Neko Case Recent News

Anti Records Reviews An Exceptional 2009

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 00:12:00 -0800

Legendary Artists, A Breakout Album for Neko Case, A Triumphant And Soulful Offering From The Swell Season, Six Grammy Nods for Anti Artists, Tom Waits Live Album and Much More

William Elliott Whitmore: Animals in the Dark - On his Anti debut Whitmore reflects on life and loss and the world surrounding his Iowa horse farm on the banks of the Mississippi. The album showcases Whitmore’s classic songwriting and mastery of the acoustic guitar and banjo, but adds elements such as strings, an organ and a pedal steel, giving the songs a more expansive, cultivated sound. 2009 saw this unique artist captivating audiences around the world with his haunting and timeless sound.

"Animals reinforces his reputation as one of today's most transcendent folk artists." - Kansas City Star

"There's a time-honored truthfullness to William Elliott Whitmore that can't be rehearsed and most certainly can't be faked. It's tonally apparent in the world-weary ache of his baritone voice; it's lyrically manifested in the god-fearing mannerisms of simple protagonists; and it's buried deep within the gutsy pride and righteous integrity with which the Americana singer confronts issues of moral wrongs, institutional control, and fundamental rights throughout Animals in the Dark." - The Absolute Sound

NASA: The Spirit of Apollo - A joyfully sometimes surreal musical expedition overflowing with inspired collaborations -Tom Waits growls over Kool Keith, Karen O taunts while Ol' Dirty Bastard gives shout-outs to Wu Tang and N.A.S.A from the grave, and David Byrne, Chuck D and others expound on the evils of "Money." In spite of the range of performers, the pairings make perfect sense. Live the band features dancing aliens which is always a plus.

“The Spirit of Apollo is what happens when the imagination is let out of its cage. Good things happen.” – Urb

N.A.S.A.'s dope beats and wet-dream collaborations make Apollo an absolute must-have. - Alternative Press

Neko Case: Middle Cyclone – A stunning album by one of the preeminent songwriters and performers today. This is the record that finally transported Case from heroine of the underground into a deservedly larger spotlight. A riveting tour de force which has already graced many best of polls including those of Spin, Pitchfork and the top position on Amazon’s “Best Music of 2009” list. The album has also received Two Grammy nominations for “Best Contemporary Folk Album” and “Best Recording Package” (for the striking album cover)

“Case has one of the most powerful sets of pipes in pop” - Rolling Stone

“Neko Case’s songs are full of claws, wolves, tornadoes, birds of prey and the occasional gust of wind. But her voice is the real force of nature.” – New York Times Magazine

Ramblin’ Jack Elliott: A Stranger Here - The renowned troubadour steps out of the country/folk arena that has shaped his legend and examines pre-WWII blues songs in a wholly unique way. A Stranger Here proves another wonderful tome in the library of one of the great American storytellers. The album has been nominated for a Grammy in the category of “Best Traditional Blues Album” and has garnered the album’s esteemed producer Joe Henry a nomination in the “Best Traditional Blues Album” category.

“Ramblin’ Jack Elliott is, along with Pete Seeger, one of America’s finest living folk singers. Seeing him play is a treat, but hearing him tell long, meandering stories — he didn’t get that nickname for nothing — is transformative.” - New York Times

“Both beautiful and brave in its purity" - Performing Songwriter

Bob Mould: Life and Times - A cathartic and vital album by an influential artist marks the respective anniversaries of the formation of Husker Du and Mould’s lauded solo effort Workbook with an album of unflinching self-reflection. Standouts like "Wasted World" and "I'm Sorry Baby, But You Can't Stand In My Light Anymore" highlight an artist completing a cycle decades in the making, his talent undiminished, his perspective acute.

"Passion, beauty, intelligence, grace: it's all here." – Filter

"This newest collection is moody and minimalist, and it showcases Mould’s introspective side. The most compelling songs evoke the speed, energy, and passionate commitment that justly made Mould an icon." - New Yorker

Jason Lytle: Yours Truly, The Commuter - Two years after Grandaddy's demise, Lytle returns with an immaculately crafted pop soundscape that mirrors both the dramatic environment of Lytle's newly-adopted Montana and the vintage twang of the Central California farmland that inspired hiss earlier work. Electronic flourishes collide with acoustic guitars and soulful piano parts, perfectly recreating Lytle’s signature lo-fi-electro atmospheres.

“A richly textured work that is lovingly crafted and affectingly poignant." - Alternative Press

“A textured homage to the lush and laid-back West Coast dream life of his youth…it’s like Bruce Springsteen’s open highway finally reached a melancholy kid from Modesto.” - Spin

Booker T: Potato Hole – The trailblazing soul man has written the most audacious chapter of his career with his first solo album in decades. Backed by the Drive-By Truckers with Booker's signature Hammond B3, the album bristles with energy and heart. The album has earned a Grammy nomination for Jones in the category of “Best Pop Instrumental Album.”

“There are no chart-baiting superstar guest vocalists or gimmicks, just gut-punching, funky, loose-limbed, rock 'n' soul jams recorded in down-and-dirty sessions without an inch of fat.” - Boston Globe

“Potato Hole proves as extraordinary, delirious and laugh-out-loud weird as anyone might dare hope.” – Uncut

The Field: Yesterday & Today - The innovative sound artist expands his ever transfixing audio palette, continuing the oblique sampling strategy of his critically praised “From Here We Go Sublime” while building up the rhythmic architecture to startling new heights.

“Full of driving, dirty beats, crisp bells and hats that delicately pepper the high end, this sonic treasure offers plenty of infectious grooves.” - DJ Times

“Yesterday & Today is gorgeous, overwhelming, lush and (mainly) wordless, and it reeks throughout of inarticulable emotion.” - Prefix Magazine

Bettye LaVette: Change is Gonna Come Sessions – The soul singer extraordinaire revisits her forgotten post-Atlantic Records years as a nightclub singer and Broadway performer with a mix of classics including a heart wrenching rendition of Billie Holiday's "God Bless The Child" and an acclaimed version of Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come," which LaVette performed at the Obama Inaugural Celebration.

"There's no one more soulful than Bettye LaVette…Bettye makes great music now because of her obstacles. She has a fire in her belly and a passion that was never squashed over the years...you just hear it and feel it in everything she sings." - CNN.com

“a compelling and intimate set of songs that adroitly combine a smoky jazz club, Saturday night rent party and Sunday morning church service. “ - Creative Loafing

Busdriver: Jhelli Beam – The art rap progenitor returns to jolt rap back into shape with virtuoso vocal stylings and poignant (and at times dadaist) lyricism. This record not only effortlessly trumps all previous mind-bending performances of his earlier works, but gives them new context; highlighting their dexterity with nuggets of election year paranoia and absurdist humor.

"Everything on Jhelli Beam makes sense. Every word is a picture. Every sentence pushed over the one before it the way dominos fall when they're lined up in a row....This is creativity - this is the reason for being: to preceive/ingest, and digest, and poop it out." - LA Record

“Busdriver's crazy, quick verses sprint from inside-out humor to social criticism alongside challenging beats that reward repeated listens. Exciting, odd stuff." - Chicago Tribune

Solillaquists of Sound: No More Heroes - With this release the Orlando-based hip hop quartet have accomplished the rare feat of creating a body of work that's as palatable to the public as it is groundbreaking, imaginative, and rewarding to listeners looking for something more in the soundtrack to their lives.

“authentic and raw, blending elements of dubstep, afrobeat, folk, most
obviously hip-hop, but surprisingly more synth-beats infused in a background of beautiful harmonies.” - 7x7 Magazine

“A lyrically potent, melodic, and danceable piece, make sure to cop one of the best records the year has to offer.” – Sputnikmusic

Joe Henry: Blood From Stars - The revered solo artist and Grammy-winning producer’s music spans many genres but the dominant sound on Blood From Stars is a rich blues tonality that swells into ravishing epics that jump the rails to incorporate folky jazz and bent Sinatra-esque washes of sampled strings. Henry’s eleventh album is a tour de force of lush arrangements and seductive song lines. The acclaimed musician/producer was also nominated for a Grammy for his work guiding Ramblin Jack Elliott’s release, A Stranger Here.

"Joe Henry is like that unexpected piece of dark chocolate at the bottom of the ice cream dish: something rich, sweet and so surprisingly good that you wonder how it escaped you before. This album captures a sensuous musicality, whether it's torch songs or avant-garde and traditional jazz, raw blues or pumped up soul escapades." – RELIX

“For connoisseurs of craft, Henry’s writing is an absolute joy, drawing effortlessly on classic pop, roots, and folk traditions and alchemizing these various strains into a single, sweet sound.” – American Way Magazine

Os Mutantes: Haih or Amortecedor - Still psychedelic, influential, political and playful after all these years – the near mythical has crafted triumphant return with their first record in 35 Years. Revered by luminaries such as Kurt Cobain, the Flaming Lips Devendra Banhart and Beck, the Mutantes have delivered one of the most original and enjoyable albums of the year.

"a superb, politically tinged reunion effort....their new songs remain as bold and fascinating as their old ones." – New Yorker

"Haih Or Amortecedor is rhapsodic, an endearing tribute, and a welcome addition, to one of pop music’s strangest group of musicians." – Popmatters

Islands: Vapours – The ever evolving Montreal outfit returns with an album that flits back and forth between moody synthesizers and drum-machine-heavy beats and an array of intriguing sonic textures, all the while remaining firmly rooted in the classic pop sensibilities and melodic hooks the band is celebrated for. 

"infectious and weird....masterful, refreshing synth-pop, served up pure and simple.” – Blackbook

"one of our favorite albums of the fall. It's just some lush, pop goodness." – Paper Magazine

Rain Machine: Rain Machine - Kyp Malone’s solo project features ten unflinchingly original and emotional songs mixing elements of modern jazz, blue-grass and blistering guitar driven rock into a refreshing new sound. As singer and guitarist for celebrated band TV on the Radio, Malone proved himself both a captivating and delightfully unpredictable musical force. On Rain Machine, he shows himself a singer and a lyricist of startling talents.

“Malone steps out with an emotionally open debut just as experimental and daring as his work with TVOTR.” – USA Today

“The tunes sound a bit like a rain dance—tribal bells, trance-inflected refrains, the occasional howl—but one that's been fed through the post-apocalyptic fury of TV On The Radio. The result proves a compelling sonic exploration, knotty and exultant as ever.” – The Onion

Dead Man’s Bones: Dead Man’s Bones - Initially intended as play about a monster-ghost-love-story, Zach Shields and Ryan Gosling eventually scrapped the stage show and recorded Dead Man’s Bones, a refreshingly original album featuring doo-wop songs about werewolves, haunting melodies telling tales of zombies with broken hearts, and children singing the joys and pains of being alive or being dead.

“Simultaneously sweet and spooky, heart-stirring and imaginative; a wonderful requiem to our forgotten fear of the dark" – LA Weekly

“A decidedly beautiful thing" – MOJO

The Swell Season: Strict Joy – The follow up to their Oscar winning “Once” soundtrack, Strict Joy finds the duo of Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova evoking the bittersweet aftermath of their real life romance and breakup with an album of stirring folk tinged blue eyed soul.

“a lush, lovely, heartfelt gem.” – NPR

“Strict Joy is a joy from start to finish, as few bands manage to mix intimacy and sweeping songcraft with such finesse.” – All Music Guide

Alec Ounsworth: Mo’ Beauty - a soulful and intriguing solo endeavor from celebrated singer/songwriter Alec Ounsworth of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. Recorded in music-steeped New Orleans with an all star cast of local talent, the end result is a display of masterful songwriting and arguably Ounsworth’s best work yet.

"Mesmerizing and profound" – The Onion

"The sharpest arrangements and best songwriting of his short career: Almost every tune on Mo Beauty equals or betters those on CYHSY's lauded 2005 debut, mixing spooky folk with frantic fun. Ounsworth's regular band may have a shaky future, but he doesn't." – Spin

Tom Waits: Glitter & Doom Live – This two disc collection perfectly documents Waits' sold out, acclaimed 2008 “Glitter and Doom” tour. The music disc features Waits' in his eclectic glory shifting seamlessly from an array of characters: carnival barker, preacher, country singer, soul balladeer; cabaret singer and storyteller. Disc Two is a selection of the comic bromides, strange musings, and unusual facts that Waits traditionally shares with his audience during the piano set.

“One of the most charismatic and straightforwardly entertaining live artists you are ever likely to see or hear. (..) Pick disc one for the uninterrupted junkyard blues and bewilderingly tender crooning: choose disc two for trivia and lies dredged from the back pages of the Fortean Times and delivered sans songs with the impeccable timing of a seasoned professional still in love with the stage and his audience.” – Time Out London

“Equal parts Captain Beefheart and Louis Armstrong as he examines the full spectrum of life, from the grimly grotesque to the sweetly sentimental… It’s an utter delight.” - NME

* Mavis Staples: Live: Hope at the Hideout - While technically released at the end of 2008, it’s worth mentioning that Mavis’ blistering live album has just earned the legendary soul singer a well deserved Grammy nomination in the category of “Best Contemporary Blues Album.” Mavis was previously awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2005 Grammys for her collective work with the Staples Singers.

Lightning Deals at Amazon Featuring Tom Waits, Neko Case & The Swell Season

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 00:12:00 -0800

Celebrate the holidays with great deals on ANTI releases! This week, Amazon.com is offering a series of Lightning Deals, featuring Neko Case Middle Cyclone, The Swell Season Strict Joy, Tom Waits Glitter and Doom Live Booker T. Potato Hole, Mavis Staples Live: Hope At The Hideout and Ramblin' Jack Elliott A Stranger Here. Click here to check out all the deals!

Thursday, December 17th
2pm - 3pm PST
The Swell Season - Strict Joy (Limited Deluxe Version)
Neko Case - Middle Cyclone

Friday, December 18th
9am - 12pm PST
Tom Waits - Glitter and Doom Live

3pm - 6pm PST
Booker T - Potato Hole
Mavis Staples - Live: Hope At The Hideout
Ramblin' Jack Elliott - A Stranger Here

Anti- Records Artists Nominated For Six Grammy Awards!

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 00:12:00 -0800

Capping off an already incredible year for the Anti- Records family, the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards nominees have just been announced and it seems several esteemed Anti- artists have been nominated for a total of six separate awards. We here at Anti-Epitaph would like to extend sincere and extraordinarily enthusiastic congratulations to Neko Case, Booker T. Jones, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott and Mavis Staples for being so deservedly honored by their peers in the music industry.

Anti- Records 2009 Grammy Nominees:

Best Contemporary Folk Album (Vocal or Instrumental.) Middle Cyclone, Neko Case

Best Rock Instrumental Performance – “Warped Sister” from Potato Hole, Booker T. Jones

Best Pop Instrumental Album- (For albums containing 51% or more playing time of INSTRUMENTAL tracks.) Potato Hole, Booker T. Jones

Best Traditional Blues Album (Vocal or Instrumental) A Stranger Here, Ramblin' Jack Elliott

Best Contemporary Blues Album (Vocal or Instrumental.) Live: Hope At The Hideout, Mavis Staples

Best Recording Package, Middle Cyclone, Neko Case & Judge, art directors (Neko Case)

*The 52nd Annual Grammy Awards show will occur on January 31 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Limited Edition 'Middle Cyclone' Giclee Prints Now Available

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:12:00 -0800

It would be an understatement to say that Middle Cyclone is an important album for Neko Case and Anti-. Its early 2009 release was the highest Billboard chart position for any Anti- or Neko Case album. This landmark album did nothing short of cementing Neko's place in the pantheon of iconic artists in music history. Any album of the year list is incomplete without it, and Amazon.com editors have already named Middle Cyclone album of the year. As the accolades continue to roll in, Paste Magazine voted Middle Cyclone "Album Cover of the Decade" saying, "For the multi-talented Case, making one of the best records of the year wasn’t good enough. She also handled the artwork, drawing and photography, casting herself—perched atop a 1968 Mercury Cougar—as the coolest hood ornament of all time."

This Giclee version of Neko's album cover is a museum quality, archival print that documents the critically acclaimed Middle Cyclone art and celebrates Neko's incredible album. It is printed on 18" x 24" acid free, European-imported matte-cotton paper. The Giclee method allows for millions of colors to be processed and every detail -- from the shine of the Mercury’s hood to the finer, subtle textures of the background -- are caught with meticulous detail. The high-quality paper ensures that these details will last when properly handled.

This is a limited, one-time, numbered edition of 1000.

The Giclee print is available exclusively through the Official ANTI Store. Take a look below to see all available purchasing options.

This Bundle Includes:
- Limited Edition Middle Cyclone Giclee print
- Middle Cyclone 2x LP

This Bundle Includes:
- Limited Edition Middle Cyclone Giclee print
- Middle Cyclone on CD
- Fox Confessor Brings The Flood on CD
- The Tigers Have Spoken on CD
- Blacklisted on CD
- Furnace Room Lullaby on CD

This Bundle Includes:
- Limited Edition Middle Cyclone Giclee print
- Middle Cyclone on CD

To order, click over to the Official ANTI Store!

NEKO CASE ITUNES ORIGINALS

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:07:00 -0700

For her iTunes Originals session, Neko Case discusses tracks from her five solo albums and performs a half-dozen of those songs in an intimate quartet setting with guitarist Paul Rigsby, bassist Phil Palazzolo, and vocalist Kelly Hogan. Head to iTunes to download Neko Case iTunes Originals today.

NEKO CASE'S 'MIDDLE CYCLONE' DEBUTS AT #3 ON BILLBOARD TOP 200

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 00:03:00 -0700

THE HIGHEST DEBUT THIS YEAR BY AN INDEPENDENT RELEASE

Neko Case's acclaimed new album Middle Cyclone (Anti- Records) has debuted at #3 on the Billboard Top 200, the highest opening to date in 2009 by an independent release on Billboard's main album chart. Middle Cyclone also bows at #1 on Billboard's Top Independent Albums chart.

Case's strong showing follows recent television appearances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on NBC and The Tavis Smiley Show on PBS, as well as widespread critical acclaim for Middle Cyclone. See below for some select quotes.

Case will kick off a national tour March 31 at Stubb's BBQ in Austin, TX, and she is scheduled to perform on The Late Show with David Letterman on CBS on April 15.

Case's last album, 2006's Fox Confessor Brings The Flood debuted at #52 on the Billboard Top 200.

What critics are saying about Neko Case and Middle Cyclone:

"Her voice is a force of nature." - THE NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE

"'The best album of her career by a generous margin." - THE NEW YORKER

"One of the most memorable and seductive voices in music." - NPR

"Indie's greatest singer." - ROLLING STONE

"America may need Neko Case's back-to-nature fantasias more than ever." Rating: 9 out of 10 - SPIN MAGAZINE

ANTI- Label Blog Celebrates One Year Anniversary With Exclusive Neko Case MP3 Download and More

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 00:02:00 -0800

ANTI- Label Blog Celebrates One Year Anniversary with Exclusive Neko Case MP3 Download and More

In honor of late adopters everywhere, the ANTI- label blog is celebrating its one anniversary with an exclusive download of the song “Middle Cyclone” off of Neko Case’s upcoming album of same name, out next Tuesday, March 3rd. In addition to the free song, there will also be give-a-ways all week that include signed copies of Middle Cyclone, a collection of Neko’s ANTI- catalog, a Date Farmers-designed limited edition N.A.S.A skate deck and more.

The ANTI- label blog launched a year ago this week with the prophecy that the staple of the indie rock scene – the beard – had come to its inevitable demise when Honus Honus of mustachioed Man Man fame appeared bare-faced in public for the first time in years. While that declaration may have been a bit premature, the blog had better luck in the months to follow, becoming the main artery of information for the historic Tom Waits’ Glitter and Doom Tour, the portal for a special, unprecedented Neko Case/Best Friends Animal Society benefit promotion and a place for ANTI’s African American artists, including living legends Booker T. Jones, Bettye LaVette and others, to express their unique viewpoints on Black History Month.

ANTI- Records – whose mission statement is simply “real artists creating great recordings on their own terms” -- is home to some of today’s most creative and peerless musicians ranging from the iconic Tom Waits and Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, to the enduring Ramblin’ Jack Elliott and Mavis Staples, from the indie upstarts Islands and Man Man, to the imitable Jolie Holland and DeVotchKa. The label has a storied history of working such greats as Joe Strummer, Eddie Izzard, Elliot Smith, Daniel Lanois, Merle Haggard and Solomon Burke among others. For a complete catalog past and present, please see www.anti.com

The ANTI- label blog is run by Gina Gurewitz, chief editor and copywriter at Epitaph/Anti/Hell-Cat and wife of Epitaph founder/Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz, and John Albert, whose book Wrecking Crew was published by Scribner in 2005 and who is a regular contributor at the LA Weekly, the Los Angeles Times, Variety, Fader and more.

For more information on the ANTI- label blog’s one year celebration, please visit www.antilabelblog.com

FIRST SINGLE FROM NEKO CASE'S FORTHCOMING ALBUM ‘MIDDLE CYCLONE’ AVAILABLE FOR FREE DOWNLOAD

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 00:01:00 -0800

FIRST SINGLE FROM NEKO CASE'S FORTHCOMING ALBUM 'MIDDLE CYCLONE' AVAILABLE FOR FREE DOWNLOAD TODAY VIA ANTI- RECORDS WEBSITE

NEKO AND ANTI- TO MAKE DONATION TO BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SOCIETY FOR EVERY BLOG AND iLIKE POSTING OF SONG

CLICK TO HEAR SONG AND VIEW NEKO'S PSA FOR 'BEST FRIENDS'

Today, Anti- Records will release "People Got A Lotta Nerve," the first single from Neko Case's new album Middle Cyclone (March 3), and for every blog that posts the song and iLike user who adds it to his/her profile, Neko Case and Anti- will make a donation benefiting Best Friends Animal Society.

The promotion will run from January 13 to February 3, 2009. Five dollars will be donated for every blog post and one dollar for every user of iLike that adds the song to his/her profile.

Click here for more details

About Best Friends Animal Society:
Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2009, Best Friends Animal Society is one of America's foremost animal rescue organizations. Founded in 1984, Best Friends advances nationwide animal welfare initiatives by working with shelter and rescue groups around the country. On any given day Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, the nation's largest facility for abused, abandoned and special needs companion animals located in southwestern Utah, is home to approximately 2,000 dogs, cats, horses, rabbits, birds, and other animals. The society also publishes Best Friends magazine, the nation's largest general interest, pet-related magazine with approximately 300,000 subscribers. For more information, visit www.bestfriends.org.

More information on Neko Case and Middle Cyclone can be found here:

http://www.nekocase.com
http://www.myspace.com/nekocase
http://www.shorefire.com/clients/ncase

NEKO CASE'S BOLD, ELEMENTAL NEW ALBUM 'MIDDLE CYCLONE' - HER FIRST IN THREE YEARS - SET FOR MARCH 3

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:12:00 -0800

On March 3, 2009, Anti- Records will release the eagerly awaited new Neko Case album 'Middle Cyclone.' The fifteen-track collection is Case's first release since 2006's 'Fox Confessor Brings The Flood,' the best-reviewed and best-selling album of her career.

'Middle Cyclone' was produced by Case with Darryl Neudorf and recorded in Tucson, Brooklyn, Toronto, and Vermont. It features Case backed by her core band - guitarist Paul Rigby, bassist Tom V. Ray, backing vocalist Kelly Hogan, multi-instrumentalist Jon Rauhouse, and drummer Barry Mirochnick - along with numerous guests including M. Ward, Garth Hudson, Sarah Harmer, and members of The New Pornographers, Los Lobos, Calexico, The Sadies, Visqueen, The Lilys, and Giant Sand, among others. In addition to twelve new songs written by Case, 'Middle Cyclone' includes covers of 'Never Turn Your Back on Mother Earth' by Sparks, and "Don't Forget Me" by Harry Nilsson.

In 2006, SPIN Magazine called Case "one of pop music's best" voices, and Interview Magazine hailed her album 'Fox Confessor Brings The Flood' as "one of the most original, beguiling, honest records of the year." The album also earned Case Female Artist of the Year honors from the PLUG Independent Music Awards, and a Top 10 placement in the Village Voice's annual Pazz and Jop Critics Poll of the year's best releases. 'Fox Confessor' was Case's first album to debut in the Billboard Top 100, and has sold nearly 200,000 copies in the U.S. alone.

Track listing for 'Middle Cyclone'
1. This Tornado Loves You
2. The Next Time You Say Forever
3. People Got A Lotta Nerve
4. Polar Nettles
5. Vengeance Is Sleeping
6. Never Turn Your Back On Mother Earth
7. Middle Cyclone
8. Fever
9. Magpie To The Morning
10. I'm An Animal
11. Prison Girls
12. Don't Forget Me
13. The Pharaohs
14. Red Tide
15. Marais La Nuit

NEKO CASE ANNOUNCES SUMMER DATES AND FALL TOUR

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 00:08:00 -0700

"Mesmerizing" (NME) Chanteuse Begins Tour with Special Hometown Benefit

Acclaimed singer/songwriter Neko Case will take a break from recording in late August to embark on a North American tour that will find her performing at such high-profile festivals as Bumbershoot in Seattle and Austin City Limits.

The appearance probably closest to Neko's heart is the show that will kick off these tours on August 25th at the Rialto in Tucson AZ. The passionate animal enthusiast will donate the earnings from both ticket sales and show posters sales (by artist Kathleen Judge - http://www.judgeworks.com) to the Greyhound Adoption League of Tucson, AZ. Neko also hopes to get information out to the public about the efforts of the Tucson Dog Protection as well. The Greyhound Adoption League seeks to place retired racing greyhounds in permanent, loving homes, while the Tucson Dog Protection is both a non-profit organization and a ballot initiative to improve on the legal treatment of the city's dog population.

Another key event in the upcoming dates is the Stanley Park Singing Exhibition curated by Neko's other band, The New Pornographers. Neko and the Pornographers, Destroyer, Andrew Bird, Deerhoof, the 1900s and Visqueen, are among only some of the international bands that will perform over the two-day festival in Vancouver. Proceeds from the festival will benefit local organizations like the ALS Society of Canada for Lou Gehrig's disease (http://als.ca/) and the Urban Native Youth Association (http://www.unya.bc.ca/).

Neko is currently in the studio, recording her follow-up to 2006's lauded Fox Confessor Brings the Flood. Her new album is expected early in 2009.

Neko Case on tour:
Aug 25 - Tucson AZ - the Rialto (Benefit for GAL + Tuscon Dog Protection)
Aug 27 - Reno NV - Robert Hawkins Amphitheater
Aug 28 - Salt Lake City UT - Gallivan Center (Twilight Concert Series)
Aug 29 - Boise ID - Winery at Eagle Knoll
Aug 30 - Seattle WA - Bumbershoot Festival
Aug 31 - Vancouver BC - Stanley Park Singing Exhibition (Neko Case set)
Sept 1 - Vancouver BC - Stanley Park (New Pornographers set)
Sept 12 - Laytonville CA - Earthdance Festival @ Black Oak Ranch
Sept 14 - Morrison CO - Monolith Festival
Sept 15 - Omaha NE - Slow Bar
Sept 16 - Des Moines IA - Hoyt Sherman
Sept 18 - Minneapolis MN - First Avenue
Sept 19 - Madison WI - the Orpheum
Sept 20 - Chicago IL - Hideout Block Party
Sept 21 - Chicago IL - Hideout Block Party – with New Pornographers
Sept 23 - Cleveland OH - Beachland Ballroom
Sept 24 - St Louis MO - the Pageant
Sept 25 - Oxford MS - the Lyric
Sept 26 - Oklahoma City OK - Diamond Ballroom
Sept 27 - Dallas TX - Granada Theater
Sept 28 - Austin TX - Austin City Limits festival