When I first heard Cat Power, it was her song "Rockets" (although I didn't know it at the time). Immediately turned on to the sound, I started to listen to anything I could by her, but they were all songs from her various other albums. I didn't really like what I heard - her other songs still have her haunting vocals but with a finger-picking style guitar in a more "folky" vain. Eventually, I was able to hear the songs on "Dear Sir" and it was exactly what I was attracted to in the first place. The music has more sparse, heavier distorted guitar work, slightly reminscent of early Sonic Youth. The resulting music is like hearing a ghost wail over the grindings of machinery.

If you've heard of Cat Power vicariously from interviews of other artists or other plugs in print, I highly recommend this album to be your first excursion.

Minimal, gorgeous songcraft and the sexiest voice in rock is what made Cat Power great in the first place, not all the polish and rehab that went into "The Greatest." Not to take away from that album, it is fantastic in different ways, but my teenage sister, who is not so much into the dissonant indie rock *yet* is really into Ms. Marshall's back catalog since I bought her "The Greatest" a year ago. Perhaps this record is too grating for ears that can't stand a challenge, but if you like Cat Power you have to give this one a try, at least download it illegally. And remember kids, it always sounds better on vinyl!!

This die-hard Cat Power fan loves this album! You cannot go wrong with them, and this album has a nice mix of slower tempo and quicker tunes that are sure to stick in your head. Fast shipping and perfect quality c.d. Thanks! I highly recommend this

So you're into Cat Power all of the sudden and want to get all of her albums? Hey? Well, this one is only for the fans. If you like 'Myra Lee'you should like this. But still, Myra Lee is a better album. Anyway this one has the infamous 'rockets' song, which is also on the myra lee cd. It's awesome to say the least, and one of those songs that you'll suddenly sing in the shower on any day! Itchyhead, the sleepwalker and headlights are also good songs. And 'mr gallo' is slow, but extremely intoxicating. Note: Only for the fans.

I find it rather alarming that people are giving this album four and five stars. Come on people, loyalty is one thing, but this is not even close to a five star album.

I used to love Sonic Youth, Lydia Lunch, and Live Skull--all the bands she's trying to imitate here. But she recorded this album ten years too late to have contributed anything to the development of post-punk music. There is nothing distinctive about this music whatsoever. Nor does it bear any resemblance to her more recent and better albums.

I suppose if you're into sub-grade punk and like singing that is raw and atonal, accompanied by detuned guitar dissonance, then the tracks "Rockets" and "Cold as Hell" (or whatever she calls the last track) carry a certain charm. But it's nothing that Lydia Lunch and Kim Gordon hadn't already done a million times before and better.

There's a reason why this album went out of print. Save your money; buy You Are Free instead. This album is only for those extremely curious about her origins.