Album Info

Virginian

Alternative - 1997

Neko Case’s The Virginian, one of the defining alt-country albums of the ‘90s, packs a mighty emotional punch, reaching sublime... more

Tracklist

1

Timber

2:35 min
2

Bowling Green

2:17 min
3

Jettison

3:14 min
4

High on Cruel

2:04 min
5

Karoline

2:25 min
6

Lonely Old Lies

3:40 min
7

Honky Tonk Hiccups

2:24 min
8

The Virginian

3:31 min
9

Dutchess

2:56 min
10

Thanks A Lot

2:37 min
11

Somebody Led Me Away

2:47 min
12

Misfire

2:04 min

About Virginian

Neko Case’s The Virginian, one of the defining alt-country albums of the ‘90s, packs a mighty emotional punch, reaching sublime levels of despair and elation. Case displays both a full-bodied vocal range and the wisdom to use restraint when needed. She proves herself an able interpreter of classic honky-tonk material with emotive versions of Ernest Tubbs’ “Thanks a Lot” and Loretta Lynn’s “Somebody Led Me Away.” Originals like the rueful “Lonely Old Lies” or the torment-wracked “Jettison” show a distinctively personal style. Case’s voice is so suited to ballads that it would’ve been easy for her to neglect more upbeat tunes. Surprisingly, her faster-paced numbers are just as good as the slow stuff – a blazing remake of the Everly Brothers’ “Bowling Green” (a duet with Zumpano singer Carl Newman) and the thrashing, snarl-inflected “Karoline” rank among the album’s highlights. All told, The Virginian is an auspicious debut and a galvanizing work on its own merits.