Jukebox came out hot on the heels of Cat Power’s critically acclaimed album, The Greatest. On this one she’s joined by Jim White, the Dirty Three drummer who backed her on Moon Pix, and Judah Bauer, of the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion. Although they don’t provide the smoothness of the Memphis old schoolers on The Greatest, they pound out a dramatic accompaniment for her sultry vocals. She covers a variety of tunes, including James Brown’s “Lost Someone” and Bob Dylan’s “I Believe in You”. There’s the original “Song for Bobby” where she recounts in conversational lyrics her youthful infatuation with Dylan. Everything wraps up with a cover of Joni Mitchell’s “Blue.”

• black vinyl pressing
• gatefold sleeve
• music label: Matador 2011

reviewed by The Voice 08/11