You Are Free

A Lucinda Williams for the younger, more “Indie” crowd, Cat Power’s Chan Marshall, now nine years into her career, has finally released the album it seemed she was always capable of. More varied and cogent than her often dense, now classic previous studio album Moon Pix, Chan Marshall has delivered the album of her career with You Are Free. 

Claiming that she lives “here and there,” Marshall’s free-spirited pose on life is the subject of her newest body of work. Doubtfully an optimist and clearly not a reactionary, Marshall manages to be free when and where she can without rubbing anyone the wrong way. As a result of Marshall’s down-home, yet ambitious attitude, we have a diverse 14-song epic that defines what a good-hearted woman making good-hearted music should sound like.

The heartbreaking “Good Woman” features backing vocals by both a full children’s choir as well as Eddie Vedder posing as Marshall’s children and husband in a story of a family breaking up for the good of each individual. Vedder isn’t the only high-profile guest on You Are Free; recent Queens of the Stone Age drummer etc. Dave Grohl lends his rhythm skills throughout. “Teen Spirit” fans beware: these aren’t Songs for the Deaf but songs for the all too wide awake. The variety of artists and tempos helps You Are Free maintain variety throughout as well as a freshness that very well may result in distinguished label of “timeless.”

While most albums with the topic of freedom come across as condescending and gimmicky, You Are Free survives (and thrives) off of its employment of humility. You Are Free isn’t freeing you from the government, your parents or your past; it’s simply reminding you that in life you are free. If you are looking for an anarchist chant-a-long, this isn’t it. If you want a challenge, get two copies of You Are Free, one for you and one for your oppressors.    8/10

Written by G. Wiliam Locke