Neko Case: Middle Cyclone

Label: Anticon

Artists who’ve been around as long as Neko Case, and who’ve been roundly celebrated by critics and cash registers alike, tend to get taken for granted after a certain point. Yet Middle Cyclone made the case for the ongoing importance and vitality of this sui generis artist. Here, Case shows she’s aging with stormy grace, and the fact that her gorgeous, powerful voice still conjures images of weather patterns is not lost on — well, her (album and song titles, lyrics, etc.). Middle Cyclone‘s guest list is long (Joey Burns of Calexico, Howe Gelb, Kelly Hogan and even Kurt Heasley of the Lilys) and it includes covers of Sparks (“Never Turn Your Back on Mother Earth”) and Nilsson (a lovely reading of "Don’t Forget Me"), but there isn’t a moment where you think of anyone but the divine Ms. Case. (Er, and some frogs.) A vital addition to her growing catalog. (M.L. Thrope)