BuzzSugar

Music Video: Neko Case, "People Got a Lotta Nerve"

BuzzSugar — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 10:30:03 -0700

Neko Case's "People Got a Lotta Nerve," from her album Middle Cyclone, is a catchy - if slightly eerie - song that imagines caged animals taking revenge on those who keep them that way. So it's only appropriate that the music video that accompanies the song would have the same dreamy but creepy imagery.

In this little animated gem, a bored redheaded girl gets sucked away from the drudgery of knitting and transported into a fantastical world where dozens of children jump rope on the backs of elephants and brush a tiger's mane. But when she tries to capture one of the primates for her own, the animals revolt and return her to the belly of a whale. It's a weird fantasy, sure, but it's the sort of thing I imagine coming out of Case's brain on a regular basis. Plus, seeing this animated Neko-esque girl makes me think of that time she was on Aqua Teen Hunger Force, which still makes me giggle a little. To check out the video, read more.

What to Download: New Music Today

BuzzSugar — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 16:30:59 -0800

Tuesdays are big in entertainmentville: Not only do all the new DVD releases hit Netflix, but new music also pours into stores. So I take a spin through each week's music releases and pick out some albums and tracks worthy of a download. In addition to my picks below, you can also download the Watchmen soundtrack and Neko Case's album Middle Cyclone (check out my thoughts on all her new tracks here). Here are today's selections:

Bono's back: When I first saw the cover for the new U2 album, No Line on the Horizon, I hoped it wasn't an indication of the music. Because? Snooze. Now that it's out, we have our answer. It's not boring at all, but it's also not altogether unexpected. One reviewer summed up the album as a "well-crafted, classically-sturdy rock album with a modicum of invention and a good deal of familiar-sounding material that will appeal to the faithful." Standout tracks include "Magnificent" and "Unknown Caller."

A little jazzy, alt-country something-something: Fun fact time! Jesse Harris, a fellow with a new album out today, has worked with many a talented individual - including Bright Eyes - and even won a Grammy for writing the sweet Norah Jones hit "Don't Know Why." His music may be a little too mellow yellow for some, but I've enjoyed his work before and am eager to give his new tracks a spin. I'm digging the easy melody of "Watching the Sky,", and I think "The Fool" is really pretty.

More music to talk about, so read more.

You Had Me At "Oh": This new album from Seattle indie band Say Hi, aka Eric Ellbogen, might be one of the most interesting albums to hit my ears so far this year. If your iPod track rotation is feeling a bit stale, I urge you to work the following tunes into the fold: "Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh," "November Was White, December Was Grey," and "Elouise." Me? I've downloaded the entire thing.

Link Time! 2/26

BuzzSugar — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 13:30:50 -0800

Is there gender inequality in Pixar films? - Cinematical
The story behind United States of Tara's cool opening credits. - Pop Candy
Stevie Wonder is the secret to the Obamas' marriage. - CitizenSugar
I could just kiss this post about a kissing reality show. - Popwatch
Whoa, that wrestling video game from The Wrestler is real! - Vulture
Can't wait till Tuesday? Go download one of the new Neko Case tracks. - Stereogum
Dear Life on Mars: You're getting boring. - Clique Clack TV
Could One Tree Hill go on without Lucas and Peyton? - Korbi TV

Source

First Listen: Neko Case, Middle Cyclone

BuzzSugar — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 06:30:00 -0800

Neko Case's Middle Cyclone was one of the top 10 reasons I got excited about 2009, so when I saw the album was streaming on NPR's site ahead of its March 3 release, I had to take a listen.

My first impression in a nutshell: This is an album that's going to grow and grow on me. Case has said she wrote a bunch of love songs for the album, but it's important to note that the term probably means something different to her than it does to most people on the planet. Don't expect soft and mushy love: These are songs about disappointment, animal attacks, and tornadoes falling in love with people. By the end, I felt like I'd been through the emotional wringer - but I also couldn't wait to listen again.

There are a couple of missteps, but they're few and far between; early favorites include "Magpie to the Morning" and Case's cover of Harry Nilsson's "Don't Forget Me," but that might change on my next listen. You can check out the album for yourself, and to hear what I heard about each of the 15 tracks, just read more.

"This Tornado Loves You" - The album kicks off with sparkly guitars, a toe-tapping beat, and the words "my love, I am the speed of sound." It's a lovely, unfolding story, very dark and yet still hopeful-sounding. A great opener.
"Next Time You Say Forever" - This one starts out with a sound reminiscent of a music box. It's just a tiny little song, more like a poem set to music than anything with a traditional song structure.
"People Got a Lotta Nerve" - We've heard this one, and I still love its catchiness; I know I'll have it stuck in my head all day. I went to an event with Case in January where she talked about the inspiration for this song being when zoo animals attack people, who then seemed shocked that the animals are still wild. Now it makes me chuckle to myself every time I hear it.
"Polar Nettles" - This track takes a dark turn, like the sonic equivalent of stepping into a spooky, creaky old house. There's some very cool guitar work midway through in a quiet part, and then the track picks up speed and becomes ominous.
"Vengeance is Sleeping" - Beautiful guitar work kicks off this track, but it's Case's voice that ends up in the forefront. The arrangement is quite simple, which lets the lyrics carry the song; it's surprisingly delicate for a song with such a powerful title.
"Never Turn Your Back on Mother Earth" - This cover of a '70s song seems earnest, if a wee bit goofy, and the backing chorus around the 2-minute mark is a bit much. I'd have put it much later on the album, even as the closing song; it's kind of distracting in this spot.
"Middle Cyclone" - The album's title track makes me wish even more that we'd skipped "Mother Earth" for the moment, because it flows perfectly out of the first four songs. The music box turns up again, and it plays a little like a melancholy lullaby. Some gorgeous imagery ("a spiderweb trapped in your lashes").
"Fever" - This track brings a funky beat to the album, then switches into a more straightforward rhythm after about a minute. I'm not sure who does the male backing vocals, but it's a great match for Case's voice. I like the way this one builds throughout, adding layers and layers of sound.
"Magpie to the Morning" - One of my early favorites. It has a lot of swing to the vocals, and some (relatively) straightforward lyrics provide an immediate hook. I like the way you can barely hear Case say "here I go" before hitting one soaring note about halfway through.
"I'm an Animal" - Oddly, this one strikes me as one of the most accessible songs on the album. I could imagine it on TV show during some kind of heated courtship scene. I like the organ at the beginning and the rawness of the vocals.
"Prison Girls" - This track, the album's longest so far, has a lot of the spookiness of "Polar Nettles." I'll definitely need more time to decipher all the lyrics, but there's lots of emphasis on shadows and darkness and "gunpowder eyes." I might be crazy, but something about it reminds me of an epic Decemberists song.
"Don't Forget Me" - The album's second and final cover is of a Harry Nilsson song, and it seems to fit much better into the natural flow of the album than the earlier cover. Its bittersweet lyrics just sound right in Case's voice.
"The Pharaohs" - I'm sorry, I'm still recovering from "Don't Forget Me." But this song seems like as good a follow-up as anything could be, with lyrics that sound on first listen to be about a love affair gone terribly wrong. "You kept me wanting, wanting, wanting like the wanting in the movies."
"Red Tide" - This is a rather jazzy direction for the last proper track of the album. I feel emotionally drained - in a good way! - and I know I'm not processing everything that's going on here. I can tell I like the way the guitar really drives home certain lines and the way Case's voice hits certain soaring notes.
"Marais la Nuit" - And: crickets. Literally. The album closes with 30 minutes of ambient noises - crickets, and probably other insects too - recorded from Case's farm in Vermont where much of the album was created. This might annoy me if the album were shorter (would it feel like I got screwed out of a real song?) but as track No. 15, I have no complaints. Also, it's oddly compelling. And it'll definitely save me money on relaxation tapes or something. Seriously, I can't stop listening to the crickets.

Source

Listen Up: New From Neko Case, "People Got a Lot of Nerve"

BuzzSugar — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 09:30:33 -0800

Seeing as Neko Case's album Middle Cyclone is one of the top 10 things I was most looking forward to for 2009, I'm stoked to hear a little bit of what we can expect when the album is released March 3. "People Got a Lot of Nerve" is a cute little tune that promises great things for the rest of the album. According to "People Got a Lot of Nerve," Neko Case is a "man-man-man-man-man-maneater." The song is so catchy it's impossible to forget how much of a maneater she is.

Super bonus to posting this track today: Neko Case and her label, ANTI-, are making a cash donation to Best Friends Animal Society for every blog that reposts the song through Feb. 3 (for some more information on this whole thing, click here). We're saving animals!

To take Neko's new song for a spin while thinking of all the happy puppies and kittens, read more.

Source

Link Time! 12/16

BuzzSugar — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 13:30:35 -0800

If you are bold enough to admit that you hate A Charlie Brown Christmas, this post is for you. - CliqueClack TV
From Towelhead to Role Models, who are the most offensive movie characters of 2008? - Cinematical
Whoa, Neko Case's piano collection is awesome. - Stereogum
So yeah, even the original Gossip Girl author thinks Aaron Rose is "icky." - TV Filter
Which movie character lives the life you want? - Popwatch
An extensive and hilarious preview of The Real World: Brooklyn. - TVgasm
So, who should play Bill Clinton in Peter Morgan's Blair-Clinton movie? - Vulture
The UK's X-Factor winner, Alexandra Burke, has a new video for "Hallelujah" - spin it or sling it? - PopSugarUK

Source

Link Time! 9/2

BuzzSugar — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 13:38:23 -0700

Five reasons why Scott Porter should play Ryan on Brothers and Sisters. - The Ausiello Files
Dr. Horrible lives on with comics and a soundtrack. - Give Me My Remote
Have your pop culture tastes ever mortified you on public transportation? - Popwatch
New Neko Case songs? Why yes, my day has been made. - Stereogum
What other Chuck Palahniuk novels are headed for big-screen adaptations? - Cinematical
Wentworth Miller talks about Prison Break's latest reinvention. - The TV Addict
Republican National Convention viewing alternative: TCM's political movie night. - TV Squad
Hey, why weren't Brian Austin Green and Luke Perry talking in the New York Times oral history of 90210? - Vulture

Source

The New Pornographers - with Neko! - Sing Sweetly for AOL

BuzzSugar — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 12:32:00 -0800

If you're a fan of The New Pornographers, you know that catching Neko Case on tour with the band isn't always the easiest feat. (When both she and Dan Bejar appeared with the band in San Francisco in September, I nearly fell over.) For those of you who still haven't had that pleasure, AOL's Interface concert series has delivered the next best thing: live performances of four songs from Challengers with Neko performing, all available for download as mp3s or videos. Yay!

There's also an interview with AC Newman, John Collins, and Kathryn Calder talking about things like getting one of their songs into Rock Band, which really is pretty hilarious.

All four of the performances are worth watching, but for pure "hey, hey, the gang's almost all here!" pleasure, you've got to check out "My Rights Versus Yours." You can watch the video if you just read more.

Source

Getting Into: Neko Case

BuzzSugar — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 07:05:08 -0800

How often have you said "I really think I would like that band, but I've never gotten into them"? Therein lies the inspiration for Getting Into, where I'll help start your education about a singer, band, or film director by telling you what albums or movies you'll need as a beginner, intermediate, and advanced fan. (Got ideas for Getting Into posts? Leave a comment or send me a private message.)

The inspiration for today's post comes from tdamji, who recently suggested taking on the genre-straddling music of Neko Case. It turned out to be particularly good timing: Today, a bonus edition of Fox Confessor Brings the Flood, Case's most recent album, hits stores, including a second disc of tracks from earlier in her career. Plus, Case's first solo album, The Virginian, recently got reissued. If you've been hearing about Case but didn't know where to start listening to her - or if you're familiar with her through the New Pornographers but don't know her solo albums - this is how I'd recommend navigating through her discography:

Beginner: Fox Confessor Brings the Flood and Blacklisted

Case's music is particularly tough to classify, shifting between indie pop, alternative rock, gospel, and folk standards with ease. I'd happily put Fox Confessor in the hands of anyone who claims not to like country, as its lush arrangements and spotlight on Case's soaring, unwavering voice defy all genre constraints. I didn't name it one of the best albums of 2006 for nothing, and it's only grown on me since then, thanks to songs like "Hold On, Hold On" and "Maybe Sparrow." The new, expanded edition may be the only album a beginning Case fan really needs. But for good measure, it's worth picking up 2002's Blacklisted, which is a bit more sparse but still full of accessible songs, especially standouts "I Wish I Was the Moon" and "Deep Red Bells."

For the intermediate and advanced selections, just read more

Intermediate: The Tigers Have Spoken and Furnace Room Lullaby

To delve more into Case's country roots, check out The Tigers Have Spoken, a live album Case recorded in 2004. There are some strong original songs on the album, including the spirited "If You Knew," but it's most remarkable for Case's take on traditional folk songs ("This Little Light") and country anthems penned by the likes of Loretta Lynn. Furnace Room Lullaby is a more personal album - including two tributes to Tacoma, Wash., where Case spent most of her childhood - and while its sound isn't strictly country, its lyrics deal with themes of lost love and working-class struggle. I'm not sure I've ever heard a more honest tribute to a hometown than Case's "Thrice All American," my go-to Furnace Room track.

Advanced: The Virginian, Canadian Amp, and various live recordings and side projects

The Virginian, Case's first album, is a rough-and-tumble, bluegrass-heavy affair, not nearly as polished as her later work but an incredibly fun listen all the same. (For some hints on where The New Pornographers came from, check out Case's duet with AC Newman - back when he was still Carl - on "Bowling Green.") Canadian Amp, meanwhile, is a quiet EP recorded in Case's kitchen; it's a shame it's so darn hard to find, because "Knock Loud" deserves to be heard. At this point, it's also worth looking into Case's various side projects (I'm fond of The Corn Sisters, Case's country duo with Carolyn Mark). Her most recent live album, Live From Austin, TX, is a strong collection of songs, but frankly, you'd be better off downloading this live concert NPR recorded in Washington, DC, which keeps the spirit of Case's live shows intact, meandering stories and all.

Source

Concert Review: The New Pornographers at The Warfield, 9/17

BuzzSugar — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 15:15:50 -0700

The New Pornographers are commonly referred to as a supergroup, but often, when they perform live, they don't quite live up to that billing. Featured member Neko Case doesn't typically tour with the group, and Destroyer's Dan Bejar is even less likely to show. But both of the frequently absent singers made it out to the band's show this week at The Warfield in San Francisco, and I now can't even imagine how the group functions without them. The band sounds so much deeper and stronger when they're on stage, and as a result, Monday's show eclipsed my greatest expectations.

The band was joined by openers Fancey (otherwise known as Pornographers guitarist Todd Fancey) and Lavender Diamond. The latter band's album has really grown on me, but something's still lacking in their live show, at least in a venue as large as the Warfield. I've seen them twice there, and both times, the audience hasn't really bought into lead singer Becky Stark's Earth mother "thank you for saving the planet" vibe - and if that doesn't work in San Francisco, where does it? But all of that was forgotten when the New Pornographers took the stage underneath a sign that literally flashed their name in lights. For more about that, read more

I read some reviews of the latest New Pornographers album, Challengers, that suggested Case was no longer giving this side project her all. Whoever wrote those reviews clearly hadn't seen Case take the stage with the group, banging the heck out of a tambourine. Bejar saved his appearance for a bit later in the show, coming on stage seemingly at random with a beer in one hand and, on occasion, a guitar in the other.

The group tore through most of the songs from Challengers and threw in a broad sampling of older material as well. Clearly following the "when Neko is there, do the Neko songs" philosophy, they performed captivating versions of the songs that feature her vocals, most notably "Mass Romantic," "The Laws Have Changed" and show closer "Letter from an Occupant." And they did likewise with the Bejar songs "Myriad Harbor," "Testament to Youth in Verse" and "Jackie, Dressed in Cobras" - all songs that just wouldn't work without two of the group's star members. (Case was also this close to getting the band to perform a Journey cover, but to no avail.)

Considering that Case and Bejar don't perform with the band that often, the group's cohesiveness was impressive. Nobody missed a beat or a cue, and when all the members sang together, it formed a wall of sound that the Warfield could barely contain. Their chemistry led to some interesting banter with the crowd, as well - though the crowd could hardly stop cheering and clapping long enough to let them speak.

I had seen the group once before, at Lollapalooza 2006, with both Bejar and Case gone - and they delivered one of my favorite performances of the festival. They're great under any circumstance, but with Case and Bejar on stage, they're nothing short of stellar.

Source