The tumultuous life and career of Chan Marshall, the voice behind indie rock band Cat Power, is explored in Goodman's solid biography. Despite, or perhaps because of, Marshall's refusal to be interviewed for the book, Goodman, the editor-at-large at Blender
, is able to peel back the layers of the singer's life, mixing original interviews with Marshall's friends and family and published quotes from Marshall herself. Born in 1972, Marshall grew up all over the South, the daughter of a schizophrenic mother and a wannabe rocker father, finding solace in music early on. From her first tentative forays into writing songs while living in Cabbagetown, Atlanta's bohemian enclave, to her shoot to indie—and mainstream—fame after moving to New York in the 1990s and signing with Matador Records, Marshall seemed certain of a bright future. Crippling self-doubt, coupled with a penchant for alcohol, led to Marshall's much-publicized breakdown. But Marshall endured, releasing the latest Cat Power record, Dark End of the Street
, in 2008. Goodman's respect for Marshall's music is evident, but it's her objectivity when faced with reporting some of the singer's less than admirable traits that make this a thoroughly enjoyable read. (Apr.)
