#15

Cat Power
The Greatest
(Matador)

Ms. Chan Marshall is one of only two women on this list bearing most of her record’s load – a fact that I’m both embarrassed and alarmed by. Is the underground that much of an exclusive fraternity? I’ll be the first to admit – 99% of women would be turned off, no, repulsed by Human Animal or even Hell Hath No Fury. But does music, and particularly independent music, always have to be a man’s man’s man’s man’s world?

Regardless, Chan is a hell of an artist. With one of the world’s best voices, a smoky, whispery croon, Marshall channels the Dusty (Springfield) south and creates one of the smoothest records short of Windham Hill. It’s old news that some of Memphis’ finest accompany Chan on this collection, but every time you press play, instead of getting some soul retread or worn out genre, you hear a woman on the top of her game lyrically, vocally and as a songwriter. It never gets old.