Artist: Cat Power
Album: You Are Free
Year: 2003
Title: Names
His name was Perry
He had a learning difficulty
His father was a very mean man
His father burned his skin
His father send him to his death
He was ten years old
He was ten years old
He was ten years old
Her name was Naomi
Beautiful round face, so ashamed
Told me how to please a man
After school in the back of a bus
She was doing it every day
She was eleven years old
She was eleven years old
She was eleven years old
Her name was Sheryl
Black hair, like an electric space
She would pretty paint my face
She was a very good friend
Her father would come to her in the night
She was twelve years old
She was twelve years old
She was twelve years old
His name was Donovan
He was a very good friend
The cards were stacked against him
He was selling cocaine
The last time I saw him
He was thirteen years old
He was thirteen years old
He was thirteen years old
His name was Charles
He said he was in love with me
We were both fourteen
Then I had to move away
Then he begin to smoke crack
Then he had to sell ass
I don't know where he is
I don't know where they are
以下介紹文字引自https://pulp.bluecircus.net/archives/007158.html
出生於美國南方的喬治亞州，高中輟學後輾轉漂泊至紐約發展，本名Chan Marshall的Cat Power是當今深受樂迷愛戴的女性唱作人。
獨特慵懶的南方嗓音，一路堅持的獨立創作風格與偶爾脫序的現場演出，這些甚具識別性的個人特徵遂使Cat Power成了躲藏於脆弱音樂層次下的謎樣女子。2003年發行的You Are Free成功地打入了全球市場，俘虜了樂評與樂迷之耳。Cat Power雖替自己掙得了更多樂迷，但突然而至的名利加身，也使這名心靈纖細的女子得將自己暴露於更多的公領域下。憂鬱與酗酒無可避免的成了擺脫不掉的負擔。
這名早慧才女同時經歷了感情低潮與事業高峰，相反的力量不斷拉扯。歷史上擁有太多相似例子，當藝術家遇上了挫折的逆境或矛盾的相持，往往會回到心靈的發源處，尋找最初的簡潔與悸動。Cat Power踏著相似步伐回到了熟悉的南方，她生命的發跡地，帶來了第七張專輯The Greatest。
錄製於孟斐斯市的傳奇錄音室Ardent Studios，夥同曾替Modest Mouse、White Stripes等藝人錄音的製作人Stuart Sikes，Cat Power於這間被稱作【靈魂工廠】的房子裡，與前輩樂手共同激盪出專輯裡十二首各異其趣的曲子。她組了臨時伴奏樂隊Memphis Rhythm Band，團裡均是靈魂樂界赫赫有名的資深樂手。他們深厚的音樂涵養也對Cat Power的音樂發散著顯而易見的影響力。
清脆的獨白鋼琴，緩慢流洩的空心吉他與錯落有致的輕盈合聲，這些樂迷們熟悉的聆聽記憶依舊密佈於新專輯裡。然而那些鏗鏘有力的、出自大師手筆的樂器彈奏，卻使Cat Power的音樂滲透出更悠長的韻味。淺嚐即止的滑弦吉他，份量適中的銅管樂器組，或是悠揚舒緩的提琴獨奏；藉由前輩的相助，Cat Power延長了自身音樂的豐富性。如同潤喉的烈酒同時散發著清新的香氣，新舊兩代相互激盪的成果，是貨真價實的音樂質地。
除了旋律，Cat Power的詞句也一如往昔的誠實直接，打散於簡易明瞭的對位詩句內。有時她唱著”I hate myself and I want to die”這般讓人不忍卒睹的赤裸告白，有時她又緩緩傾訴著男孩夢想成為偉大拳手的動人故事。這是一幕幕平凡生活的告解，也是奇異跳動的狂想。
The Greatest，名副其實，這是她出道至今最動聽的作品。
（原文刊載於「滾石雜誌」中文版）
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