Cat Power - Sun
Critic Score
Based on 43 reviews
2012 Ratings: #113 / 1118
Year End Rank: #25
User Score
Based on 194 ratings
2012 Rank: #216
Liked by 14 people
September 4, 2012 / Release Date
LP / Format
Matador / Label
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CRITIC REVIEWS

90
Drowned in Sound

Even peering through the gauze of the back-story, Cat Power’s ninth album is a feat of musical and emotional maturity.

90
Consequence of Sound

Transformed in both sound and spirit, Sun is a passionate pop album of electronic music filtered through a singer-songwriter’s soul.

85
The 405

On this album she shows herself as a true visionary, willing to develop and adapt.

80
The Arts Desk

A combination of bass drum, swirling synth and vocals that sit so low in the mix that snippets, rather than full lyrics, emerge like snatches of overheard conversation; it creates an overall effect that at times verges on the euphoric.

80
musicOMH

Sun is an album that conveys the full spectrum of emotions, but at the same time it manages to never sound convoluted or patched together. 

80
Paste

There’s something about the flaws on this thing—the way Marshall lets it all hang loose, the way she continually tries to express a sentiment she can’t quite put into words—that’s absolutely fascinating in its humanity and compassion.

79
Pitchfork

Sun doesn't reach the heights ... of Moon Pix, but more than anything else she's made, it feels like a companion piece to that record, a conversation with an older and wiser voice. 

75
A.V. Club

Sun isn’t the greatest collection of songs she’s ever released ... but even her B-game is always worth hearing. 

75
Pretty Much Amazing

Marshall’s transformation has made her songwriting slightly less powerful but it has also added a new element to an already multi-faceted personality.

70
No Ripcord

Sun is undoubtedly Marshall’s boldest and most diverse effort to date, and it is all the better for it. 

60
Under the Radar

Lacking that up-close-and-personal aesthetic, Sun isn't likely to land among the singer/songwriter's best records.

60
PopMatters

She ain’t got nothing but time, after all, and she takes it with Sun, which—even with its missteps—is her most patient and generous record to date.

depechemode4lif
76

An interesting change of pace and addition to Cat Powers catalog. With more electronic instrumentation, the art pop direction suits her well

NotDonkey
75

Cat Power goes electronic in this album. There are spacey synths and reverberated keys to create a large atmosphere which sets the tone for the album. Deep bass and reverberated electronic drums keep a dark base to everything despite the entire project sounding perky and upbeat. Chan’s soulful but soft vocals are layered with multiple tracks which add to the dream-like textures of everything. The mix does sound a little too compressed, but it’s bearable. There are also some corny ... read more

dustymoth
84

A more electro approach really works for her

dustymoth
84

A more electro approach really works for her

koobyn
70

I love the sound of Cat Power's ninth album, Sun. The production reminds me of 1989 a little (that is a compliment), though it is largely its own thing. Manhattan is a song I enjoy listening to, ever since I heard it during a visit to Starbucks a couple of months ago.

The album has noticeable hiccups, however. Cherokee confuses me. The singer has stated that her "great-great-grandfather was a Cherokee medicine man", but I still don't know what the Cherokee tribe or their culture has ... read more

NotDonkey
75

Cat Power goes electronic in this album. There are spacey synths and reverberated keys to create a large atmosphere which sets the tone for the album. Deep bass and reverberated electronic drums keep a dark base to everything despite the entire project sounding perky and upbeat. Chan’s soulful but soft vocals are layered with multiple tracks which add to the dream-like textures of everything. The mix does sound a little too compressed, but it’s bearable. There are also some corny ... read more

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Track List

1Cherokee
4:45
88
2Sun
3:19
88
3Ruin
4:32
88
43,6,9
4:00
83
5Always On My Own
2:23
73
6Real Life
2:37
75
7Human Being
3:28
83
8Manhattan
5:16
85
9Silent Machine
4:00
83
10Nothin But Time
10:55
73
11Peace and Love
3:37
83
Total Length: 48 minutes
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Added on: June 18, 2012