The album begins well with the short and sweet title tune, but then we go into a downward slide as the band starts to dominate the proceedings — the plodding piano chords and stiff drumming especially start to wear thin after awhile. Then, on track six, something suddenly sounds awfully familiar... "Willie Deadwilder and Rebecca..." Could it be? Yes, it's that gorgeous epic song (here retitled "Willie") reduced to a dreary mid-tempo two-stepping ballad with full backup band and annoying vocal overdubs. While I could listen to the 18-minute original over and over again for at least an hour, this new version becomes unbearable long before it finally ends a grueling six minutes later. What are you doing to your own beautiful song? Serious demerit points! Bad kitty-Cat Power... bad!
Once you get past that traumatic experience, though, the rest of the album is actually pretty enjoyable. "The Moon" and "Hate" ditch most of the band and benefit from the stripped down approach, and kitty-Cat even earns back a few points from me thanks to the catchy whistling in "After It All." "Where is My Love" is also a highlight with minimal piano and string accompaniment adding subtle atmosphere to simple yet poetic lyrics, and "Islands," like "The Greatest," is a brief but effective little song. There's also an uncredited "mystery track" at the end that achieves a nice mood with guitar, soft organ, and overdubbed vocals that sound just right this time.
Overall, while it's all fine and good that Cat Power is trying out some fresh arranging and production ideas with this new "Memphis band," I think she's still at her best when her voice is allowed plenty of room to breathe and when the band is just a lone piano or guitar. No, it's not The Greatest (or even The Goodest) but aside from a few serious misfires early on, The Greatest is a worthwhile listen and I predict that you will soon hear it playing at a Starbucks near you.
[from serenade in green]
Article comments
1 - Joe Battista
I checked out the samples on Amazon. I predict a track from this record will soon be used in a Volkswagen commercial. Your "Starbucks music" comment was dead on.
2 - Scott Butki
Excellent review. I love Cat Power's cover of the MJB song.
3 - John Britisher
Nah, don't understand the Starbucks comment (they play Norah Jones and Franz Ferdinand in my local obtrusive coffee chain, zzzzz).
I'm trying to think of anyone else who is producing music that sounds like this, past or present. Nope, no one I can think of and therefore this is a great record. It sounds lush, southern, rhythm 'n' bluesy, alternative and all at the same time.
I also like the You Are Free record alot, but I think this is by far her most ambitious musical journey yet and inspired in her choice of muicians. Right on for darkness!