The Tigers Have Spoken [Digipak] (CD - 2004)

Personnel: Neko Case (vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, tambourine); Neko Case (6-string guitar, tenor guitar); Jim Krewson (vocals, acoustic guitar); Kelly Hogan (vocals, whistle, tambourine); Mark Downing (vocals); Brian Connelly (acoustic guitar); Jon Rauhouse (pedal steel guitar, banjo); Sean Dean (double bass, upright bass); Travis Good (vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, fiddle); Dallas Good (vocals, electric guitar); Jennie Benford (vocals, mandolin); Carolyn Mark (vocals); Brad Hutchison (banjo); Mike Belitsky (drums).

Audio Mixers: Neko Case; Darryl Neudorf; Mike Hagler.

Recording information: Isabel Bader Theatre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (03/2004-04/2004); Lee's Palace, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (03/2004-04/2004); Schubas, Chicago, IL (03/2004-04/2004); The Matador, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (03/2004-04/2004).

Photographers: Warren Butterfield; Jim Krewson.

For 2004's THE TIGERS HAVE SPOKEN, her debut on the prestigious Anti label, alt-country singer/songwriter Neko Case forgoes a studio album in favor of a live outing. Those looking for the upbeat pop of Case's work with the New Pornographers won't find it here--this is straight-up twangy country rock that sticks closely to the sound of her previous records (BLACKLISTED and FURNACE ROOM LULLABY), and makes the most of the concert setting.

The focus here, as always, is on Case's powerful voice, which channels Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn while remaining undeniably individual. Aided by the Sadies, vocalist Kelly Hogan, and pedal steel/banjo player Jon Rauhouse, Case unveils new originals (the bold "If You Knew," the dreamy title track) and a handful of covers (Buffy Saint-Marie's "Soulful Shade of Blue," Lynn's "Rated X"), among others. Throughout the set, Case and Hogan harmonize gorgeously, while Rauhouse's crying pedal steel lifts the music to a higher plane. Although this is a teasingly short record (barely clocking in at 34 minutes), THE TIGERS HAVE SPOKEN proved more than enough to tide fans over until Case's next full-length album. minimize