Blacklisted
Neko Case's third solo effort is a moody, atmospheric affair that both satisfies and mystifies. Recorded in Tucson with a stellar band that includesCalexico's Joey Burns and John Convertino,Blacklistedcharms you with its haunting, reverb-soaked songs, most of which were written by Case herself. The lyrics are impressionistic and, at times, inscrutable. "Fast train, where do your passengers wait?" she sings in the title song. "What's at the heart of your engine's rage?" While it's not always clear what Case is getting at, the overall mood of the album is one of loss and melancholy. Soaring above it all is Case's remarkablePatsy Cline-meets-Judy Garlandvoice, which she uses to great effect on the album's two torchy cover songs:Sarah Vaughan's "Look for Me (I'll Be Around)" andAretha Franklin's "Running Out of Fools."--David Hill