9 • JANUARY 25, 2008 arcade Cat Power seduces with her Jukebox picks broke out in 2007 with The Reminder Dirty Delta Blues Band, the same band rap group famous for Cat Power (fueled by her omnipresent iPod com- with which Cat Power recorded her last launching Lil' Wayne's CAT POWER JUKE SOX Jukebox mercial), so naturally the world seems album The Greatest, the hip New York career. "I Feel" is an Matador Records ready for her "rival." City girl finds her inner Southern soul odd and ironic choice alternative Cat Power (whose real name is Chan singer, and finds a way to make her nor- of cover, but like every- B+ Marshall), while not a new artist by any mally soft-yet-sexy vocals reach new thing else on Jukebox, means, sounds particularly ready for and affecting heights. The DDBB pro- Cat Power's rendition the spotlight on Jukebox, even if she vides great backing with its roots-style, is all her own. Michael Drohan is mostly singing other people's songs. bluesy tracking, which, along with Mar- reviews editor Jukebox, though, is a seductive collec- shall's vocals, make covers often unrec- Bottom Line: An tion, so steeped in Cat Power's own sul- ognizable next to their original form. eclectic mix of covers The classic, female, silk-voiced try style that one cannot help but lust The track list Cat Power put together so boiled in blues they crooner - where art thou? In recent to listen. here, played in the songs' original ver- are transformed into years, women in popular music have had Cat Power starts the set with the sions, would sound erratic and random Cat Powers own. Ifyou their voices frequently overpowered by best, an incredibly creative cover of played next to each other. Aside from like Feist or just good the processed power pop behind them, Frank Sinatra's ''New York, New York." the Frank Sinatra cover, songs by Hank music, put another inflating their overall appearances with Hard drums and organ permeate the Williams, James Brown and Joni Mitch- dime in for this Juke- as much fakery as the employees of the track, creating something that sounds as ell among others appear on Jukebox. box, baby. Hustler Club on Bourbon Street. original as a cover can. The song also Marshall also covers a famous New Download This: But a new movement back to what's properly introduces the tone the album Orleans group on the disc. Yes, you "New York, New York" real has developed in the past year. Feist eventually takes. Recorded with the guessed right: It's the Hot Boyz, the and "I Feel" Chill out with Costa Juno's music fits well of practice he almost went pro. Un- skips from lush, string and brass acoustic guitar and her sing-song measure. Matt Costa fortunately for his skating career, he arrangements to acoustic campfire- Various Artists voice, Dawson sings about grown- Only a couple of missteps Unfamiliar Faces shattered his leg and was forced to worthy songs. Juno up themes from an adolescent - the album opener "All I Want rest for a year and a half. It was dur- In the album-opener and first stance. In her anti-Bush anthem, Brushfire Records B Rhino Records Is You" by children's singer Barry folk/pop ing this period that he developed his single "Mr. Pitiful," Costa pleads, soundtrack "Loose Lips", Dawson tells us that Louis Polisar is fun at first but guitar skills and recorded his first "You see at all I don't expect you A- her ''war-paint is Sharpie ink." For wears thin after a few listens, and demo. By chance, No Doubt guitar- to admit that you were wrong/ Just those out there who have seen the album's closer, "Anyone Else Spencer Dorsey ist Tom Dumont listened to it and want to know how you've been/ Nathan Scott the film, one instantly recognizes But You", a Moldy Peaches cover as.sociat.t reviews editor offered Costa assistance in captur- Don't make me feel bad that we're contributing writer the smart-ass defiance of the title by Michael Cera and Ellen Page, ing his guitar and vocal talent still friends." This epitomizes Cos- character. For those out there who is listenable but doesn't really add Since joining Jack Johnson's In the recording sessions with ta's tendency to write about serious, When deciding on the music have not, think of any passionate anything to the original version. Brushfire Records ｬ ｡ ｢ ･ ｾ Matt Costa Dumont in 2005, Costa released personal experience while invoking for his movie Juno, director Jason teenage girl you've ever met. (For concerned Peaches fans out has given listeners just a sample of his first full-length album Songs a bouncy, optimistic piano-driven Reitman asked the star Ellen Page Aside from Dawson the album there, their version of "Anyone his knack for thoughtful, fun pop We Sing in 2005. He subsequent- melody. what type of music she thought the is littered with indie favorites- Else But You" is also mercifully songs. On his latest album Un- ly toured with Jack Johnson and On the other hand, selections title character would listen to. Page Belle and Sebastian make a couple included.) familiar Faces, Costa beautifully signed to Johnson's Brushfire Re- like ''Heart of Stone" and "Never mentioned The Moldy Peaches, of appearances, along with clas- Aside from nitpicking, the al- combines harmonica and acoustic cords ｬ ｡ ｢ ･ ｾ giving Costa national Looking Back" recount his personal which led Reitman to contact band sics from The Velvet Underground bum works well as a whole. For guitar-driven folk songs with sunny attention. Costa has stayed busy the afflictions. In the latter song, Costa member Kimya Dawson. Dawson, and The Kinks. The album's real those of you wanting to connect pop songs about not so gleeful top- past three years touring as support- sings "But they don't have my back, the feminine half of the Peaches, highlight comes halfway through, to that pissed-off teenager of yes- ics. He truly has solidified his niche ing act for bands like Pinback and so I'm never looking back," saying provides six of the nineteen songs though, when the acoustic guitar teryear, or just want something to in the music industry as the singer- Built to Spill and singer-songwriter he wants to leave his past behind on the soundtrack, and her pres- is put down and glarn-rock kings hum along to over Mardi Gras, songwriter who doesn't fear writing Elvis Perkins. and start anew. ence is laced throughout the en- Mott the Hoople crash out "All pick it up. songs about depression and betrayal Unfamiliar Faces will please fans tirety of the album. the Young Dudes," a Bowie-writ- while strumming his guitar glee- of Spoon, Ben Kweller, and Ben Bottom Line: A strong sopho- And she is the right choice. ten behemoth that'll get caught in Bottom Line: A sing-song and fully. Folds in its provoking, pronounced more album with memorable camp- Dawson's tunes, roughly labeled your head for days. After all the fitting soundtrack to a film that Raised in Huntington Beach, lyrics, though it sounds more like fire-worthy acoustic jams and lush as anti-folk, capture the spirit quiet fun ofDawson and B&S, the tackles some tough subjects. California, Costa followed his am- a collection of songs rather than a pensive pop songs. of the film. Her songs are child- soundtrack really gets a chance to Download This: "Anyone Else bition to become a competitive smooth-flowing album. Each song Download This: "Mr. Pitiful" like but never juvenile, sweet but take off here, with Bowie wailing But You" (Moldy Peaches ver- skateboarder, and in just a few years has a distinct theme, and the album and "Never Looking Back" never saccharine. Usually just an away on backup vocals for good sion) Crossword ACROSS 1 A bit eccentric 6 Arp's art movement 10 Volcanic discharge 14 Chilean pianist Claudio 15 Farm team 2 J!lir I> I.. I J!lir 1E tu out· selection of 16 State firmly Mardi Gras music 17 Mel of c.artoon compilation eds! voices I>A.ATT 18 Gale to the sounds of the 20 Charlie Chaplin's besl local artists! Your headqu.art:ers for Professor Longhajr, Allen Toussaint, brother Meters, Johnny Sketch, Zydepunks, Mardi Gras Supplies 21 Rub the wrong Neville Bros., Dr. John, Rebirth, •JESTER HATS* Hot 8, & Lil Rascals Brass Bands, *MASKS• way *tit-WORTHY BEADS* ｐ ｾ Growｰ ｡ Funk, Quintron, *BOAS* 23 Yours, long ago Radiators, Bonerama *HAIR DYE* 24 High regard alactic, Fats Domino *FLASHING JEWELRY* 26 Rooted out 27 Lose hope 29 Misfortune 30 Pointing, as a gun 31 3-D displays 36 Present Persia 37 Pursue relentlessly © 2008 Tribune Media Services, Inc. 39 Grow less All rights reserved. 40 Rational 42 Gained EASY HARD knowledge 7 Self-evident truth Solutions 44 Curtain holder 8 Disavow I I 3 s 3 .L g l 1 Is I 45 Bears 9 "War Peace" N s s I 2 - ; . r-- . ｾ ｬ Ｍ Ｍ ｾ ,_ - - - t- - I - - -· - - 46 Loud uproar 1 O Woodworker's 3 s v 3 d ---- s 1--+--+--+--+-- H 8 6 9 I 7 9 50 Northern U.S. m achine n 3 3 ｾ I neighbor 11 Duck around I 51 Put on again 12 Early Sci-Fi I 9 7 f 3 I u 7 I 3 9 6 52 Former Vegas writer • i ' 1 __ ,_____3 6 4 7 casino 13 Packing heat I - ,,__ D - - 53 Bivouac bed 19 Point the way 1 8 9 I 6 5 56 All of us 22 Reside beside 2 ,_ r- Ｍ ｾ I - 58 Yep 25 Pirouettes - ·-- ·-- 0 j - 60 High point 26 Tree-covered 7 14 5 5 1 I 61 Continental area ' K 5 1 6 4 3 1 I 9 prefix 27 Speaker's .