Many singer-songwriters go through different stages throughout their careers due to mood changes or focus shifts: Daniel Johnston stopped writing songs about Laura; Bill Callahan changed his voice, changed his name, and changed his name again; and Cat Power (as well as the previous mentioned artists) got slicker recordings, slicker backup musicians, and started heading away from her sad and lonely songs. As a fan of the earlier, lonelier, lo-fi recordings from all three of these artists, I am a wee bit happy to announce that Chan Marshall is sad again.
Chan Marshall recently told the Courier-Mail that she has been working on a new record and said, "It's just me this time... I don't know if I should push all these [new] songs away and actually try to write and record it with the band. I don't know what to do. But I'm at a point where my heart tells me, ‘Chan, you haven't played piano or guitar for four or five years,’ and I do have guilt about that. People ask me, ‘When are you going to play by yourself?’ I have problems with strange yearnings and guilt." Elsewhere, she said, "I'm also frightened because some of them are sad again and I feel really nervous about that."
I say bring on the sadness!! Let it all out, Chan!!
At the end of the year, Cat Power will be heading over to Australia to do a short tour. Maybe she'll try and do the solo thing again and see how that goes. Here ya go, Australian fans:
12.30.09 - Phillip Island, Australia - Pyramid Rock Festival
12.31.09 - Brisbane, Australia - Powerhouse
01.02.10 - Gold Coast, Australia - Coolangatta Hotel
01.05.10 - Adelaide, Australia - Governor Hindmarsh Hotel
01.06.10 - Perth, Australia - The Astor Theatre
01.08.10 - Wollongong, Australia - Waves
01.09.10 - Newcastle, Australia - Panthers
01.10.10 - Sydney, Australia - Days Like This Festival