What Would the Community Think
Encyclopedia
What Would the Community Think is the third album by American
singer-songwriter
Chan Marshall, also known as Cat Power
. It was released in 1996 on Matador Records
, and was produced by Sonic Youth
drummer Steve Shelley
. The album has been noted for its array of musical styles, ranging from alternative rock
to folk
and blues
. Though not a commercial hit, the album received unanimous critical acclaim and has been named as one of Cat Power's "masterpieces".
, and country
tracks, as well as for its largely melancholy lyrical subject matter.
The album's lead single, "Nude as the News
" was Cat Power's first song to receive an official music video
in 1997, directed by Brett Vapnek. In retrospect, Marshall has divulged that the ambiguous lyrics to the song were written about an abortion
she had in 1992, and the names "Jackson" and "Jesse" in the song are references to Patti Smith
's two children.
The cover artwork for the album was created by Chan Marshall out of a postcard
: "I just needed a cover and I had this postcard that I've had for a long time. It's this woman from the '70s in New York and they did this collage of cigarette ads and she whited out the eyes and instead of a cigarette she had a whistle. It's no big deal, I just cut out the center of her face and put mine on top. It made it look more real."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
Chan Marshall, also known as Cat Power
Cat Power
Charlyn Marie Marshall , also known as Chan Marshall or by her stage name Cat Power, is an American singer/songwriter and occasional actress and model. Cat Power was originally the name of Marshall's first band, but has come to refer to her musical projects with various backing bands...
. It was released in 1996 on Matador Records
Matador Records
Matador Records is an independent record label, with a roster of indie rock artists and bands.-History:Matador was started by Chris Lombardi in 1989 in his New York City apartment. The following year, Lombardi was joined by former Homestead Records manager Gerard Cosloy, and the two of them have...
, and was produced by Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth is an American alternative rock band from New York City, formed in 1981. The current lineup consists of Thurston Moore , Kim Gordon , Lee Ranaldo , Steve Shelley , and Mark Ibold .In their early career, Sonic Youth was associated with the No Wave art and music scene in New York City...
drummer Steve Shelley
Steve Shelley
Steven Jay Shelley is an American drummer, best known as the drummer of alternative rock band Sonic Youth.-Biography:...
. The album has been noted for its array of musical styles, ranging from alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
to folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
and blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
. Though not a commercial hit, the album received unanimous critical acclaim and has been named as one of Cat Power's "masterpieces".
History
What Would The Community Think marked Cat Power's third studio release, and has been noted for its blend of blues, alternative rockAlternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
, and country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
tracks, as well as for its largely melancholy lyrical subject matter.
The album's lead single, "Nude as the News
Nude as the News
"Nude as the News" is a song by the American singer/songwriter, Cat Power . It is the fourth song on her 1996 album, What Would the Community Think...
" was Cat Power's first song to receive an official music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
in 1997, directed by Brett Vapnek. In retrospect, Marshall has divulged that the ambiguous lyrics to the song were written about an abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
she had in 1992, and the names "Jackson" and "Jesse" in the song are references to Patti Smith
Patti Smith
Patricia Lee "Patti" Smith is an American singer-songwriter, poet and visual artist, who became a highly influential component of the New York City punk rock movement with her 1975 debut album Horses....
's two children.
The cover artwork for the album was created by Chan Marshall out of a postcard
Postcard
A postcard or post card is a rectangular piece of thick paper or thin cardboard intended for writing and mailing without an envelope....
: "I just needed a cover and I had this postcard that I've had for a long time. It's this woman from the '70s in New York and they did this collage of cigarette ads and she whited out the eyes and instead of a cigarette she had a whistle. It's no big deal, I just cut out the center of her face and put mine on top. It made it look more real."
Track listing
- "In This Hole" – 4:59
- "Good Clean Fun" – 4:46
- "What Would the Community Think" – 4:30
- "Nude as the NewsNude as the News"Nude as the News" is a song by the American singer/songwriter, Cat Power . It is the fourth song on her 1996 album, What Would the Community Think...
" – 4:23 - "They Tell Me" – 2:53
- "Taking People" – 3:25
- "The Fate of the Human Carbine" (Peter JefferiesPeter JefferiesPeter Jefferies is a musician from New Zealand.In 1981 Peter and his brother Graeme Jefferies formed the post-punk band Nocturnal Projections. The band released a few records, and played around their hometown of New Plymouth, as well as Auckland....
) – 2:58 - "King Rides By" – 4:03
- "Bathysphere" (Bill Callahan) – 3:01
- "Water & Air" – 4:43
- "Enough" – 4:25
- "The Coat Is Always On" – 3:34