You Are Free, by Cat Power

Chan Marshall is the singer and songwriter behind the oddly named Cat Power. Her vocals work magic over sparse guitar or piano accompaniment on her new album, You Are Free. That is not to say that the music is simple, though. The raw nature of the stripped down sound contribute to the extremely intimate nature of the songs. Even on the more layered tracks you feel like you are witnessing an intimate performance. When something this original comes around, it isn’t surprising to hear Marshall described as the “premier female singer-songwriters of our generation” and “one of the most original and compelling singer-songwriters around.” I have to admit this album took a while to grow on me. If you give it a chance, this amazing album will surely become a favorite in your collection.