Cat Power

If you’re a fan of Cat Power, you probably know that she could sing the words off the back of a cereal box and it would sound beautiful. While her latest album is barely a departure from 2000’s The Covers Record, the project covers some serious oldies-but-goodies, as well as one original track. The opening song, a variation of Ol’ Blue Eyes’ “New York, New York” sets a jazzy tone for the rest of the album. She shines on “Aretha, Sing One for Me,” but flattens with Janis Joplin’s “Woman Left Lonely” and Joni Mitchell’s “Blue,” finishing strong, however, with her own “Song to Bobby.” The album lives up to its name and works simply as a jukebox would in a crowded bar—it’s nice background noise. Which is to say, the songs aren’t bad, there’s just nothing particularly special about them.