Blacklisted (Neko Case album)

Last updated
Blacklisted
Neko Case - Blacklisted.jpg
Studio album by
Neko Case
ReleasedAugust 20, 2002
Recorded2002
Genre
Length37:18
Label Bloodshot
Producer Craig Schumacher
Neko Case chronology
Canadian Amp
(2001)		Blacklisted
(2002)		 The Tigers Have Spoken
(2004)

Blacklisted is the third studio album by American musician Neko Case, released on August 20, 2002.

Contents

Blacklisted marked a departure from the alternative country sounds of Case's first two solo albums(?). Guest musicians on the album include Howe Gelb, Kelly Hogan, Mary Margaret O'Hara, Joey Burns, John Convertino, and Dallas Good.

As of 2009, sales in the United States have exceeded 113,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan. [2]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 82/100 [3]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [4]
The Austin Chronicle Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [5]
Blender Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [6]
Chicago Sun-Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [7]
Entertainment Weekly A− [8]
Pitchfork 7.9/10 [9]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [10]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [11]
Spin 8/10 [12]
Uncut Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [13]

Upon original release, Blacklisted was met with critical applause, with particular praise towards Case's vocals. AllMusic's Mark Deming wrote that it contained "some of her finest and most insightful performances to date", as well as noting her progressions as a lyricist and composer. [4] Eric Carr for Pitchfork echoed this, dubbing her vocals "dense with emotional heft and more richly expressive" than her previous work in power pop collective The New Pornographers. Carr also applauded the backing musicians, calling their contributions "roundly excellent and evocative". [9]

Legacy

Blacklisted has continually earned praise in recent years, with critics applauding the results that came from Case's then-newfound artistic control. In a 20th anniversary review, Spectrum Culture's Susan Darlington saw it show Case "at her sharpest and most fearless", writing that its songs' "confidence… [are] so great that it makes the listener wonder why it took her so long to take sole writing credits." [14] In another retrospective review, Stereogum 's Rachel Brodsky saw it announce Case "forging her own country-noir sound", noting its "then-new" qualities such as "pioneering" genre fusion and more. Brodsky wrote of "legions of younger artists" who would try to replicate Blacklisted's sound in the years since its release. [15]

In 2016, Exclaim! 's Sarah Greene ranked the album second out of five essential Case records. She called its songs "decadently dark and beautifully scary, providing a sympathetic backdrop for [her] torchy performances." [16] In 2020, Consequence ranked it the best of Case's nine solo works. [17]

Online music magazine Pitchfork placed Blacklisted at number 141 on their list of top 200 albums of the 2000s. [18]

Track listing

All songs written by Case, except where noted.

  1. "Things That Scare Me" (Case, Tom Ray) – 2:30
  2. "Deep Red Bells" – 4:03
  3. "Outro with Bees" [19] – 1:35
  4. "Lady Pilot" – 2:26
  5. "Tightly" – 2:16
  6. "Look for Me (I'll Be Around)" (Sylvia Dee, Guy Wood) – 3:21
  7. "Stinging Velvet" – 2:55
  8. "Pretty Girls" – 3:25
  9. "I Missed the Point" – 1:52
  10. "Blacklisted" – 2:22
  11. "I Wish I Was the Moon" – 3:34
  12. "Runnin' Out of Fools" (Richard Ahlert, Kay Rogers) – 3:05
  13. "Ghost Wiring" – 3:54
  14. "Outro with Bees (Reprise)" [19] – 2:24

Personnel

Credits sourced from Blacklisted's liner notes. [20]

Related Research Articles

<i>Lost in Space</i> (Aimee Mann album) 2002 studio album by Aimee Mann

Lost in Space is the fourth album by singer-songwriter Aimee Mann, released in 2002 on her own label, SuperEgo Records. A special edition released in 2003 featured a second disc containing six live recordings, two B-sides and two previously unreleased songs.

<i>Lifted or The Story Is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground</i> 2002 studio album by Bright Eyes

Lifted or The Story Is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground is the fourth studio album by Bright Eyes and the 46th release of Saddle Creek Records. The band made its national television debut in support of the album, performing "The Trees Get Wheeled Away" on the Late Show with David Letterman.

<i>Heartbreaker</i> (Ryan Adams album) 2000 studio album by Ryan Adams

Heartbreaker is the debut solo studio album by American singer-songwriter Ryan Adams, released on September 5, 2000, by Bloodshot Records. The album was recorded over fourteen days at Woodland Studios in Nashville, Tennessee. It was nominated for the 2001 Shortlist Music Prize. The album is said to be inspired by Adams' break-up with music industry publicist Amy Lombardi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neko Case</span> American singer-songwriter

Neko Richelle Case is an American singer-songwriter and member of the Canadian indie rock group the New Pornographers. Case' contralto voice has been described by contemporaries and critics as a "flamethrower", "a powerhouse [which] seems like it might level buildings," "a 120-mph fastball," and a "vocal tornado". Critics also note her idiosyncratic, "cryptic," "imagistic" lyrics, and credit her as a significant figure in the early 21st-century American revival of the tenor guitar. Case's body of work has spanned and drawn on a range of traditions including country, folk, art rock, indie rock, and pop and is frequently described as defying or avoiding easy generic classification.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Calexico (band)</span> American rock band

Calexico is an American indie rock band based in Tucson, Arizona. Founded in 1996, the band's two main members, Joey Burns and John Convertino, first played together in Los Angeles as part of the group Giant Sand. They have recorded a number of albums on Quarterstick Records and City Slang, and their 2005 EP, In the Reins, recorded with Iron & Wine, reached the Billboard 200 album charts. Their musical style is influenced by traditional Latin sounds of mariachi, conjunto, cumbia, and tejano mixed with country, jazz, and post-rock.

<i>Ophelia</i> (album) 1998 studio album by Natalie Merchant

Ophelia is the second studio album by the American singer-songwriter Natalie Merchant, released on May 19, 1998, by Elektra Records. The album was supported by the singles "Kind & Generous" and "Break Your Heart", with the former being the most successful single of the album, reaching the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay Chart. "Break Your Heart" also received single and video treatment. These and the other videos from the album, plus three from Tigerlily, were gathered on a Warner Music Vision home video, also entitled Ophelia. "I love the opportunity to flex my thespian muscle," Merchant quips on it. The album became Merchant's only top ten hit on the Billboard 200, where it peaked at number eight.

<i>Furnace Room Lullaby</i> 2000 studio album by Neko Case and Her Boyfriends

Furnace Room Lullaby is the second studio album by Neko Case and Her Boyfriends, released in February 2000, on Mint Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Giant Sand</span> Rock band

Giant Sand is an American musical group from Tucson, Arizona, United States. Its most constant member is singer-songwriter Howe Gelb. The groups have developed idiosyncratic sound rooted in alternative country, but touching on a wide range of other styles and featuring Gelb's beatnik-influenced vocals and songwriting. Since about 2012, they have also performed as Giant Giant Sand when featuring a larger ensemble than their traditional four to six musicians.

<i>Fox Confessor Brings the Flood</i> 2006 studio album by Neko Case

Fox Confessor Brings the Flood is the fourth solo album by American alt-country musician Neko Case, released March 7, 2006 by ANTI- Records. The album was found on many “Best of” lists that year and had a bonus disc released by ANTI- in November of the following year.

<i>Greatest Hits 2</i> (Bob Seger album) 2003 compilation album by Bob Seger

Greatest Hits 2 is a compilation album by Bob Seger, released in 2003.

<i>Cover Magazine</i> (album) 2002 studio album by Giant Sand

Cover Magazine is an album by the American band Giant Sand. It was released on Thrill Jockey Records in 2002. Eleven of the songs are covers.

<i>Chore of Enchantment</i> 2000 studio album by Giant Sand

Chore of Enchantment is a studio album by the alternative rock band Giant Sand. It was released in March 2000 by Thrill Jockey.

<i>Middle Cyclone</i> 2009 studio album by Neko Case

Middle Cyclone is the fifth studio album of American alternative country singer-songwriter Neko Case, released on March 3, 2009, on the ANTI- record label. Her first solo effort in three years, Case stated that "it took a very long time to make". As the title of the album suggests, the record's lyrics are permeated with imagery of tornadoes and, more generally, nature. Thematically Middle Cyclone concerns how Case's upbringing socialized her to form strong emotional attachments to nature and animals, to the neglect of human relationships, and her reconciling "the fact that I need love".

<i>Still Lookin Good to Me</i> 2003 studio album by The Band of Blacky Ranchette

Still Lookin' Good to Me is a 2003 album by the Band of Blacky Ranchette. The album features contributions from John Convertino, Joey Burns, Neko Case, Richard Buckner, Cat Power, M. Ward, Kurt Wagner, Jason Lytle and Bob Neuwirth.

<i>Together</i> (The New Pornographers album) 2010 studio album by the New Pornographers

Together is the fifth studio album by Canadian indie rock band the New Pornographers. It was released on May 4, 2010 and debuted at number 18 on the Billboard 200.

<i>The Worse Things Get, the Harder I Fight, the Harder I Fight, the More I Love You</i> 2013 studio album by Neko Case

The Worse Things Get, the Harder I Fight, the Harder I Fight, the More I Love You is the sixth studio album by American musician Neko Case. It was released on September 3, 2013 under Anti Records. The album was nominated for Best Alternative Music Album at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards.

<i>A Man Under the Influence</i> 2001 studio album by Alejandro Escovedo

A Man Under the Influence is the fifth studio album by the American singer-songwriter Alejandro Escovedo, released on April 24, 2001, on Bloodshot Records. It was produced by Chris Stamey. A deluxe edition was released on November 15, 2009.

<i>1st Round</i> (album) 1976 studio album by Pino Presti

1st Round is an album by Italian musician and producer Pino Presti, released in 1976 under Atlantic Records. It's considered one of the most innovative albums of the 70's in the Italian music scene. All songs are composed by Pino Presti, except for "Smile", "Sunny" and "Firefly".

<i>Hell-On</i> 2018 studio album by Neko Case

Hell-On is the seventh studio album by American singer-songwriter Neko Case, released by record label Anti- on June 1, 2018. It was largely recorded in Stockholm, and Case co-produced six of the album's twelve tracks with Björn Yttling of Peter Bjorn and John.

<i>Years to Burn</i> 2019 studio album by Calexico and Iron & Wine

Years to Burn is the second album by Calexico and Iron & Wine. The artists previously worked together on the EP In the Reins (2005).

References

  1. ↑ Pitchfork Staff (October 2, 2009). "The 200 Best Albums of the 2000s". Pitchfork . Retrieved April 28, 2023. ...Blacklisted is a jewel of dusky Americana, its every move shadowed by longing and veiled menace.
  2. ↑ "Billboard". 2009-02-14.
  3. ↑ "Reviews for Blacklisted by Neko Case". Metacritic . Retrieved October 28, 2015.
  4. 1 2 Deming, Mark. "Blacklisted – Neko Case". AllMusic . Retrieved February 11, 2016.
  5. ↑ Caligiuri, Jim (November 15, 2002). "Neko Case: Blacklisted (Bloodshot)". The Austin Chronicle . Retrieved February 11, 2016.
  6. ↑ Wolk, Douglas (October 2002). "Neko Case: Blacklisted". Blender (10): 115. Archived from the original on December 13, 2004. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  7. ↑ DeRogatis, Jim (August 18, 2002). "Neko Case, 'Blacklisted' (Bloodshot) / Aimee Mann, 'Lost in Space' (SuperEgo)". Chicago Sun-Times . Archived from the original on November 19, 2018. Retrieved February 11, 2016.
  8. ↑ Ochs, Meredith (September 13, 2002). "Neko Case: Blacklisted". Entertainment Weekly : 156.
  9. 1 2 Carr, Eric (August 26, 2002). "Neko Case: Blacklisted". Pitchfork . Retrieved February 11, 2016.
  10. ↑ Bresnick, Adam (July 30, 2002). "Blacklisted". Rolling Stone . Retrieved February 11, 2016.
  11. ↑ Matos, Michaelangelo (2004). "Neko Case". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. p.  145. ISBN   0-7432-0169-8.
  12. ↑ Pappademas, Alex (September 2002). "Neko Case, 'Blacklisted' (Bloodshot)". Spin . 18 (9): 134. Retrieved February 11, 2016.
  13. ↑ "Neko Case: Blacklisted". Uncut (66): 130. November 2002.
  14. ↑ Darlington, Susan (February 16, 2022). "Holy Hell! Blacklisted Turns 20". Spectrum Culture. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  15. ↑ Brodsky, Rachel (August 18, 2022). "Neko Case's 'Blacklisted' Turns 20". Stereogum . Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  16. ↑ Greene, Sarah (July 5, 2016). "An Essential Guide to Neko Case". Exclaim! . Retrieved July 26, 2023.
  17. ↑ Consequence staff (December 30, 2020). "Every Neko Case Album Ranked From Worst to Best". Consequence . Retrieved July 26, 2023.
  18. ↑ Pitchfork staff (September 28, 2009). "The Top 200 Albums of the 2000s". Pitchfork . p. 3. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  19. 1 2 "Neko Case - Blacklisted".
  20. ↑ "Neko Case- Blacklisted". Discogs.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.