Cat Power “Lived in Bars”

Cat Power’s new record, due for release in January 2006, is titled The Greatest. This title has been the object of many raised eyebrows after Matador’s announcement of its existence and posting of its cover image, seen at right (click for a huge version–if you look closely at the reflection of the gloves, it appears the picture was taken as they hung over a bathroom sink), of a gold-plated necklace medallion in the shape of boxing gloves. Initially, it reminded me of The Commodores’ Greatest Hits compilation, with its close-up of a gold-plated championship belt. But after remembering Chan’s mentioning of the derivation of her performing moniker during a performance in Indianapolis a few years back, this album’s title (by the way, it’s not a greatest hits compilation) doesn’t really come as a surprise. She related the story of seeing a trucker-style hat (pre-ironic, I’m assuming) toward the rear of a crowd bearing the name “CAT Power,” (referring to the unbridled supremacy of a piece of construction equipment), and delighting in its de-contextualized resonance, adopted it as her own. Perhaps she appreciated the disunity between the two words, or, imagining a prowling jungle beast, reveled in the harmony and mutual descriptiveness of the pair. Regardless, the name stuck, and it’s still never really existed peacefully with her music. Many people unfamiliar with her style who see the name in print conjure a Le Tigre-style punk fury from the name, then are shocked by her sultry, evocative, and subdued take on the singer/songwriter idiom. The same disjuncture applies to this new record–there’s not a punch to be thrown here, but plenty of whiskey drinks to be refilled and lone slow-dancing couples to admire on the makeshift dancefloor. The important thing to note, though, is that both titles of the artist and album, however contrived-sounding, both come from a very real and un-contrived place, as does the music. Where was You Are Free was Joni Mitchell through stained glass, The Greatest is Ricki Lee Jones and Dusty Springfield sharing a cigarette in a Memphis hotel bar.

Dig “Lived in Bars” (mp3)

Filed under: Cat Power  Indianapolis