Just a few days ago, I would have thought that Cat Power and boxing would be a pretty unlikely pairing.  Well now Chan Marshall, who has been pretty quiet over the past few years, has just released a new version of 1996’s “King Rides By,” accompanied by a Giovanni Ribisi-filmed video featuring a slow motion, up-close visit with Manny Pacquiao that should tickle the fancy of any boxing voyeur.   The new seven-minute version has expanded upon the original not only in length, but also in depth.  Cat Power traded her bare-bones acoustic for an electric, rippling reverb and punching drum shots that bring a little rigidity to the song.  Whereas in the original version, she utilized sparse, negative space devoid of any unnecessary obstructions, she now takes a  more direct, modern approach to getting her message across.  And if you happen to be feeling particularly philanthropic this holiday season, Cat Power is giving away “King Rides By” in exchange for a charitable donation.

MP3: Cat Power – “King Rides By”