Description
Cat Power – What Would The Community Think – Vinyl Record
Released on September 10, 1996, What Would the Community Think is the third studio album by Cat Power, the moniker of singer-songwriter Chan Marshall. The album marked a turning point in her career, expanding on the lo-fi, raw aesthetic of her earlier work while introducing a more refined yet emotionally intense sound. Produced by Steve Fisk (known for his work with bands like Nirvana and Soundgarden), the record maintains a minimalist, melancholic atmosphere, blending elements of folk, indie rock, and slowcore with deeply introspective and poetic lyricism.
Musically, the album is both fragile and haunting, with Marshall’s aching, whispery vocals often feeling as though they are on the verge of breaking. The title track, “What Would the Community Think,” encapsulates the album’s themes of loneliness, anxiety, and self-reflection, while “Nude as the News” stands out as one of the most emotionally charged songs, addressing deeply personal themes, including an allusion to an abortion with raw, confessional storytelling. Tracks like “They Tell Me” and “Water & Air” drift between ethereal melodies and stripped-down, almost ghostly instrumentation, creating an intimate, uneasy mood. Meanwhile, “Good Clean Fun” and “Taking People” introduce moments of off-kilter energy, balancing the album’s otherwise somber tone.
Upon its release, What Would the Community Think received critical acclaim, with reviewers praising Marshall’s ability to create a deeply atmospheric and emotionally gripping experience. Though it was not a commercial success at the time, the album has since been recognized as a pivotal moment in the development of indie folk and alternative singer-songwriter music, influencing later artists such as Sharon Van Etten, Angel Olsen, and Julien Baker. With its blend of haunting minimalism, raw vulnerability, and poetic introspection, What Would the Community Think remains one of Cat Power’s most affecting and essential works.
Matador Records
Brand new, never played and still in the factory plastic
Track Listing
In This Hole
Good Clean Fun
What Would The Community Think
Nude As The News
They Tell Me
Taking People
Fate Of The Human Carbine
King Rides By
Bathysphere
Water & Air
Enough
The Coat Is Always On
