Cat Power

Jukebox

My first exposure to Cat Power (a.k.a. Chan Marshall) was unqualifiedly awful. A good friend of mine became an enthusiast in the late 1990s after seeing several charismatic shows in Chicago. But when I showed up for Cat's gig at a small club in Portland she completely unraveled to the point that it was too excruciating to watch. She couldn't make it through any of her songs, despite her fans' efforts to cheer her on.

True to her name Ms. Power appears to be in possession of nine lives, and thankfully her near death experience eight years ago did not prevent her from pouncing out of that soiled litter box and securing a snazzy name in the spotlights. She's released two solid albums since then - You Are Free and The Greatest - and I've heard from friends and critics alike that, against the odds, she's transformed into one of most engaging live performers around.

Currently she's featured on two bestselling hipster soundtracks - I'm Not There and Juno - and this week she released Jukebox, a very enjoyable collection of cover songs (devotees will remember that she released her first covers album, aptly called The Covers Record, in 2000). So far my favorites are "New York" and a soulful take on Joni Mitchell's "Blue" that's backed by an organ accompaniment. It's worth your while to shell out a few extra buckaroos for the deluxe edition, which gets you a second disc with five extra tunes.