Cat Power: Dark End Of the Street- Album Review

Dark End Of the Street is the new EP of cover songs from our favorite moper Cat Power.  This bookends 2008 with cover releases from Chan Marshall.  In January she released the full length Jukebox (review) which itself was accompanied by a bonus EP.

Much like Jukebox Marshall leans heavily on the history of American music for the six songs that comprise Dark End Of the Street.  

The title track is an unexceptional cover of the Flying Burrito Brothers.

The tension is palpable during the cover of CCR's "Fortunate Son".  One can almost feel Marshall reining in the energy of the original, barely keeping the song under control.  You get the sense that a true rocker could burst forth at any moment.

As Pitchfork pointed out in its review, there are far better versions of "Ye Auld Triangle" that have been recorded.  The Pogues' version is the benchmark, but the Dropkick Murphys' is worth a listen as well.  As far as the Cat Power cover goes, it is interesting to hear the track played with an almost jazzy soulfulness.

The EP is rounded out by covers of Otis Redding's "I've Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now)", the Judy Collins song "Who Knows Where the Time Goes", and Aretha Frankin's "It Ain't Fair", none of which are very noteworthy.

With a couple of exceptions Dark End Of the Street is really just a collection of odds and ends that weren't good enough to make the cut on Jukebox.  Even the EP that came with the full length had more zip to it than this (i.e. the startlingly good cover of Nick Cave's "Breathless").

This is by no means a necessary pick up.

Best track: "Fortunate Son"

Track listing for Dark End Of the Street:

• Dark End of the Street
• Fortunate Son
• Ye Auld Triangle
• I've Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now)
• Who Knows Where the Time Goes
• It Ain't Fair

5.0

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