Album Review - Cat Power "The Greatest" - Guest Blogger

Having access to a record store owner that listens to all the CD's he orders is a rarity these days, and Cat Power The Greatest was one of the albums that he recommended. She was playing on the stores music system at the time, and I couldn't help but be mesmerized by her husky alto voice. Released in 2006, it received critical acclaim with Rolling Stones Magazine rating it as one of their albums of 2006.

The album starts with a lilting, rhythm driven, medium tempo number. Cat Power's voice gently pours over the piano melody, breathy but substantial. The track sets the tone for the rest of the album and although there are brief moves in and out of "country", and the "blues", the overall tone of the album does not develop or vary much as the album progresses. It has an intimate and mellow feel, and although it starts of with a gentle punch, it peaks quickly and the tracks start to blend into each other. This is probably partly due to the fact that Cat rarely extends her voice, either to the extremes of pitch or volume. Although her Indie/Folk style will appeal to some, for me it's the sort of album that is pleasant, but forgettable. Definitely not the greatest.

Standout tracks: "The Greatest, "Hate"
Give a miss: "After it All"

Rating: 3/5