The soft striking of piano keys opens Cat Power's long awaited fifth album, released by Matador Records, titled "You Are Free." Chan (pronounced Shawn) Marshall, the 31-year-old singer/songwriter behind the band, uses her enchanting vocals, simple arrangements and sincere words to craft an intimate album.

Her first studio album since 1998's "Moon Pix," Marshall embraces her slightly gruff voice, which is a unique blend of strength and authentic sorrow. Her lingering vocals seduce the listener as she sings of freedom and triumph on this 14-song disc. What's distinctive about Marshall's voice is not just its raw sound but the genuine and sexy way in which she sings. Her voice wavers with emotion as she pours out her feelings and desires. For example, during "Good Woman," she sings, "I want to be a good woman/And I want for you to be a good man/This is why I will be leaving."

Whether Marshall's whispering her pleas or belting out her convictions, the backing band provides an ethereal backdrop to her poetry. The band's stark simplicity allows Marshall's words to take hold of the listener. The slow-strummed guitar on "Babydoll" and "Keep on Running" accentuates each tune, as do the sparse keyboards on the haunting track, "Names," a personal song telling the chilling story of five children and the hardships they endure -- from being sexually abused to selling drugs.

On tracks such as "Free" and the guitar-driven "Speak for Me," Marshall and her band create a tightly woven blend of chemistry that produces hypnotic, repetitive beats. The album features a cover of Michael Hurley's "Werewolf," where Marshall's hushed "ehs and ohs" blend nicely with the fleeting sting arrangement orchestrated by David Campbell.

The album, "You Are Free," was recorded by Adam Kasper (Queens of the Stone Age, Foo Fighters, Pearl Jam) which may help to explain the guest spots from Dave Grohl and Eddie Vedder. Although discreetly credited as D.G. and E.V. in the liner notes, the two rock icons lent their personal touches to the album. Grohl plays drums on "Speak for Me," "He War," and "Shaking Paper." His expertise can be clearly heard, giving each track a hard rock feel. Vedder lent his vocals to "Good Woman" and "Evolution." Although faint, his words are dreamy and round out each song nicely. They somehow add something that a listener didn't know was missing.

"You Are Free" feels like a private peek into the mind of Chan Marshall. It's a transfixing album listeners will grow attached to and connect with. This may be the disc that catapults Cat Power onto the charts, as Marshall's gifted voice and the band's talented style deserve to be set free.