Cat Power - You Are Free

A sad, elongated sigh of an album. Unstable and unpredictable, Chan Marshall, aka Cat Power, should have had a hit on her hands here, but her inability to perform live (the Dublin show in Whelans at the time must surely rank among the worst gigs of the decade) ensured that would never happen. Still, You Are Free remains undeniably great, the best album of an impressive catalogue. Marshall’s smoky, dusky voice is one of the most emotive instruments around, while her ability to conjure up beautiful two-note melodies rivals that of her ex-partner Bill Callahan. (Shane Murphy)