Day After Day #258: He War

Day After Day is an ambitious attempt to write about a song every day in 2024 (starting on Jan. 4).

He War (2003)

I first heard Cat Power in the late '90s on the great Matador Records compilation What's Up Matador and was instantly impressed by the songs therein, "Nude as the News" and "Back of Your Head." Her voice was interesting and the instrumentation was raw and minimalistic but affecting.

Cat Power was the name of Chan Marshall's first band; when she went solo, she took it as her stage name. The Atlanta native moved to New York City in 1992 and started playing improvisational music in clubs. She made her first two albums at the same time in December 1994 with guitarist Tim Foljahn and Sonic Youth drummer Steve Shelley, who she had met after she opened for Liz Phair the year before. The trio recorded 20 songs in one day, which she split into two albums that were released in October 1995 and March 1996. Marshall's music was a lo-fi mix of folk, blues, country and punk.

She signed with Matador and released her third album in the fall of '96, What Would the Community Think, again backed by Foljahn and Shelley, who also produced the album. "Nude as the News" was on this release, which was praised by critics. She went to Australia to record her next album, 1998's Moon Pix, with Mick Turner and Jim White of the band Dirty Three on guitar and drums. It's a strong collection, with "Cross Bones Style" a particular standout.

Marshall was getting more attention from the media. She released a covers album in 2000, one of which was a striking take on the Rolling Stones "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction." She also did some modeling during this time. 

In February 2003, Marshall released her first album of original songs in five years, You Are Free, featuring some big-name guest stars including Eddie Vedder, Dave Grohl and Warren Ellis. The song "He War" featured Grohl on drums and was about an old relationship that fell apart.

"I never meant to be the needle that broke your back/You were here, you were here, and you were here/Don't look back/He war he war/He will kill for you/He war he war/He will kill for you/From who you can/You know you can/Hey hey hey."

Marshall's gritty guitar drives the song, although she has complained that she didn't like the final version of the song, noting that the original version was more Stonesy. Duly noted, but I've always enjoyed this version.

"I'm not that hot new chick/And if you won't let me run with it/We're on to you same old trick/Get up and run away with it/Hey hey hey/He war he war/He will kill for you."

During her 2003-04 tour, Marshall's live performances grew erratic; sometimes she would decide not to play and others she would just ramble from the stage. She later said she had a drinking problem at this time. In 2006, she released The Greatest, a soul-influenced album that debuted at #34 on the Billboard 200 and won critical acclaim. In the years since, she has released two albums of covers and two of original material. I haven't kept up with everything she's done over the last 15 years, but I really enjoy the raw, early albums she made.