Blast from the Past: Cat Powers' Moon Pix

If VH1 were ever to bring back Behind the Music, the story of Cat Power would make for one entertaining hour of television. It has all the basic elements of their standard documentaries; enormous talents and promise, inauspicious beginnings, torment by the demons of alcohol and drugs, and finally the triumphant overcoming of those demons and the recording of arguably her finest work. The whole story plays beautifully for Behind the Music, the arch, the various other musicians she has worked with, the gaps between albums, all scream tortured artist louder then any person ever could. And it was during her first hiatus from music that Marshall dreamed the dream that would inspire Moon Pix, and album that took all of her potential and talent and pushed it to new emotional heights.

Two years after her last release, What Would the Community Think, Marshall finally returned from her self imposed retirement. It may not seem like a long time, but when you consider that Marshall seemed to truly believe she was done with music it all comes into some perspective. During this time she spent some time in Australia, where she started writing songs resulting from a nightmare she had had. The songs became the bulk of Moon Pix, songs that were drenched in deep emotions. For the recording she enlisted the help of Mick Turner and Jim White of the Dirty Three, instead of Steve Shelly and Tim Foljahn who had been with her on the previous two records. Those were all the changes Marshall needed to create her breakout album.

Cat Power's first three records had been vigorous mixes of elements of punk, blues, and folk mixed together but on Moon Pix Marshall focused on making a complete and soulful record. There are still bits of everything she loved in there it was just blended together to create a warmer, more emotive sound then anything she had done prior to it. The music is dark and at times thoroughly depressing, and it's made even more so by the subtle sounds of Chan Marshall's lovely voice. They are gentle and wounded, but still so powerful at the same time.

Listening to Moon Pix now we can hear exactly where Chan's next two albums came from. The sound, the textures, the way she uses her voice all truly started to develop on this record. This is what led us to You Are Free and The Greatest, it is where Marshall learned to focus within her records to create cohesive wholes. It is a fine record on its own, but when you look at the brilliance of what was to come you can see how truly important this record was.
Cat Power - "American Flag"
Cat Power - "Metal Heart"
Cat Power - "Moonshiner"
Cat Power - "Cross Bones Style"

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Various Artists Everything Is Nice
Spoon's Telephono
Yo La Tengo's Painful