One part child-like and one part kittenish, this British chanteuse's vocal prowess and knack for turning the harsh UK media on its ear has earned her more fame and attention in a shorter amount of time than any of her contemporaries. With Elastica making personnel changes just about every other week and other European rock queens like Shirley Manson of Garbage and Beth Gibbons of Portishead taking their sweet time generating new albums, Catatonia remains as one of the few female rock constants on the UK charts. Due to this, the band's last two efforts have gone multi-platinum in Europe.
Catatonia has the same witty irony stapled all over their lyric sheets.
Melodically, there isn't a lot here that sets the band apart from its Britpop contemporaries. But I'll take you to a place I know you'd rather be. And an excuse to listen to Matthews sing is enough of an incentive anyway. Well, a few platinum records say so. Catatonia just isn't the sort of thing that mainstream American radio stations go for.