CD Review: Cat Stevens - Gold

To your average music enthusiast, Cat Stevens is the man who wrote half of the screenplay to Harold and Maude with his song "If You Want to Sing Out Sing Out," and then just sort of freaked out. To some of us, though, Cat Stevens isn't just a pop-minded religious zealot - he's our pop-minded religious zealot.

Cat Stevens albums were big players in the Horvath household's music selection in the 1980s because they were a lot safer than listening to Madonna, and he's one of my mother's favorite artists. Does this make me a Cat Stevens expert? Well, I wouldn't go so far as calling myself an "expert," but I do know good Cat Stevens when I hear it. The newest release of Cat Stevens' hits, appropriately entitled Gold, is the essential Cat Stevens album for anyone who enjoys his music, especially if you want all his greatest tunes packed in a simple two-disc format.

Cat's had a few greatest hits albums and box sets in his vast discography, but, let's be honest, this one has all you need plus a little more. Disc one opens up with the upbeat "Matthew and Son," following it with the ever popular "Here Comes My Baby." Other songs included by cultural obligation are "The First Cut is the Deepest," "Wild World," "Moonshadow," and of course, "If You Want to Sing Out Sing Out." It took this reviewer a long time to get over the greatness of disc one and move on to disc two, but to be honest, most of the songs on disc two didn't ring many bells.

Most of the songs represent his later career after 1971's Teaser and the Firecat (which includes "The Wind" and "Peace Train," both of which are also on disc one of Gold). The second disc includes the very whimsical "Oh Very Young," "King of Trees," and "(Remember the Days of the) Old Schoolyard." As a whole, the second disc does not carry the same weight as the first disc, and the cheese factor in disc two could be too much for some people. I personally blame '70s AM radio for this lapse in musical refinement.

All in all, though, you're not buying Gold for Stevens' lesser-known work. You're buying it because you grew up with it, you love his now-kitschy pop sensibilities, or maybe becuase you're soundtracking your next pseudo-indie smash hit (this last one applies to Wes Anderson only. Hi, Wes.). Either way, you'll be well-served by the first disc's assortment of classic hits. If the latter half wants to sing out, well, who am I to stop it?

Reviewed by Jessica Horvath

Article Author: Modern Pea Pod

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