Filed under: cd review, folk, indie, mellow music, music, music spotlight, quirky | Tags: sexy, beautiful, indie, mellow, Cover, cat power, bob dylan, Billie Holiday, Rolling Stones, Cover albums, Chan Marshall, track
To listen to Cat Power and find out more about her, visit:
www.matadorrecords.com/cat_power
www.myspace.com/catpower
Sounds like: A little Janis Joplin mixed with some Joni Mitchell, as calm and unrushed as molasses.
FYI: Cat Power’s first covers record was called just that, The Covers Record, released in 2000. It featured such interesting reinterpretations of songs like (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction, made famous by the Rolling Stone’s and Moby Grape’s Naked, If I Want to, which has also been redone for Jukebox.
Tidbit: Two Cat Power cover songs (popularly featured in commercials), have yet to appear on an album. They are Cat Stevens’ How Can I Tell You and Blondie’s Hanging on The Telephone.
Below is the tracklist for the album, including the names of the artists that originally made the songs famous. It should be noted as well that the last five songs are only included on the Deluxe album.
1. New York (Frank Sinatra)
2. Ramblin’ (Wo)man (Hank Williams)
3. Metal Heart (new version of original Cat Power song, from the Moon pix album)
4. Silver Stallion (The Highwaymen)
5. Aretha, Sing One For Me (George Jackson)
6. Lost Someone (James Brown)
7. Lord, Help The Poor And Needy (Jessie Mae Hemphill)
8. I Believe In You (Bob Dylan)
9. Song To Bobby (New Cat Power)
10. Don’t Explain (Billie Holiday)
11. Woman Left Lonely (Janis Joplin)
12. Blue (Joni Mitchell)
13. I Feel (Hot Boys)
14. Naked, If I Want To (Moby Grape, previously done for 2000’s The Covers Album)
15. Breathless (Nick Cave)
16. Angelitos Negros (Roberta Flack)
17. She’s Got You (Patsy Cline)
Standout Tracks: New York, Metal Heart, I Believe In You, Don’t Explain, Naked If I Want To, She’s Got You
Best Played: Each song has it’s own mood really, but mostly it’s a CD to mellow out, think, and appreciate life to.
Suggested Research: House of the Rising Sun (from 2006’s Itunes Live Session), I Don’t Blame You, Free, He War (all from 2003’s You Are Free), I Found a Reason (from 2000’s The Covers Album), The Greatest, Lived in Bars (both from 2006’s The Greatest) and Rockets (from 1995’s Dear Sir)
Current Resume: Dear Sir (1995), What Would the Community Think (1996), Moon Pix (1998), The Covers Record (2000), You Are Free (2003), The Greatest (2006), Live Session Itunes Exclusive (2006), Up and Gone – single (2007), Jukebox (2008)
Filed under: american, cd review, charity, music | Tags: Amilia K. Spicer, Britta Phillips, Carmen Townsend, charity, Cindy Wheeler, Cover Album, Covers, Dala, Darcie Miner, Elk City, Euro-trash Girl, Heidi Gluck, Jill Sobule, John Doe, Josie Cotton, Julie Peel, Kate York, Kristin Hersh, Lori McKenna, Louise Post, Luff, music, Neil Young, Tanya Donelly, The Watson Twins, Veruca Salt
Sounds like: Fantastic, feminine reinterpretations and direct covers of Neil Young. Plain and simple.
For people very firmly rooted in Neil Young’s now classic music remaining untouched, this is not the CD for you. Neither is it for you if you’re not prepared to hear some of your favorite female artists singing a style yet unheard from them. However, those listed above will be sorely missing out, because ‘Cinnamon Girl’ is a wonderful example of a charity/cover album done right. Populated by some of the best female singers and songwriters around, the CD pays a wonderful homage to Neil, and yet stands alone as it’s own creation. The songs are mostly of the stripped bare variety, with just the bare essentials needed, and it works in every instance. All in all, a great CD, with endless talent and heart, worthy of many, many listens.
Album Sales Benefit: Casting for Recovery, a national non-profit support and educational program for women who have or had breast cancer.
Artists include: Tanya Donelly, Britta Phillips, Kate York, Lori McKenna, Jill Sobule with John Doe, Veruca Salt, Josie Cotton, Dala, Darcie Miner, Carmen Townsend, Euro-trash Girl, Julie Peel, Luff, Elk City, Amilia K. Spicer, Louise Post, The Watson Twins, Kristin Hersh, Cindy Wheeler, Heidi Gluck
Standout Tracks: Comes a Time covered by Kate York, A Man Needs a Maid covered by Dala, Ohio covered by Darcie Miner (and another by Dala, both great), Powderfinger covered by the Watson Twins, Walk On covered by Heidi Gluck
Best Played: whenever you need a female singalong moment with Neil Young
Filed under: british, cd review, music | Tags: Arctic Monkeys, brit, british, British Sea Power, indie, Killers, Modest Mouse, music, post-pop, rock, rock music
Sounds Like: The Killers meet the Arctic Monkeys meet Modest Mouse.
The British Sea Power are not your typical rock band. Sure, in recent years they’ve garnered comparison to the Arcade Fire (perhaps unfairly, as they’ve been around longer), but it’s probably more accurate to put them into a category with a band like the Pixies. Still an unfair comparison, and one greater than they can live up to at present, but that’s the point. They are a band that, though currently falling short of the expectations held for them, soldier on and create great, interesting, colorful music. In fact, the band is fond of taking to the stage in vintage military uniforms, though it’s not an ironic scene. Somehow, despite the potted plants and starched army pants, they come off instead as endearing, and their music in the past had served to only increase those feelings. Maybe that was why I had hoped to defend them against the comparisons they seem so bogged down by upon hearing ‘Do You Like Rock Music?’, and after listening to it I have no doubts this CD will garner them a vast audience and success they have yet to experience before. Unfortunately, as occasionally happens with bands trying new things, The British Sea Power made the unfortunate mistake of losing some of the uniqueness that made them so easy to defend in the past. ‘Do You Like Rock Music?’ is an accessible, interesting, well-made album, if a little earnest in the delivery, and the songs are fun, dance worthy rock songs, but they lack the heart of their previous, deeper thinking, soul searching songs. ‘Do You Like Rock Music?’ has the makings of a successful album, and will do the band wonders in gaining them new fans, but to keep them they will need to bring back some of what they have lost beneath newfound producers and editing. Until then, this newest CD will take a back seat to ‘Open Season’ on my playlist.
Standout Tracks:All In it, Waving Flags, Atom, Everybody Must Be Saved
Best Played: while bouncing around your room or car with your best buds.
Current Resume: The Decline of the British Sea Power (2003), Open Season (2005), Krankenhaus? – EP (2007), Do You Like Rock Music? (2008)
Recommended research: Remember Me (off 2003’s The Decline of the British Sea Power), Please Stand Up, To Get to Sleep, Oh Larsen B (all from 2005’s Open Season)
Filed under: cd review, french, music | Tags: cd review, debut, Django Reinhardt, Feist, folk, indie, Iron, mellow, self-titled, vocal., Wine, Yael Naïm
Sounds like: Iron & Wine’s mellow instrumental work, meets Django Reinhardt’s melodic prowess, meets Feist’s expressive lyrics and vocal talent.
FYI: Yes, that is a melancholy cover of Britney Spear’s Toxic at the end of her album.
In the past, Apple has been known to ‘make’ artists with their clever ad campaigns, from the chaos of their colorful iPod ads to the calm minimalism of their Mac ads. However, not even they could’ve predicted the sudden success of Yael Naïm’s self-titled american debut upon being featured in the much anticipated 08′ Macbook Air commercial (shown below). A native of Paris, France, Yael was born to a Jewish-Sephardi family, and moved to Israel when she was very young. Her multi-cultural upbringing is perhaps best expressed on the first track of her album, titled ‘Paris’. On it she sings in both Hebrew and French. However, despite being brought up world’s apart, Yael’s music is very relevant to music today in the USA, and undoubtedly much of the new fan base she has gained will continue to support this talented songstress and her sweet, lyrical folk vocals in the future.
Standout Tracks: New Soul, Levater (hebrew), Lonely, Far Far
Best Played During: Mellow romantic evenings in with the one you love.
Filed under: american, cd review, indie, music | Tags: 2008, cd review, foo fighters, indie, Lucky, mellow, music, Nada Surf, pop, rock, Snow Patrol
Sounds Like: Snow Patrol and the Foo Fighters indie lovechild
For those who are familiar with Nada Surf, their latest release ‘Lucky’ may come as a surprise. At first listen, Lucky seems almost saccharine in comparison to previous albums, but don’t mistake the new, brighter sound and catchier lyrics for insincerity or excessive cheese. Lucky is just the latest evolution of a band who has been honing their craft for over a decade. For some diehard fans, Lucky has the potential to be a let down, but ignoring comparisons with albums of old, this newest venture by Matthew Caws, Ira Elliot and Daniel Lorca is a wonderful showcase of their talent and continued drive to create great, upbeat albums. And though some fans might not like the idea of sharing one of indie rock/pop’s best kept secrets, Lucky has the potential to garner the affection of a much broader and more varied audience than Nada Surf has ever had before.
Standout Tracks: See These Bones, Whose Authority, Here Goes Something, From Now On
Best Played During: Long, sunny day drives with the top down.
Current Resume: High/low (1996), The Proximity Effect (1998), Let Go (2002), Live in Brussels (2004), The Weight is a Gift (2005), Karmic – EP (2007), Lucky (2008)
Recommended research: Blankest Year (off 2005’s The Weight is a Gift), Inside of Love (off 2003’s Let Go), Popular (off 1996’s High/Low)
