Academik

Although it was released in March this album has just found its way into my iPod, thankfully. Neko Case is an American singer/songwriter who was born in Virginia, but has spent much of her life in the Pacific Northwest (Tacoma, WA and Vancouver, BC to be specific). I’ve listened to some of her other work and it just didn’t grab me the way that Fox Confessor did, but I have to say that sometimes music has to sink in before I can really appreciate it.

The album, which has been in my iPod for a little over a week, lends itself to wandering journeys across the city. Case has a voice you’d want to read you to sleep at night, but she would be reading macabre stories that end in ellipsis. She’s been compared to Patsy Cline, a very easy comparison to make ignoring Case’s broad range of styles. Case’s words read less like songs and more like poetry on the page. Lines like:
“I am every bell that tolls me”
“the look on your face yanks my neck on the chain“…
“Margaret is the fragments of a name, her love pulls like a fountain, her love steams like rain” draw her listener in. The words leave meanings for all of us to find.

“Margaret Vs. Pauline”, has an ethereal downtrodden country story feel; the story of two women - one leading a life of privilege, the other of poverty.
“Star Witness”, the second track, is the song I find myself listening to on repeat the most. The melody and poetic use of words along with Case’s airy vocals make it a pleasure to lose yourself in.
“Maybe Sparrow” gives Case the opportunity to wale - belting out tears about the loss of a friend who wouldn’t listen - while also giving her a chance to reconcile the sorrow into beautiful hopefulness.

The rest of the album is good at worst. A former punk singer, Neko can change the tone of her voice to match most any mood - melancholy & melodic. She varies between country, alt country, and rock equally well across the entire album.

There’s a reason why this made it into most critics lists as one of the Top 10 albums of the year - check it out.

Neko Case - Margaret Vs. Pauline

Neko Case - Star Witness