Cat Power: Why I Stalk You

Just kidding. I don't really stalk her. You Are Free is one of the best albums to come out on Matador records in the last ten years. Sure, its been out for over 2 years now, but have you ever really listened to it? The opening track, I Don't Blame You sends chills down my spine every time I hear it. Sadness, coupled with a haunting harmony and the visions of a man onstage amidst the throng of phillistines gathered for a piece of his soul, mocking art and doing violence to noise, sex, sex, sex and a tear for the mirror. Speak for Me is a big hearted howl tearing through the tendons of sound enveloping my conciousness speaking auguries of hope, promise, and life. Life. He War. Pure sex and a big fuck you to all men. Give it to me. Give it to me. Shaking Paper descends the spiral staircase on the heels of John Coltrane and the Village Vanguard beats with goatees ablaze and brimstone in their hash pipes. Names like the pages of a dysfunctional picture album with pot leaves in the margins and strands of strichnine encrusted hair wrapped in gold ribbons and kissed with a farewell and a backwards glance.

All in all, Chan Marshall really, really needs to have my babies. Or at least stop feeding me to the cops when I'm outside her window at 3 am with a camcorder and a hard on. :-).