Cat Power Covers

Covers is Chan Marshall’s third album of covers; the others being 2000’s The Covers Record and 2008’s Jukebox. It’s no surprise that Marshall, an artist so adept at re-imagining the work of others, has returned to this particular well, and Covers is surely her most accomplished collection to date. The sole Cat Power original, Unhate, a re-written version of 2006’s Hate, offers a possible explanation as to why Marshall appears so on top of her game—the original’s gut-wrenching “I hate myself and want to die” line now is delivered in a reflective past tense. Other highlights include a beautiful version of These Days (popularized by Nico, but written by a sixteen year Jackson Browne) and a jaw-dropping interpretation of Frank Ocean’s Bad Religion. As Marshall proves time and time again, you don’t need original compositions to express how you’re feeling; Covers exudes confidence and hints at a new-found peace. It’s a delightful listen.