Yet despite the blunt boast of its title, The Greatest turns out to be Cat Power at her most conventional. Although the disc's framework is bluesy old-Memphis soul (recorded with several of Al Green's old hands), Chan Marshall's performance is still so creaky and her songwriting so stark that the Memphis it most recalls is the city of seedy hotel rooms and empty streets featured in Jim Jarmusch's Mystery Train. As for the title track, it turns out to be about a boxer's failed dream of glory. That's one clever kitty.
