Customer Reviews

Fox Confessor Brings the Flood (Bonus Disc Version)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have been a long time Neko Case fan (since her first CD back in 1997, The Virginian, won me over). I have been buying all of her CD's since then, but had not purchased "Fox Confessor" right away (I downloaded it from iTunes the day it was released instead). However, once I saw this re-release with bonus tracks and new Artwork, I gave in and bought the disc for my collection. I have no buyers remorse at all.

It's true that the bonus disc just contains some prime cuts from her earlier CD's, but it also contains a previously unreleased "Behind The House" demo.

I love this release, and a few of the songs have become instant Neko classics that she plays live often in her shows, such as "Hold On, Hold On" and "Maybe Sparrows".

All in all, this is an excellent introduction to Neko Case, especially for those that may not own her earlier CD's. The bonus disc contains some real gems from Neko's past, such as "Deep Red Bells" and "Set Out Running". This is also a perfect edition of this CD for any Neko fans that may not yet own "Fox Confessor". Highly recommended.

A new favorite. I'd say more but I'm no music critic. I just like what I like. Her songs are great songs AND great stories. A lot of fun. Her voice is huge.

I had never heard of Neko Case before a friend gave me her latest CD, Middle Cyclone. That album had me completely awestruck: Her huge, effortless voice, her vivid imagery, the emotional immediacy of the lyrics. I decided to get her previous recordings in reverse chronological order, and this is her best CD, in my opinion. This is one of those CD's you urgently want to tell people about, yet you despair of finding words that won't sound trite, cliched, and just plain hopelessly inadequate.

Her earlier country-inspired work is tremendous, too, but somehow feels more confined or limited by that genre. Fox Confessor is varied in a way that isn't experimental or contrived--you definitely feel the music and lyrics flowed together organically. It doesn't sound like she's making a calculated effort to reinvent herself, but rather maturing into a more versatile and complex artist. Yet the music feels so carefully crafted that you realize nothing was left to chance.

Her voice is so distinctive--strong yet incredibly elastic. She never sounds like she's straining or reaching for a style she can't pull off. She is content to sing plainly and precisely when appropriate (Margaret vs Pauline, The Needle Has Landed), but she can also let loose with that voice that can swoop and soar, and pull you along with her (Maybe Sparrow, Lion's Jaws, for example).

Some of these songs are so grim, or tragic, or wistful they make you want to weep--(Margaret vs. Pauline, A Widow's Toast) but in a good, empathetic way rather than a despairing, negative way. They are dark and bright at the same time.

If you don't like music that triggers strong and complicated emotions, you might not care for this CD. If you do, you may find yourself listening to it compulsively.

Please be careful when purchasing Neko's music as she becomes an addiction very easily. If you're unfamiliar, give this album a few listens through before deciding which tracks you like or not, as her music has layering tendencies, which become more apparent after you're familiar... but by then, you're hooked in the best way possible.

Several times I've heard NPR's "Sound Opinions" make reference to Neko Case. Based on that, and the reviews here, I bought this CD + Bonus. It certainly is not a "make you feel happy" CD. But between the CD and its bonus, there are several tracks that I like enough to put on my MP3 player. For me, if I don't really like a song, I don't want to hear it over and over.

I liked this disc. I like her music. Could I recommend this disc, if one has liked her music in the past probably so. There are some soft spots but then there always are, overall I think it is a good disc to add to ones Neko Case collection. I should know I bought her other two discs and will buy some more in the future I am sure. What would I have wanted to know prior to my purchasing this disc nothing really I have her Middle cyclone disc and used that for my bases in buying the others. It is hard to quantify music. I think having samples to listen to is a very good thing, it helped me to finalize my choices. I hope this helps others in making there choice.

I have Middle Cyclone in constant rotation on my way to work and just had to have Fox Confessor. Fox Confessor is good, but not enough to replace or augment the rotations of Middle Cyclone. The bonus disc is that good!