CAT POWER MAIL: I should say again that a) I am glad I have the new album, and b) there are four songs on it that I like (“Good Woman,” “Free,” “I Don’t Blame You,” and “Werewolf,” in that order). But overall the thing was not being all it could be.

Idols of the Marketplace writes: I read your review of “You Are Free” and agree with some parts of what you say but what can I say I still love the album…well, I still love her, her voice and her music. …P.S. I would say Rockets and Nude as the News would tie for first with Ice Water a (very) close second and Bathysphere third.

Rob Dakin writes: I wonder if you’d be so disappointed in “You Are Free” if you didn’t know that Eddie Vedder is on it? It’s my opinion that “shaking paper” is a very rich and beautifully uncanny image. Is it money? Is it the script from which Brigadier General Vinny reads his lies as he shows us his minimalist film clips? Is it The New York Times? (Did you know that Vinny is lying?) There is plenty of stuff worth looting in “You Are Free”.

Eve again: No, I really don’t think it’s an Eddie Vedder-hatred thing, or even a political thing at all–I listen to plenty of music that’s adamantly opposed to my own policy preferences or whatever. It’s really just the fact that “You Are Free” is a pretty-good, normal album by a phenomenally abnormal musician, and thus disappointing. Anyway, like I said before, PLEASE GO GET “MYRA LEE,” it is awesome.