Track Listing

1. Margaret Vs Pauline
2. Star Witness
3. Hold On Hold On
4. Widow's Toast
5. That Teenage Feeling
6. Fox Confessor Brings The Flood
7. John Saw That Number
8. Dirty Knife
9. Lion's Jaws
10. Maybe Sparrow
11. At Last
12. Needle Has Landed

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #19594 in Music
• Released on: 2006-03-06
• Number of discs: 1

CD Description
'Fox Confessor Brings The Flood' is the fourth album properfrom alt-country singer-songwriter Neko Case. Mixing bittersweet vignettes about love and loss with dark, Nick Cave-espue balladry has won Case many plaudits, and this album should push the sophisticated songstress further towards the manistream. Includes the tracks 'Star Witness' and 'A Widow's Toast'

Customer Reviews

Fox Confessor Brings the Goods
Having had flashes of greatness on her past four albums, Neko Case has finally produced a work that is consistently great. Twelve dark jewels dangling on a charm bracelet, each song is exquisitely composed and intricately shaped. As ever, the vocal work is unparallelled, like a more palatable Loretta Lynne or a less cloying Patsy Cline; on the gospel barnstormer John Saw the Number the delivery is reminiscent of Elvis on tip top form in its vitality.
This album really sees Case come into her own as a songwriter. While previous albums have included one or two great original songs and plenty of others that were simply very good, FCBTF contains only great songs. From the tale of inequality and envy of the opener Margaret Vs Pauline right through to the touching tale of a lost companion of the closing track The Needle Has Landed the album is shot through dramatic imagery, dark humour, and emotive sentiments. Aided by by a stellar cast of musicians, the tracks are realised to fantastic effect.
Really, even if you are put off by the country label, you should check this album out. It is, put simply, brilliant. Almost indecently so.

The wonderful follow up to 2002's 'Blacklisted'
Neko Case is a busy goddess, flitting between work with the prolific outfit The New Pornographers, the odd mini-LP mail-order, a live recording and her own solo career (...sadly no continuation of the rather sexy pics Case made a few years ago...you can't have everything!). 'Fox Confessor...' continues the progression 'Blacklisted' made on the earlier material recorded with her then Boyfriends, 'The Virginian' and 'Furnace Room Lullaby.' I've been hooked since John Peel played 'Twist the Knife'- the sound of Case's last solo LP fitted into the Americana rubric, somewhere between country, gospel,roots and soul and fitting into the same universe as Daniel Lanois' work with Emmylou Harris. Where Neko with the New Pornographers is like Debbie Harry hanging with The Knack on a Brian Wilson tip, Ms Case's solo career exploits her gorgeous vocals. Bessie and Patti...and down the line there is Neko.

As with 'Blacklisted', Case co-produces with Darryl Neudorf, composing all the songs, and with an able supporting cast including Calexico (Joey Burns and John Convertino - formerly of Giant Sand), The Sadies, Howe Gelb (Giant Sand), Kelly Hogan (more of her sexy background vocals!), Paul Rigby, and on several tracks, Garth Hudson (formerly of The Band and contributor to records by Mercury Rev, Norah Jones, & The Secret Machines new one!).

I've only listened to 'Fox...' a few times, but like certain records - Cat Power's 'The Greatest', Laura Veirs' 'Carbon Glacier', Emmylou's 'Stumble from Grace' - all of which feel like relatives, this is one of those undeniably wonderful records. Highlights thus far...well all of it, but the ones that stand out for me are 'Star Witness', 'Dirty Knife', 'That Teenage Feeling', opener 'Margaret Vs. Pauline' & the title track. Songs like 'A Widow's Toast' take feel not far from Jolie Holland and the Be Good Tanyas, but given a Lanois-style treatment.

'Fox Confessor..' is undoubtedly one of the highlights of 2006, certainly going to be amongst my favourites alongside 'The Greatest', the new Low LP, Giant Drag's 'Hearts & Unicorns', the new Drive By Truckers & Willard Grant Conspiracy and the Loose Fur LP. Let's hope Neko tours the UK soon - and maybe somewhere like Birmingham where I would have the pleasure?

Country Was The Case
I happened to find out about Neko Case by off chance i was out shopping in the west end and went into a shoe shop where they was playing this album after walking around the shop for about 10 minutes and hearing a couple of songs me and a friend decided to ask the cashier who it was she said it was Neko Case and told me the name of the album. I purchased it the same day got home and was disapointed at first but after giving it a few listens and putting it on my mp3 player and listening to it where ever i went i fell in love.

1.Margaret Vs. Pauline - I honest can say i thought this was so cheesy for some reason. A song about two women with a grudge for each other always tryna out do the one another as much as they argue or what have you they envy each other a cool song but not accessable as some of the others 9/10

2.Star Witness - Now this is a song that i loved straight away it's a great one and a clear favourite it's also the longest clocking just over 5 minutes to me maybe this song is about a man who is a witness to a horific car accident and keeps it to himself. I can't stress enough how great this song is 10/10

3.Hold On, Hold On - It just reminded me of Mama Cass (from the mama's and papa's) it's not the greatest song but it can be quite enjoyable the lyrics dont really jump out at you and beg them for you to listen 6/10

4.A Widow's Toast - It's so short but so great one of the best songs it's an tribute to dead husbands Case taps into the darker parts of the psyche.A very haunting and touching piece of music thats so simplistic thats very much acapella with only a few strokes of the guitar every now and then 10/10

5.That Teenage Feeling - Another haunting song (think its something to do with her voice)it sounds like an old Emmylou Harris song with a modern twist it's enjoyable about the carefree days of being a teenager in love 10/10

6.Fox Confessor Brings The Flood - To be honest i have no idea what that means lol A rocky song to say the least her vocals are really mournful seems to be about a man she met had a fling and never saw him again cool song 7/10

7.John Saw That Number - Dubbed by many reviews ive read as the best song on the album i don't know i beg to differ it's the most upbeat thats really it.It has a gospel-like quality (not just coz Johns a bapist lol) i mean it's an ok song but its by far not the best 9/10

8.Dirty Knife - It builds into an eerie, murderous folk ballad I dont really listen to it much but that's because i find it really disturbing i'm playing it as im writing and it just isnt a good feeling but the thing is about this song like many of th e other is that Neko's vocals are great she really has a striking voice 8/10

9.Lion's Jaw - Is something straight out of Emmylou Harris songbook it's a fantastic downtempo country song it sighs and sways like a romantic `60s pop ballad it's one of my favourite i enjoyed this one alot 10/10

10.Maybe Sparrow - After searching Neko's website i got to see the video for this it was cool and went very well with the song it feels quite intense her voice plays a big part in the atmosphere of the song one of the finer moments 10/10

11.At Last - A very short song now, i've listened to this one a few times now (iTunes says 14) and i can't make head of tail of it and it's so frustrating i came to the conclusion that i like it coz it's a mystery 10/10

12.The Needle Has Landed - A fine way to end the album on a high very impressive reminded me of Aimee Mann and the most "rock" song here i love her vocal's she sings with such passion another great song the strings at the end are beautiful 10/10

Top 5
1.A Widow's Toast
2.Star Witness
3.The Needle Has Landed
4.Lion's Jaw
5.That Teenage Feeling

Probably the most obscure album in my entire collection i like this album alot and will be buying her back catalogue