Neko Case — Fox Confessor Brings The Flood

It's a wonder that Neko Case isn't about 50 times more famous. What does it take, really? She's the female voice of The New Pornographers, has released critically acclaimed solo LPs and has one of the most recognizable sets of vocal chords in the world. If Fox Confessor Brings The Flood doesn't make her a bona fide superstar, nothing will. This is, top to bottom, Case's strongest effort. With help from The Sadies, Howe Gelb and Calexico, the singer pushes her voice as far as it will go, confidently hitting falsetto heights on "Star Witness" and "That Teenage Feeling." Later, on the gothic "Dirty Knife," Case sings harmonies about a bloody encounter over menacing strings. And while it all sounds a little dramatic in scope, there's actually a lot of simplicity in these tracks, which is their biggest asset. Without letting the atmospherics take over, Case floats to the top.

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