Review Summary: With "Blacklisted" Neko Case creates an album that is nothing short of an American masterpiece.
Is it too bold of a statement to call Neko Case the best female vocalist of her generation? I personally don’t think so, and I say this because I have yet to discover another woman whose voice is as natural and powerful as Neko’s is. Her voice is gentle yet at the same time possesses such rich and powerful emotion that it’s extremely difficult to dismiss her music. No matter how you may feel about country music. In fact, categorizing her music under the country genre probably isn’t entirely correct. Yes, she undoubtedly has some strong country influences in her music. She was born in Virginia after all, but there’s also a hint of soul and folk in her music as well, and on “Blacklisted” Neko Case perfectly blends them all together to create a perfect album.
“Blacklisted” is Neko Case’s third solo album and the first without the moniker “And Her Boyfriends”. Some of you may know her from the somewhat known Canadian band The New Pornographers. With the The New Pornographers she lent her voice on the catchy tune “Letters from an Occupant” on the album “Mass Romantic”. It was without a doubt the highlight of the album and it helped gain Neko more exposure. Now, you’d be wrong if you were to think that Neko’s voice sounded the same here, on “Blacklisted”, as it did on “Mass Romantic”. On “Mass Romantic” she sounded like a little school girl while on “Blacklisted” she sounds like a full grown woman who carries a lot of emotional baggage with her and has lived a full life. “Blackisted” is an album that has a dark and mysterious atmosphere that help give the songs a stronger punch to the stomach. Neko Case draws the listener into a spooky, lonely world that is filled with prostitutes, women in trouble and stalkers who also happen to be serial killers.
The album opens up with the haunting “Things that Scare” and within the first minute Neko’s soothing voice dominates the song and brings it into full swing. It’s something that Neko had mastered with her previous two albums and she puts it to good use here. While every track on “Blacklisted” is sincere and beautiful no other song comes close to reaching the perfection that “Deep Red Bells” does. It’s Neko Case’s shining moment and this is partly because of how genuine and real it sounds. “Deep Red Bells” is a mesmerizing track that is full of emotion and it also does a great job of showcasing how great of a lyricist Neko truly is. Lyrics such as, “does your soul cast about like an old paper bag past empty lots and early graves?” are not only heartbreaking but really capture the mood of the album. This is a trait that is constant throughout “Blacklisted” and perhaps the main reason why it’s such an endearing and charming album. Other standouts include “Look for Me (I’ll Be Around)” and “I Wish I Was the Moon” which do a phenomenal job of showing the range that Neko’s voice has. On “I Wish the Was the Moon” her voice perfectly matches the lonely atmosphere that the song possesses and it’s quite obvious that if anyone but Neko was singing the song wouldn’t have the same impact it does.
In the end, no matter how you feel about country music, not listening to “Blacklisted” would be a crime. This especially rings true if you call dare to call yourself a music lover. It’s a perfect album that doesn’t outstay its welcome and shows the full potential of the great artist that is Neko Case. It’s beautiful, haunting and full of pure emotion that only Neko Case could deliver. The lyrics never shy away from being sincere and heartfelt and I think that’s something that should be admired. Neko Case has crafted something extremely special with “Blacklisted” and it’s not be to missed.
