July 11, 2016

Neko Case Plays Well With Others

“case/lang/veirs” gives each folk singer a moment in the spotlight.


case/lang/veirs
case/lang/veirs
ANTI-

Courtesy of ANTI-

While Neko Case has compiled a remarkable catalogue of solo work, she also plays well with others. Back in the late ’90s she recorded as half of the Corn Sisters along with Carolyn Mark, and she’s continued to appear on albums by her old friends the New Pornographers. Even though Case’s massive charisma tends to overshadow anyone else within range, case/lang/veirs feels like a true collaboration, co-starring k.d. lang, a venerated elder who built on alt-country roots to become a versatile and dependably great vocalist (including a duet album with Tony Bennett), and Laura Veirs, a solid if more conventional folk-inclined artist (whose spouse, Tucker Martine, produced this charming set). Each woman has moments in the spotlight that will please their fans, but this quietly amazing collective has its own identity, making luminous, warm-hearted pop seemingly plucked from the ether and belonging to no particular time or place. Almost any track could be cited as a highlight, and one of the best is “Song for Judee,” a heartrending ode to the ill-fated LA singer-songwriter Judee Sill.

ONLY HOURS LEFT—AND EVERYTHING RIDING ON IT

A full one-third of our annual fundraising comes in this month alone. That’s risky, because a strong December means our newsroom is on the beat and reporting at full strength—but a weak one means budget cuts and hard choices ahead.

With just hours left, we need a huge surge in reader support to get to our $400,000 year-end goal. Whether you've given before or this is your first time, your contribution right now matters. All gifts are 3X matched and tax-deductible.

Managing an independent, nonprofit newsroom is staggeringly hard. There’s no cushion in our budget—no backup revenue, no corporate safety net. We can’t afford to fall short, and we can’t rely on corporations or deep-pocketed interests to fund the fierce, investigative journalism Mother Jones exists to do. That’s why we need you right now. Please chip in to help close the gap.

ONLY HOURS LEFT—AND EVERYTHING RIDING ON IT

A full one-third of our annual fundraising comes in this month alone. That’s risky, because a strong December means our newsroom is on the beat and reporting at full strength—but a weak one means budget cuts and hard choices ahead.

With just hours left, we need a huge surge in reader support to get to our $400,000 year-end goal. Whether you've given before or this is your first time, your contribution right now matters. All gifts are 3X matched and tax-deductible.

Managing an independent, nonprofit newsroom is staggeringly hard. There’s no cushion in our budget—no backup revenue, no corporate safety net. We can’t afford to fall short, and we can’t rely on corporations or deep-pocketed interests to fund the fierce, investigative journalism Mother Jones exists to do. That’s why we need you right now. Please chip in to help close the gap.

We Recommend

Latest

Sign up for our free newsletter

Subscribe to the Mother Jones Daily to have our top stories delivered directly to your inbox.

Get our award-winning magazine

Save big on a full year of investigations, ideas, and insights.

Subscribe

Support our journalism

Help Mother Jones' reporters dig deep with a tax-deductible donation.

Donate