The Other Women
With her Boyfriends,Neko Caseblurs the line between rock and country, but when playing the rare gig as one-half of the Corn Sisters, she's all roots. Here, along with SisterCarolyn Mark, you'll find 16 laid-back and unpolished acoustic tunes (some covers, some originals) recorded one fateful night in 1998 at Seattle diner/bar Hattie's Hat. The songs vary in spunk, but most of Case's influences are exposed here--stripped-down covers ofLoretta Lynn's "Fist City,"Lucinda Williams's "Howlin' at Midnight," and one standard, "This Little Light of Mine," are all impressive.Everly Brothers-inspired harmonies abound, and, on the handful of folksy originals, Mark steals the show. From the lovesick ballad "Matinéed" to the more-upbeat "Not a Doll" (sounding slightly like Mary Lou Lord's better material), these are great tunes. Neko Case completists will want to hear this project (and Neko's work with power-popsters theNew Pornographers), and alt-country fans won't be disappointed by this low-key, fun hootenanny.--Jason Verlinde