Week 2 of Album Month - August 2022, also to be known as Iconic
Women Week, which is a celebration of my favorite female musical
artists. So.. Welcome to Day 08 and a peek into my brain about
Neko Case’s 2018 album, Hell-On and my connection with her music.
When I was in my late teens, I discovered an awesome magazine of
musical discovery called CMJ New Music Monthly. Every month I would
excitedly go to my choice store, pick one up, devour it, and absorb the
music disc that came with it. It had such a varied array of artists, some I knew
and many I didn’t know at all, with almost any genre you could think of over
the course of a year. It was amazing! And this was where I first heard
Neko Case; it was the track “Twist The Knife” from her newest release at
the time, her second album Furnace Room Lullaby. Typically, at that time
in my life, I didn’t usually get into a lot of folk, country or hybrids, just a song
here and there,but this song… The first notes began and I was captivated.
WOW! I couldn’t explain it, but I needed this album. Not wanted. Needed.
And I needed it as soon as possible.
I went to my favorite store that had everything (RIP Let It Be, Minneapolis)
and I couldn’t find it. I asked at the counter and the clerk said that they
had had it but must have sold the last one in the last day or so.
“I can order it for you, if you’d like.”
“This is going to sound weird but I kinda need it now.”
A look of knowing smile crossed their face.
“Say no more. I totally get it. I hope you find it! Good luck!”
The search led me to the awful and overpriced Sam Goody chain store, but
there she was and my search was over. I carried it to the register, spent too
much money, and it was mine. I was obsessed for ages after.
I’ve been a fan ever since.
I relate this story because this is the perfect opportunity to do so.
And I wanted to because it is a big piece of my musical journey
and pertinent to now.
Neko expanded my musical horizons a bit, and I am grateful. At the
moment, I’m still quite attuned to Furnace, it’s successor, Blacklisted,
and the incredible Fox Confessor Brings The Flood (so far her best album,
in my humble opinion), so it takes me a little longer to click with her more
recent music of the last 7 to 10 years or so. And that’s okay. That’s just
where I’m at right now. In short: Hell-On is a solid album that will take
its time to weave its way through my musical veins.
This 2018 offering doesn’t come in and arrest my soul like my first ever
listen to Neko and her music did, but that’s not saying it can’t be
arresting for another. For me, Hell-On’s energy comes in like a cat that
doesn't belong to you but it’s always around your neighborhood, and it
just ends up in your house one day, making it feel better without you
realizing exactly why. It comes in subtly and starts embedding itself with the
title track, and, before you know it, there’s this nice Americana tapestry on
the wall by the last note.
Hell-On has all that is quintessentially Neko and then some, with some
guest lead and backing vocalists, and the talented creature
Matt Chamberlain popping in on drums for a song or three. (*throws a
knowing grin to her fellow Tori Amos fans*). Although some musicians
change, and it’s all her music with a co-writer here and there (and one song
written by Eric Bachmann, who also guests on the track), this feels a little
more like a band album, or like jam sessions that refined themselves into
great songs. It has a feel to it that, even with the trademark haunting
Neko quality, has me picturing a bunch of musicians friends in a spacious,
old living room turned practice room with overstuffed thrift store couches
and chairs, eclectic decor, and vintage rugs scattered on the floor under
all the music and recording equipment. And the view of the river out
back running into the ocean is breathtaking. That view is “Oracle of the
Maritimes” which is not only the biggest stand-out track for me, but also
my favorite on the album. I could stare at that view for hours… And after
that favorite thing about the whole room, “Halls of Sarah” is my favorite
portrait painting on the wall closest to the window.
“Curse of the I-5 Corridor” is also a great stand out track, taking you as it
goes along. It must be noted that, since the making of this album,
Matt Lanegan, who shares lead vocals with Neko on this track,
passed away, so I picture his face immortalized prominently in a moving
portrait on the wall above a vintage chest of drawers. I picture this song
as the book inside a locked case under the portrait and on top of the chest,
opened to the most fascinating part of the story.
(The key’s in the drawer just below it, in case you were wondering.)
Neko Case can’t really do any musical ‘wrong’ in my book, even if some
of it goes deeper than the rest. (‘Wrong’ is a super subjective word, and just
means it ‘doesn’t do it for me’.) And I think this album has a lot of
wonderfulness to offer to the willing listener. I know there is a lot to
explore in that room, and I have a feeling I will find
something new in it every time I visit.
~*~
Give it a listen and find out, buy if you like it, and check
https://nekocaseofficial.bandcamp.com/album/hell-on
https://www.amazon.com/Hell-Neko-Case/dp/B07BF4L9SM
https://open.spotify.com/album/7I141P48NQw206up7jBezG
https://tidal.com/browse/album/121048440
https://music.apple.com/us/album/hell-on/1485072408
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1 comment:
Well-written piece, as always! You have the ability to translate music into words and make it come alive on the page. :-)
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