Customer Reviews

The Other Women

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

 

 

Even though I am a big Neko Case fan (and Carolyn Mark fan to a lesser degree), I held off getting this CD for a long time because the reviews were so iffy. I'm sorry I waited - it's great. Even the sound quality is pretty decent - certainly not bad enough to detract from the songs. If you're not a big fan of either of these women, this may not be the CD to start with. But if you're holding off like I was because you're not sure it's worth it, you're missing out.

On the plus side: Two terrific harmony singers doing justice to everything from "The Long Black Veil" to the goofy original "Corn On The Cob" to an acoustic version of "High On Cruel" (the electric version is on Neko Case's 'The Virginian').

On the minus side: Sounds like it was recorded through a dicto-phone. Really.

If you like high-quality sound, both of these gals have other good CDs. If you want to hear their live show, with its combination of jokes and murder ballads, here's the chance.

i bought this album blind (or maybe deaf) on the strength of neko case's strikingly haunting voice and it immediately became one of my favorites. its stripped-down acoustic approach allows both case and mark's luminous vocals to shine unemcumbered. by turns funny (corn on the cob), and heartbreaking (don't let me cross over and long black veil), this is an album for the lovesick in need of a little cartharsis. Buy it.

i was lucky enough to have seen the Corn Sisters live quite a few years back and it was an absolutely stellar show. Neko and Carolyn were in fine form and when they weren't sending chills up your spine with their songs, they had you laughing so hard it hurt with their inbetween song banter. it's great to see how much fun these two girls have when they get together and it shows on this disc of live recordings. their natural chemistry spills over in every note. my favorite songs are "Not A Doll", "Don't Let Me Cross Over", and "She's Leaving Town" (a different version of that song is featured as a bonus track on here in which Carolyn sarcastically (?) describes the tune's author as a "weed-gobbling cheater" to much laughter). if you are a fan of Neko Case or Carolyn Mark's solo work, then you need the Corn Sisters in your life.

I bought this cd before I really knew Neko Case's music. It was the kind of purchase where I listened to the cd for 5 seconds in the store and immediately bought it. I don't regret it, in the least. Case & Mark's harmonies are tight without being cheesy. Their voices and playing sounds great together, and I even like the spontaneous "office party" sound that other reviewers complain about. Every time I hear it I imagine myself in that Seattle diner. The recording captures the rough edges and intimacy of the best live performances. "Too Many Pills" and "Fist City" are divine--two of my favorite tracks of all time.

First saw Neko at EMP in Seattle 3 years ago. Her voice is amazingly versatile, eery just doesn't begin to describe the goosebumps her music gifts. The cornsisters is a fabulous teaming with Carolyn Mark, yet another unique and beautiful voice. I don't know why, but the Corn on the Cob song just makes me grin every single time I hear it!

I was motivated to write this by "A Customer" who compared this album to a couple of drunk amateurs as they "immitate country music". This is a live album recorded in a small venue. Those who expect studio quality sound from such a disc would do better to look up Ashley Simpson.

Mark and Case complement each other beautifully on this CD. A must for fans of either chanteuse. Wonderful mix of songs, and a surprisingly high quality production for something recorded in clubs.

I'm giving this two stars because I admire Neko Case too much to give anything she does one star. This sounds like an office party, one of those beery nights when someone discovers that two of the women from the accounting department like to sing and play guitar and then everyone gathers around and has a lot of hooting and hollaring fun listening to them immitate country music. I took a chance on this one because I think Case is a real talent. Oh well: you can't win them all.