User ratings in Music are temporarily disabled. More info

The Greatest
by
  • Record Label:
  • Release Date:
The Greatest Image
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 35 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 89 Ratings

  • Summary: Despite the misleading title, 'The Greatest' is not a best-of collection, but rather is Chan Marshall's first album of original songs in three years. It was recorded in Memphis and finds the singer backed by some of that city's legendary session musicians.

Top Track

The Greatest
Once I wanted to be the greatest No wind or waterfall could stall me And then came the rush of the flood Stars at night turned deep to dust Melt me... See the rest of the song lyrics
See Full Track List »
Powered by

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 30 out of 35
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 35
  3. Negative: 0 out of 35
  1. Spin
    100
    After only a few spins, The Greatest sounds like another [masterpiece]. [Feb 2006, p.84]
    All this publication's reviews
  2. Tiny Mix Tapes
    90
    This will be on most of the indie-ish year end tops charts this year, guaranteed.
  3. Los Angeles Times
    88
    Never so flatly confessional as to be artless, her plaintive sentiments are still nakedly honest, strangely restrained yet unfettered. Still, Marshall's singing occasionally feels distant, negating the intimacy. [22 Jan 2006]
    All this publication's reviews
  4. Slant Magazine
    80
    A stirring, raw masterpiece.
  5. E! Online
    75
    Though it's an interesting idea and is at times stirring, the results don't always work as well as one would hope.
  6. Dot Music
    70
    If [some]songs catch a magical intangible by pairing Marshall's naked vocal with a ghost of Memphis passion, others fail to turn the same trick.
  7. Austin Chronicle
    40
    Though the lyrics are light ("Could We") and often banal ("The Moon"), the warm, Mazzy Star minimalism and neon-roots groove are fairly irresistible.

See all 35 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 30 out of 41
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 41
  3. Negative: 4 out of 41
  1. rass.
    Jan 3, 2009
    10
    perfect!
  2. BrianE
    Jan 26, 2006
    10
    don't beliee the hesitant reviewers - its perfect
  4. mr.hankey
    Mar 28, 2006
    9
    Obviously this is not even close to the brilliance of " You Are Free " but it will have to do. Chan Marshall aka Cat Power goes for the Obviously this is not even close to the brilliance of " You Are Free " but it will have to do. Chan Marshall aka Cat Power goes for the memphis blues to influence her on this wonderful album that seems to have deep thought and love put into it. Chan Marshall has a true and disturbingly real voice that comes out at you and you listen in awe. But this as I said before is not her best album " The Covers Record and " You Are Free" stand out as her best even though they lack many traits for a perfect album they are still folk/ rock masterpieces. I do love " The Greatest " It is still a album that will not let you lose grip of. My last words are that if you are a fan of Chan then give it a try even though many fans do not enjoy it is still worth a listen who would you rather listen to Britney Spears or Chan Marshall?… Expand
  5. RaulJ
    Jan 29, 2006
    8
    chan has expanded into orchestrated music and the results are a pleasure. her intimite charms are lushly accompanied with strings, horns and chan has expanded into orchestrated music and the results are a pleasure. her intimite charms are lushly accompanied with strings, horns and life. a welcomed step from a wonderful artist. to those who don't get it-good, you don't deserve to.… Expand
  6. ja
    Apr 5, 2007
    8
    Another relese full of restrained, beautiful song writing, but these new songs don't quite grab you the way her last album did. Still Another relese full of restrained, beautiful song writing, but these new songs don't quite grab you the way her last album did. Still great, but not her best.… Expand
  7. JeremyF
    May 8, 2007
    6
    I give it a 6, 3 stars out of 5. I personally think it has lost something major... but so cryptically that I can't put my finger on I give it a 6, 3 stars out of 5. I personally think it has lost something major... but so cryptically that I can't put my finger on what. YOU ARE FREE and MOON PIX are so much better, in my opinion. They have all the sadness and mood, but melody and feeling to boot. Although "The Greatest" and "Hate" are two of her best songs ever, this cd fails in comparison to her previous works. I think I even like DEAR SIR better, but, that might be pushing it.… Collapse
  8. [Anonymous]
    Jan 30, 2006
    0
    cat power is overhyped crap, marketed to pretentious indie rock tone deaf idiots. this deserves a negative score.

See all 41 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

69
#69 Best Album of 2006
74
#74 Most Discussed Album of 2006

Current Music Releases

Full List »
99 Band on the Run [50th Anniversary Edition] - Paul McCartney & Wings
95 If I don't make it, I love u - Still House Plants
95 The Sky Will Still Be There Tomorrow - Charles Lloyd
92 COWBOY CARTER - Beyoncé
91 The Carnegie Hall Concert - Alice Coltrane
90 1989 (Taylor's Version) - Taylor Swift
90 Iechyd Da - Bill Ryder-Jones
90 This Could Be Texas - English Teacher
89 I Got Heaven - Mannequin Pussy
89 Black Bayou - Robert Finley
89 Tigers Blood - Waxahatchee
88 Only God Was Above Us - Vampire Weekend
88 What Now - Brittany Howard
88 Hey Panda - The High Llamas
88 Orquídeas - Kali Uchis
88 The Past Is Still Alive - Hurray for the Riff Raff
87 Filthy Underneath - Nadine Shah
87 i/o - Peter Gabriel
87 Blue Lips - ScHoolboy Q
87 Bright Future - Adrianne Lenker
All Current Music »