Track Listing

1. Outro
2. Outro with Bees
3. Behind the House
4. Ghost Wiring
5. Deep Red Bells
6. Knock Loud
7. Hex
8. Maybe Sparrow
9. Wayfaring Stranger
10. Furnace Room Lullaby
11. In California
12. Buckets of Rain
13. Look for Me (I'll Be Around)
14. Alone and Forsaken

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #67432 in Music
• Brand: Dig
• Released on: 2007-01-09
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Live
• Dimensions: .15 pounds

Amazon.com
What k.d. lang branded "torch and twang" might serve as a starting point for a description of Neko Case's music, but the uniqueness of a style that incorporates country roots, punk attitude, and supper-club sophistication defies classification. Her 2003 debut performance on the Austin City Limits series (also available on DVD) showcases Case's artistry in a stripped-down setting, with stand-up bassist Tom Ray serving as a one-man rhythm section, Jon Rauhouse providing multi-instrumental virtuosity on banjo and a variety of guitars, and Kelly Hogan supplying impeccable harmony support. Case was touring at the time behind her Blacklisted album, though the setlist strays farther. On "Hex," written by Freakwater's Catherine Irwin, Case and Hogan could pass as the Louvin Sisters, while Bob Dylan's "Buckets of Rain" receives a languid reading punctuated by Rauhouse's Hawaiian lap-steel guitar. "Deep Red Bells" emphasizes the western side of country & western, with the more experimental "Maybe Sparrow" combining banjo and edgy atmospherics. Throughout, the bare-bones arrangements let the songs breathe and Case's voice soar. --Don McLeese

Customer Reviews

good for completists, not her best work
If you're the kind of person who already owns Blacklisted, Fox Confessor Brings the Flood, Furnace Room Lullaby, and perhaps even Canadian Amp or The Virginian, then definitely buy this album. But if you're new to Neko, or have maybe one album and are looking to expand your collection, pick up the other albums I listed first. And if you're looking for live Neko, start with The Tigers Have Spoken. In general, this is the last album of hers I'd recommend - although I still recommend it, on the grounds that I recommend that serious music lovers should own everything Neko Case has ever recorded!

The problem here is that it's too sparse and downtempo to sustain a whole album. It's an interesting experiment for a while, but several songs need a fuller sound, and the overall flow needs some uptempo. It's a good album to have in a shuffle mix on your iPod, but not to listen to straight through - try one of her phenomenal studio albums for a taste of what she can do with pacing!

Don't let this discourage you from buying this album, though... just buy other Neko Case albums first.

This generation's Patsy Cline
Neko Case is this generation's Patsy Cline only with more attitude. Her appeal crosses over multiple genre's but you can't quite categorize her. Pick up any of her catalog and you'll find yourself searching for more.

Very interesting style
Neko Case offers an interesting approach to popular music and progressive country. Having heard her latest album, Fox Confessor, I was eager to see her live. This DVD was my next best opportunity. She played with a small ensemble of tight musicians and a back-up singer, and they played surprisingly well, if not dramatic. Neko seemed extremely nervous on the Austin City Limits stage, and she admits to being over-joyed to be on the program. Nonetheless, she was very adept at playing her music, which is a mix of country, folk, and light jazz-rock. It will be interesting to see where she goes from here. I would recommend this performance if you haven't seen Neko case, or even if you haven't heard her music. She is a very interesting singer.