No Wind or Waterfall Could Stop Me

There is nothing more annoying then the musical snobs that drop their end of the year “Best of” list chock full of bands you’ve never heard of. So I’m stuck reading reviews of Sufjan Stevens because you’re too stuck up to admit that the Dave Matthews Band could put out a good album just because they’ve been played on the radio in the last ten years. (Feel free to check out mine - Best Albums of 2005) Another act that keeps coming up in year end lists is Cat Power, whom I never heard a song from yet the musical snobs always wax poetic about since she started recording back in 1995.

So after ten years of ignoring her, I’ve decided to give her new album, The Greatest a listen. First off, to avoid any confusion by the title, I must mention that this is and album of all new material, not a greatest hits package. The album itself was recorded in Memphis with many of the cities greats including members of Booker T. and the MG’s, but doesn’t sound much like a soul record instead it’s more of a folksy country album centered around a piano. If anything, the soul musicians are able to beautifully add different instruments around the piano building up grandeur to the songs.

But the music never overshadows the voice of Cat Power, or as her parents call her, Chan Marshall. She has the haunting voice that commands attention and you can tell she’s been through her share of heartbreak. The Greatest is just one the albums you need to play driving on a warm summer night with all your windows down on a country road to fully appreciate especially the breezy, whistling inducing After it All. And even though there isn’t much deviation between songs, just like a Jack Johnson album, they are different enough that the album will never get old. Maybe now that I’m a Cat Power convert, I should finally check out that Sufjan Stevens album. Nah, I’ll just wait another ten years to check him out too.

Song to Download - After it All

The Greatest gets a on my Terror Alert Scale.