Author: Michael

Posted in Album Reviews

Cat Power – Wanderer (2018)

Posted on by Michael

51Yu4i3coML._AA327_QL65_The latest album for Chan Marshall, aka Cat Power, is not without controversy.  The Wanderer is her first album since 1996 not released on Matador Records who rejected the new album when presented.  This lead to a delay of over a year but resulted in a positive when first single “Woman” with Lana Del Rey was added. The defiant track features Cat Power and Del Rey duetting on verses and blending their voices during the chorus.

This is a spare, blues and folk record.  Often times Cat Power is just accompanied by a guitar, piano and other light instrumentation.  The title track is almost hymn like, solemn and reflective.  “Horizon” is a letter to the family and features an uplifting guitar line that feels like it’s building but never quite gets there. Second single “Stay” is a cover of a Rhianna track that Marshall heard while travelling in a cab.  Self-produced, The Wanderer is the record that Marshall wanted to make.  Quiet and personal, it is one that as it unfolds over the nearly 40 minutes is unfortunately hard to not have the mind start to wander as well.

7/10

Posted in Album Reviews

Paul Simon – The Paul Simon Songbook (1965)

Posted on by Michael

51xz1aZGmuL._AA327_QL65_After the commercial failure of the first Simon & Garfunkel album, Wednesday Morning, 3AM, Paul Simon retreated to England to play theatres and folk clubs.  It was there with just a microphone and acoustic guitar that Simon recorded the tracks that would form The Paul Simon Songbook.  The album combines tracks from the S&G debut and others that would appear on future releases.

Classic tracks that appear is the first recording of the effective young man angst “I Am a Rock”, a version of “The Sound of Silence” where Simon practically spits out the first lines and a beautiful rendition of “Kathy’s Song”. Other highlights include the Billy Bragg inspiration in “Leaves That Are Green” and vocal charm of “April She Will Come”.  The unfortunate Dylan parody of “A Simple Desultory Philippic…” is dreadful but is redeemed by the lyrical wordplay of “Flowers Never Bend With The Rainfall”

The sound of the album can be brittle and stark at times, a lone performer sitting on a stool with just a white spotlight upon them.  There is little warmth or texture but Simon is in fine vocal form singing songs from the heart. This is an essential recording as Paul Simon finds his voice and performs tracks that would become beloved the world over in just a few short years.

8/10