Matador / USA / RE 2011
This 2011 reissue brings back one of the most haunting and influential albums of the 90s indie-rock era. Originally released in 1996, What Would The Community Think is the record where Chan Marshall truly found her voice, blending Southern Gothic sensibilities with New York’s experimental underground grit.
Recorded at the legendary Easley Studios in Memphis and featuring the powerhouse rhythm section of Steve Shelley (Sonic Youth) and Tim Foljahn, the album is a masterpiece of tension and release. From the visceral, autobiographical energy of "Nude as the News" to the fragile, stripped-back beauty of her folk-inflected ballads, Marshall’s smoky vocals remain the captivating centerpiece.
This Matador reissue preserves the raw, lo-fi intimacy of the original sessions, offering a definitive vinyl version of an album that Rolling Stone and Pitchfork have cited as a cornerstone of the decade.
FFO: Mazzy Star, PJ Harvey, Sonic Youth (acoustic side), and Elliott Smith.