Album Review: Cat Power – Sings Dylan



Celebrating the Timeless Legacy of Bob Dylan with a Signature Twist

Cat Power Sings Dylan is a masterclass in musical homage, where Chan Marshall (aka Cat Power) takes on one of music's most iconic catalogs and transforms it into something distinctly her own. Released in 2024, this album is more than just a tribute to Bob Dylan—it’s an exploration of the emotional depths hidden within his work, filtered through Cat Power’s raw, soulful lens.

The Approach: Stripping Down and Building Up

From the first track, you realize Marshall isn’t here to merely cover Dylan’s greatest hits; she’s here to deconstruct them, pulling apart their layers and reshaping them into meditative, haunting renditions. Rather than recreating Dylan’s folk-rock sound, she strips down the songs to their emotional core, allowing her husky vocals, sparse arrangements, and subtle instrumentation to reshape the listener’s experience of these timeless tracks.

Her version of "Like a Rolling Stone" trades the song's original punch and defiance for a more introspective, almost mournful vibe. The result feels as if the song is less a question to a world-weary wanderer and more a reflection of someone confronting the loss of their identity—a powerful transformation that highlights Marshall’s ability to reinterpret rather than imitate.

Standout Tracks: New Light on Old Classics

The beauty of Cat Power Sings Dylan lies in how Marshall curates the Dylan songs that resonate with her unique voice. One standout is her take on "Simple Twist of Fate." She slows down the tempo, allowing the melancholy of the lyrics to come to the forefront. With nothing but gentle guitar strumming and her evocative vocals, Marshall reveals the quiet devastation in Dylan’s words in a way that feels intimate and personal.

Another highlight is "I Shall Be Released." In this track, Cat Power layers in a sparse gospel-like harmony, making the song feel more like a plea than a declaration of freedom. The delicate arrangement leaves space for her voice to soar, delivering an aching, hopeful interpretation that breathes new life into the classic.

A Personal Tribute

Marshall has never been shy about her admiration for Bob Dylan—her past live performances have often included Dylan covers, and her style has long echoed his blend of folk, blues, and rock. But this album, her first full-length Dylan tribute, feels like a deeply personal project. Rather than aiming to match Dylan’s unmistakable style, she uses her voice to amplify the subtleties in his writing. You can hear her connection to the material in every breathy note, every unexpected phrasing, as if she’s revealing a side of Dylan that’s always been there, waiting for someone like her to find it.

The Legacy of Dylan, Through Cat Power’s Eyes

What Cat Power Sings Dylan does so well is what few tribute albums achieve—it feels essential. While fans of Dylan might be hesitant to embrace any reinterpretation of his work, Marshall’s renditions stand alone as rich, emotional journeys. For Cat Power fans, this album is a reminder of her brilliance as a song interpreter, capable of imbuing every song she touches with a fresh perspective.

It’s not just an album of Dylan songs—it’s an album of Cat Power through Dylan, a melding of two musical spirits that honors the legacy of both artists.

Final Thoughts

Cat Power Sings Dylan isn’t just for Dylan die-hards. It’s for anyone who appreciates music’s ability to evolve, to be reimagined through new voices and perspectives. Cat Power’s reinterpretations give us a way to hear Bob Dylan’s songs in a different light, and in doing so, she proves that great songs never age—they just find new ways to resonate.



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