a love letter to cat power

Dear Cat Power, (may I call you Chan?)

I'm in love with you. Despite the fact that the likes of Katie Melua or KT Tunstall being more popular than you by a mile, I consider you supreme to them in the one category that matter : Music. And you're so much prettier than them.

Your warm, sultry voice, your erratic stage performance, this mystique that surrounds you, are all factors which attract and repel people from you. And your songs. They're like rivers, supported by your words , meandering, moving, ever changing until it reaches the sea and stop. Note that by reaching the sea I don't mean some kind of conclusion or climax. It just stops. Which explains why you're not as famous as you really should be. As we all know, artistic freedom counts for fuck all in music business these days. Yes you can call me a music snob, but hey, what's the point of making music when you're not going to express yourself?

Admittedly I've only recently discovered you. Your new album The Greatest is a work of art, despite not being representative of your earlier work. From the elegant melancholy of the title track to the slow burning Love and Communication, they're superbly written and ably supported by veterans of the Memphis soul scene. Hungry for more I dug out What Would The Community Think. Upon hearing it I was surprised by its rawness. Unlike the lush musical palette of The Greatest, this one is decidedly minimalist. But again it's a powerful work you've delivered. I particularly liked the visceral Nude as The News.

The stark contrast apparent in those two albums, I've read, owes no small part in your growth as a musician. I can't wait to get your other albums. Rewarded is he, who gives your work a chance, because it's not something you can like instantly. But ultimately the beauty will shine through and then you can not live without it.

Thus ends this insignificant paean to one of the most talented musician of her generation. If you were to read this, please leave a comment. Or better yet, marry me.


Yours truly,

J K

p.s. I've found videos of you at youtube, just click here, and here, and here. (Not sure if that's you on the last video, please let me know)