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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
It’s apt that this record opens with tense, trembling guitar tones: ominous beacons of the gale-force songs to come. Middle Cyclone finds Neko Case--she of the flaming hair and unforgettably tremendous voice--returning to the darkly romantic sound of 2006’s near-perfect Fox Confessor Brings the Flood, only this time the songs are even more fervid and more troubled. Take the title track, a sylphic, heartbreaking confession of love. Case has never had qualms about baring her soul; by now it’s actually a signature element of her charm and power as a performer. And whether she’s declaring herself a maneater (“People Got A Lotta Nerve”) or covering Harry Nilsson (the touchingly plaintive “Don’t Forget Me”), the results are always epic and visually loaded. “The Pharaohs,” for example, might be the best ancient Egyptian-themed love song ever written. Middle Cyclone’s biggest statement, though, is the sprawling, organ-driven “I’m An Animal,” in which Case doesn’t so much sing as brazenly, decisively intone, “I’m an animal / You’re an animal too.” Neko Case’s frequent employment of nature-based imagery--singing magpies, tornadoes, killer whales--only underscores the sweeping, organic quality of her music. --Erin Thompson
Product Description
The fifteen-track Middle Cyclone is Neko 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.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
96 of 109 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I'm going to start my review talking about the album art, which is spectacular. It has more of Neko's signature artwork than her other albums and expresses the concept of the album much like her drawings on "The Tigers Have Spoken" and "Fox Confessor"--if there were some kind of award for this, Neko would win it.
What is so great about Neko Case is that nobody captures the essence of nostalgia quite like her. Her nostalgia is not the sentimental kind--not a wistful longing for what once was--but a deep ache for what we have unthinkingly destroyed. Her voice itself has an organic reverb that is not created by a production mixer. For people who tuned into Neko as an indie rocker, I encourage you to download individual tracks that sound like her old work, like "This Tornado Loves You" and "The Pharoahs"--"Middle Cyclone" is kind of a departure from her previous work if you are looking for songs that use her voice as the main instrument to play darkness with sweet melodies.
"Middle Cyclone" uses experimental sounds like the "piano orchestra" made up of forsaken and abandoned pianos, music boxes, and the notorious 32 minute track of frogs being so panned by critics. I think these experimental instrumental changes make the album less "poppy" because they decenter Neko's vocals inside a wall of sound, a move that reflects her collaborations with the New Pornographers and The Sadies. I'm really curious how these arrangements will play live on tour. I think some fans are going to be disappointed with "Middle Cyclone," though there are a few catchy tunes on the album. Long-time fans will see this album as a constellation of her work with other musicians, a return to psychedelic instrumentation, and "get" the centerpiece--a rework of the 1974 "Never Turn Your Back on Mother Earth."
About the frogs. The 32 minutes of frogs, which play like a sleep-sound machine at the end of the album, had the same impact on me as the song "The Tigers Have Spoken." They're lovely, like the melody to "Tigers," but their message is wrenching. How many of us would give anything to fall asleep to the sound of real frogs rather than blasting a sound machine of "nature" to mask the noise pollution of subwoofer terrorists, the whine of freeways and traffic, and the hum of our own houses/heads? What we have damaged is irretrievable...completely razed. Like the found pianos that make up the piano orchestra on the album, the frogs are free to sing; Neko found some frogs outside of the barn-studio that make a wall of sound; it is a frog orchestra. For the "Mother Earth" we have turned our backs on, not a maudlin song about saving, but a long, dark goodbye.
What is so great about Neko Case is that nobody captures the essence of nostalgia quite like her. Her nostalgia is not the sentimental kind--not a wistful longing for what once was--but a deep ache for what we have unthinkingly destroyed. Her voice itself has an organic reverb that is not created by a production mixer. For people who tuned into Neko as an indie rocker, I encourage you to download individual tracks that sound like her old work, like "This Tornado Loves You" and "The Pharoahs"--"Middle Cyclone" is kind of a departure from her previous work if you are looking for songs that use her voice as the main instrument to play darkness with sweet melodies.
"Middle Cyclone" uses experimental sounds like the "piano orchestra" made up of forsaken and abandoned pianos, music boxes, and the notorious 32 minute track of frogs being so panned by critics. I think these experimental instrumental changes make the album less "poppy" because they decenter Neko's vocals inside a wall of sound, a move that reflects her collaborations with the New Pornographers and The Sadies. I'm really curious how these arrangements will play live on tour. I think some fans are going to be disappointed with "Middle Cyclone," though there are a few catchy tunes on the album. Long-time fans will see this album as a constellation of her work with other musicians, a return to psychedelic instrumentation, and "get" the centerpiece--a rework of the 1974 "Never Turn Your Back on Mother Earth."
About the frogs. The 32 minutes of frogs, which play like a sleep-sound machine at the end of the album, had the same impact on me as the song "The Tigers Have Spoken." They're lovely, like the melody to "Tigers," but their message is wrenching. How many of us would give anything to fall asleep to the sound of real frogs rather than blasting a sound machine of "nature" to mask the noise pollution of subwoofer terrorists, the whine of freeways and traffic, and the hum of our own houses/heads? What we have damaged is irretrievable...completely razed. Like the found pianos that make up the piano orchestra on the album, the frogs are free to sing; Neko found some frogs outside of the barn-studio that make a wall of sound; it is a frog orchestra. For the "Mother Earth" we have turned our backs on, not a maudlin song about saving, but a long, dark goodbye.
28 of 33 people found the following review helpful
By Colin Spence
Format:Audio CD
As a singer-songwriter, Neko Case is streets ahead of many of her contemporaries but, on this album, some of her vocal phrasing and song melodies are beginning to have an all too familiar ring to them. A number of the supporting musicians have also played on her earlier albums but, despite this, their hitherto 'stripped back', semi-acoustic sound has been replaced, on many songs, with a more fashionable echo-laden jangling sound, and a distinct lack of groove - but there are times when her musicians manage to conjure up some quite interesting sounds. On a more positive note, NC doesn't disappoint with the power and clarity of her vocals; and her lyrics, whilst less opaque than those on 'Fox Confessor', still place the emphasis more on imagery and less on transparency; also, several of the songs are love songs with lyrics evoking a strong nostalgic-reflective mood.
The songs I enjoyed most were : 'Polar Nettles', 'Never Turn Your Back On Mother Earth' and 'Red Tide'; but there are no songs that really 'jump out and grab me'. The final track (some 30 odd minutes long) is comprised entirely of a recording of highly repetitive frog noises; whilst this must have some personal significance for NC, I can't think what possessed her to include it on the album. Having said this, some listeners may find it therapeutic (especially insomniacs).
NC has been a force to be reckoned with but, in my opinion, 'Middle Cyclone' does not represent her best work in terms of originality. It isn't a poor album by any means - NC's vocals are well up to her usual high standard (she has perfect pitch), and her lyrics are a clear cut above those to be found on many mainstream pop songs - yet, I still feel that the song writing is less inspired than on earlier albums. If you are thinking of buying 'Middle Cyclone', I'd recommend that you listen to as many tracks as possible beforehand - particularly if 'Fox Confessor' was an album that 'fired you up'.
The songs I enjoyed most were : 'Polar Nettles', 'Never Turn Your Back On Mother Earth' and 'Red Tide'; but there are no songs that really 'jump out and grab me'. The final track (some 30 odd minutes long) is comprised entirely of a recording of highly repetitive frog noises; whilst this must have some personal significance for NC, I can't think what possessed her to include it on the album. Having said this, some listeners may find it therapeutic (especially insomniacs).
NC has been a force to be reckoned with but, in my opinion, 'Middle Cyclone' does not represent her best work in terms of originality. It isn't a poor album by any means - NC's vocals are well up to her usual high standard (she has perfect pitch), and her lyrics are a clear cut above those to be found on many mainstream pop songs - yet, I still feel that the song writing is less inspired than on earlier albums. If you are thinking of buying 'Middle Cyclone', I'd recommend that you listen to as many tracks as possible beforehand - particularly if 'Fox Confessor' was an album that 'fired you up'.
29 of 36 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Another good one from Neko Case and her band. This CD has all that Neko's fans have come to expect from her, chapter 5 of her studio releases, if you will. The melodies resonate strongly with those on her earlier works. Her fans will recognize the instrumental invention here as a direct descendant of the previous albums. Where she breaks new ground is the subject matter of her lyrics: more love songs - with a twist. Neko still delivers the dark stuff, too, but just in smaller doses. Oh, yeah, let's don't forget the perfect backing vocals thoughout - but especially in "Prison Girls".
The trajectory of the album, overall, is remarkable. It starts out with high energy for 3 songs. Then, the good stuff, the middle songs, and here going on for 11 tracks strong. By the time you get to the last track, you're ready to wind down.
If you like Neko, you'll probably love this CD. Not revolutionary, just a nice evolution. And you can still count the animal references! Way to go y'all!!
The trajectory of the album, overall, is remarkable. It starts out with high energy for 3 songs. Then, the good stuff, the middle songs, and here going on for 11 tracks strong. By the time you get to the last track, you're ready to wind down.
If you like Neko, you'll probably love this CD. Not revolutionary, just a nice evolution. And you can still count the animal references! Way to go y'all!!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
A masterpiece of emotions.
This album takes you on a journey of destructive emotion, hopelessness, heartbreak, fear, desperation, but there are redemption songs that are all about overcoming these emotions... Read more
Published 18 days ago by K. Vader
5.0 out of 5 stars
Neko Case's latest doesn't disappoint.
If you liked Fox Confessor Brings the Flood or Blacklisted, you'll want to own this too. Beautiful, striking melodies you'll want to crank in the car or sing you to sleep.
Published 2 months ago by Adrian
4.0 out of 5 stars
It's a good album
I like Neko Case a lot but I didn't enjoy this album as much as Fox Confessor Brings the Flood. Just my personal taste.
Published 2 months ago by Christa Hodge
3.0 out of 5 stars
Fair Collection
Has some good tracks but not all are same quality as People Got A Lotta Nerve. Some songs drag or are fast forward tracks.
Published 4 months ago by Sudden
5.0 out of 5 stars
I love this album!
Bought on a whim, as it was on sale. Has gone on to inspire a new story. Must hear/add to your library!
Published 10 months ago by C. Clever
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Beautiful Work
This is a beautiful work in every possible way. The fact that Neko Case was able to produce a piece so masterfully done on a budget that is a fraction of what a manufactured... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Minor Cord Dave
4.0 out of 5 stars
Bewitchingly enticing
This is my first exposure to Neko Case. Likewise, this is an evaluation strictly based on this album and not her previous ones. Read more
Published 21 months ago by K. Owen
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good But Not Great. And the Frogs Suck.
As many have said, her earlier work is a bit more inspired. But her voice is just as beautiful and compelling as it ever was, weaker lyrics or not. Read more
Published on May 15, 2011 by zed
4.0 out of 5 stars
MP3 CUSTOMERS: Skip the last track
I listened to the brief previews of each track before I bought this album, and I loved everything I heard. Listening to the album in its entirety was a pleasure. Five stars. Read more
Published on May 11, 2011 by TR
5.0 out of 5 stars
man man man man man maneater
Neko as a singer is a total natural with a powerhouse style she has learned to use with more and more subtlety with experience. Read more
Published on February 12, 2011 by moro
