Fretplay.com Neko Case & Her Boyfriends CD reviews Neko Case & Her Boyfriends guitar tabs Neko Case & Her Boyfriends CD reviews Neko Case & Her Boyfriends tabs The Virginian


Neko Case & Her Boyfriends - The Virginian Audio CD

A fair review of the Neko Case & Her Boyfriends "The Virginian" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Neko Case & Her Boyfriends reviews here, or go back to the Neko Case & Her Boyfriends tabs.

Neko Case & Her Boyfriends Band: Neko Case & Her Boyfriends
Title: The Virginian
Rating:
Release Date: 2007-10-23
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Timber 2: Bowling Green 3: Jettison 4: High on Cruel 5: Karoline 6: Lonely Old Lies 7: Honky Tonk Hiccups 8: Virginian 9: Duchess 10: Thanks a Lot 11: Somebody Led Me Away 12: Misfire

Time Travel Is Possible
This is pure, old school, honest-to-god country western music. This is not an alternative country album, nor is this a new country album. While Case's later albums define the term "alt. country" and develop an alternate history for country western music, free from the influences of Nashville, this album is something else. This album is what gives Ms. Case the authority to redefine country music on her own terms.

Because on this album, Neko Case proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that she is the equal of any country western singer of note. Had she been born a generation earlier, we would throw out her name the way we throw out names like Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn.

Those who were introduced to Case by her later albums, released ater shed had some mainstream success -- The Tigers Have Spoken or Fox Confessor Brings the Flood -- may find this album off-putting, as the more lyrical and dark touches that define her later work are conspicuously absent here.


Completed Collection
Gave as a gift to complete my brothers collection. Must have for Neko Case fans. This is her early work, but is still quite solid.


Another Solid Effort
Before a second cut is finished playing, I've plugged in a Tele and I'm playing along. What can I say? I'm just amazed at how consistent her CDs are, and how often they end up in the player. Pick anything from her catalog and you will not be disappointed.


THE WHISKEY DID THE REST
Okay. . I just can't do it. I thought I could write this review without referencing her but I can't. So, let's get it out of the way. She's no Patsy Cline. No one ever will be, but with Neko it's hard not to conjure up thoughts of a 21st Century Patsy. In Patsy's wake we've been blessed to hear some sublime voices that would not have been possible had Miss Cline not kicked open the door for them. Loretta Lynn, Emmylou Harris, Maria McKee. . . and now Neko Case. All unique. All powerful. All capable of devastating, raw emotional impact & rousing roof-raising joy. All due respect to Patsy.

Now once we get beyond unfair comparisons, Neko becomes her own strange, beautiful animal. THE VIRGINIAN is one of the most exhilarating mission statements I've ever heard. It's rewards are rich and many.

She starts off the album with "Timber". Is it a warning? Maybe. She makes the Everly Brothers her bitch on "Bowling Green". "Jettison" is as sparkling, and emancipated as a song about suicide can be. The next two songs are so ferocious & rollicking that Metallica might want to start taking notes. "High On Cruel" is aptly titled and once you hear her immaculate, seductive vocals I defy you to not wish to be the lover under her stilletos. "Karoline" rocks even harder. The band ratcheting up the tension until the live-wire snaps on Matt Murphy's brilliant "Honky Tonk Hiccups". On which Neko outdoes herself in terms of phrasing. That is until you reach a poignant, crushing rendition of "Duchess". She gives Earl Scruggs a loving pat on the back with "Thanks A Lot". . . she is led away from a bloody idiot in the next song. . . and finally confounds expectations with a Queen song to close out the album.

It's a wildly fun ride. You'll take it over and over again. Neko Case is one of those rare artistic gifts. Her every move will be a pleasure to witness.

If you need convincing. . . start with this album. You can thank me later.


Over analyzing it
This was a good album when it came out and it is still a good album. Don't listen to these people comparing this to the album they bought last week. Let them keep repeating this country-noir nonsense because they heard some reviewer say it. These reviews are full of repeated nonsense that people read in Spin or Rolling Stone. .


You can see a complete list of all Neko Case & Her Boyfriends discography, or go back to the Neko Case & Her Boyfriends tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

Search guitar tabs

#ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
[ Search tabs | Guitar tabs | Bass tabs |
Easy guitar tabs | Guitar solo tabs |
Acoustic guitar tabs | Guitar chords |
How to read guitar tabs ]
Forum topics
Music forums
- Bands and artists - Songwriting and lyrics - Tablature talk - Promote your band
Instrument forums
- Guitar basics - Gear & accessories - Bass guitar
Community
- The pit - Site Feedback - Reviews
[ User survey | About us | Privacy statement ]