January/February 2008 Issue

Jukebox

Cat Power. <i>Matador</i>.

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Chan Marshall proved she could tackle the classics on the mostly acoustic The Covers Record back in 2000. On Jukebox, a full band joins her for jazzy renditions of ten oldies and two originals. The end result lands, oddly enough, in the current fashion for soulful “re-versions” à la remixer/Amy Winehouse-cohort Mark Ronson. The album opens brashly, with a funky and barely recognizable “New York, New York,” followed by a gender-inverted take on Hank Williams’ “Ramblin’ Man” that recalls the smoky air of Portishead. These are inspired, startling readings, but not every one is quite so radical. Janis Joplin’s “Woman Left Lonely” retains its hushed organ, and the Highwaymen’s “Silver Stallion” still has its twang. Whether revamping a standard or inhabiting its soul, Cat Power has the unique vision to pull it off.

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THE FACTS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.

At least we hope they will, because that’s our approach to raising the $350,000 in online donations we need right now—during our high-stakes December fundraising push.

It’s the most important month of the year for our fundraising, with upward of 15 percent of our annual online total coming in during the final week—and there’s a lot to say about why Mother Jones’ journalism, and thus hitting that big number, matters tremendously right now.

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So we’re going to try making this as un-annoying as possible. In “Let the Facts Speak for Themselves” we give it our best shot, answering three questions that most any fundraising should try to speak to: Why us, why now, why does it matter?

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