Picked up Cat Power’s Jukebox yesterday. I dl’d it from eMusic … a good number of the early reviews made it clear that I shouldn’t actually spend money on it, as there were a lot of cyber-snickers about it being remarkably mediocre. However, I’m here to tell you that it’s a strong record from an artist in her prime.
Is it the revelation that her previous album was? Absolutely not. But it’s a covers record … what do you expect? You have to judge an album on the grounds which it is constructed (for instance, this would be the worst trip-hop album ever … good thing it isn’t making an attempt to be one). This may not be the album that critics wanted her to make, but it’s a solid follow up to a career-making album.
If you like Cat Power’s sultry, smoky, wounded warble … and lots of reverb, this is definitely worthwhile purchase. The opening track, “New York,” saves the song from the grips of Sinatra and coffee commercials everywhere … listen for yourself below. It’s followed by the lone new original song on the record, a heartfelt ode to Dylan: the power that the man and his music holds for Chan. I also recommend her cover of “I Believe in You” from Dylan’s Jesus period (but, much like good old Jeezy Creezy, you’ll have to find that one on your own).
I submit to you, the American Public, that Hillary Rodham Clinton has been a consistent user of steroids and/or HGH and should be suspended for the next 45-60 primaries. I heard about this from source who prefers to remain anonymous and has been granted full immunity, so I know their story is legit.
For my evidence, please look at this photo of Hillary in her youth, versus this recent photo.
Note the swelling of the head, as well as the irritability.
This would also explain her ability to throw heat at Barack Obama at this late stage of her political career.
Roid Rage would also explain her “crying” fits, as well as her campaign’s obnoxious position that voting to fund soldiers constitutes “supporting the war” … giving her and Obama “the same record” on the subject. Obviously he wouldn’t have voted for the war, considering the speeches he made at the time. That’s not in question. It’s a ridiculous, academic response to the fact that she (and most of the US) made an awful mistake that Obama didn’t have the opportunity to make.
Finally, it might account for her inability to apologize for that vote to go to war in the first place.
Really, that’s all I want.
Oh and anyone who isn’t named Bush or Clinton to be president.
Yoga for Indie Rockers and Pilates for Indie Rockers:
http://blog.allmusic.com/2008/01/02/move-over-punk-rock-aerobics-now-theres-something-mellower/
This is how it starts, folks. Eventually, Feist will release her own line of clothing for WalMart and Sufjan Stevens will have his own Christmas Specials every year on ABC. Actually, that second one sounds pretty good to me.
But I can hear the Baby Boomers snicker now as they file one by one into their retirement homes … It will happen to you, too. We tried to warn you. You all will grow old and … lame.
So I have failed miserably in my attempt to be a consistent blogger. Perhaps “the holidays” were a bad time to attempt this elusive endeavor. Perhaps it’s just not that important to me. Either way, I do hope to post here more often in the new year.
The changing of calendars (as U2 reminds us every frickin’ year) is mostly a administrative marker. Does it actually mean something? Eh … depends on how you react to it, I guess. For me, the year still hinges on the school calendar. Autumn is the time where I really stop and say “woah, I started college/high school/kindergarten X years ago.”
That being said … there’s something about this morning. As I sit in my kitchen, sipping coffee in my favorite robe … light streaming through the windows … knocking out some stuff for work … listening to my iPod’s morning mix … staring at my shiny new iPhone … I feel slightly hopeful for 2008. I feel like I’ve been revving my engine for a few months now, and I’m just about ready to slip it into first gear.
So here’s to you and yours. Eat, drink, be merry. All that.
