Audio Mixer: Edward Douglas.

Recording information: Mott Street Space (12/1994).

Editor: Oliver Strauss.

Unknown Contributor Roles: Steve Shelley; Tim Foljahn; Chan Marshall.

The 1996 album Myra Lee presents a more diverse and fully developed version of Cat Power's music, ranging from the winding, acoustic menace of "Enough" to the sinewy rock of "We All Die." Introspective epics like "Great Expectations," "Faces," and "Wealthy Man" use churning tempos and spiraling guitars to convey Chan Marshall's melancholy musical vision, but gentler songs like the trembling cover of Hank Williams' "Still in Love" and originals like "Top Expert" and "Ice Water" are parts of the picture as well, adding warmth and roundness to the album. As always, Marshall's yearning voice lends extra emotion to her songs, whether it's her clear, soaring vocals on the new version of "Rockets" or her distant, half-heard moans on the final track, "Not What You Want," which sounds genuine to the point of eavesdropping. This raw, overheard sound infuses Myra Lee with a sonic honesty that matches the album's heartfelt songwriting. ~ Heather Phares

Recorded quickly with bassist Tim Foljahn and drummer Steve Shelley from her previous album, WHAT WOULD THE COMMUNITY THINK? and released quietly on Shelley's part-time Smells Like label, MYRA LEE isn't the tossed-off marking-time effort you might expect. Chan (pronounced Shawn) Marshall's acoustic guitar-based tunes are always rather sparse, and this is by far her most skeletal album, the near-subliminal backing placing her clear voice and disquieting lyrics front and center throughout.

Opening with the quiet desperation of "Enough," the bleakness continues on the blues-inflected "We All Die" and a simply heartbreaking solo rendition of Hank Williams' "I Can't Help It If I'm Still in Love With You." It's not all slit-your-wrists material--"Not What You Want" and the rueful "Wealthy Man" are more dismissive than anguished--but MYRA LEE is a stark and powerful folk-based acoustic pop album.