Neko Case - The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight, The Harder I Fight, The More I Love You (12/11/2013)
Neko Case's first record in four years, which, for convenience's sake, I will refer to as TWTGTHIFTHIFTMILY, is not at all what I was expecting.
The verbose name, the press release, and the overall vibe of the album when I first held it in my hands left me dreading an overly pretentious set of tracks full of unfinished ideas and a burning desire to produce something subversive and 'weird', which never really getting anywhere. Fortunately, TWTGTHIFTHIFTMILY is a lovely collection of heartfelt, racing, and confident songs.
Neko isn't really pushing any boundaries here, but she's got a way with words, managing to keep her lyrical explorations grounded in reality, musing about relationships, gender, identity, and doing it in a way that has this sort of campfire feeling of telling a story to a younger generation. Songs like "I'm From Nowhere" are beautifully delivered with a country-ish simplicity, but TWTGTHIFTHIFTMILY also at times has a stronger voice. Songs like "Man", while less subtle, exercise Neko's writing for a full band, and gives the record a wonderful beating heart.
TWTGTHIFTHIFTMILY is well worth the listen if you're not in the market to get your mind blown, but are looking for a well recorded, produced, lovingly crafted group of songs that fit well, and sound better. Neko has done a great job of writing music that in no way feels tied down, controlled, or anything other than free. It serves as a great introduction to the wild spirit of Neko Case.
Nick Kennedy
The verbose name, the press release, and the overall vibe of the album when I first held it in my hands left me dreading an overly pretentious set of tracks full of unfinished ideas and a burning desire to produce something subversive and 'weird', which never really getting anywhere. Fortunately, TWTGTHIFTHIFTMILY is a lovely collection of heartfelt, racing, and confident songs.
Neko isn't really pushing any boundaries here, but she's got a way with words, managing to keep her lyrical explorations grounded in reality, musing about relationships, gender, identity, and doing it in a way that has this sort of campfire feeling of telling a story to a younger generation. Songs like "I'm From Nowhere" are beautifully delivered with a country-ish simplicity, but TWTGTHIFTHIFTMILY also at times has a stronger voice. Songs like "Man", while less subtle, exercise Neko's writing for a full band, and gives the record a wonderful beating heart.
TWTGTHIFTHIFTMILY is well worth the listen if you're not in the market to get your mind blown, but are looking for a well recorded, produced, lovingly crafted group of songs that fit well, and sound better. Neko has done a great job of writing music that in no way feels tied down, controlled, or anything other than free. It serves as a great introduction to the wild spirit of Neko Case.
Nick Kennedy