Oh My Rockness

Cat Power, aka Chan Marshall, haunts me. Every time I put her on, I get depressed. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not, but without question her music is effective at conjuring a strong audience reaction. Marshall exists on another plane of reality and her freakishly frightened stage presence is proof of this.

Her huge fan base is no doubt a tribute to her voice -- a voice rich in its intimacy and entirely her own. Her cryptic lyrics are almost without interpretation, yet somehow a comment on the human condition still seems to spew forth. You may not be able to figure her out, but Cat Power's musical imagery isn't for analyzing or deconstructing. It's meant to be heard.

Published 08/24/04