoholic who has been a slave to the drug for many years. For me the peak moment on the record is in this track when she sings ," We're already in hell! I wish we could go to hell!" with such intense and helpless sincerity that must coax listener's to tears at Cat Power shows. In a turn that's more sweet than bitter "Colours and the Kids" is a stream of consciousness where Chan sings confections like "It must just be the colours and the kids that keep me alive, because the music is boring me to death", "Will you meet me down on a sandy beach, we can roll up our jeans, so the tide won't get us below the knee" and "When we were teenagers we wanted to be the sky."
See how many references you can spot in "Cross Bones Style."
This video of "Metal Heart", another standout track, has me spellbound. It breaks my heart every time she sings "Metal heart, your not worth a thing."
from What Would the Community Think
"He War"
from You Are Free
richard avedon ^
