Blacklisted

Her third CD, is a lush, haunting showcase for her formidable vocal talents, as well as an intensely intimate work that evokes a dark elegance with a hint of twang. Bloodshot Records. 2002.

Neko Case's third solo effort is a moody, atmospheric affair that both satisfies and mystifies. Recorded in Tucson with a stellar band that includes Calexico's Joey Burns and John Convertino, Blacklisted charms you with its haunting, reverb-soaked songs, most of which were written by Case herself. The lyrics are impressionistic and, at times, inscrutable. "Fast train, where do your passengers wait?" she sings in the title song. "What's at the heart of your engine's rage?" While it's not always clear what Case is getting at, the overall mood of the album is one of loss and melancholy. Soaring above it all is Case's remarkable Patsy Cline-meets-Judy Garland voice, which she uses to great effect on the album's two torchy cover songs: Sarah Vaughan's "Look for Me (I'll Be Around)" and Aretha Franklin's "Running Out of Fools." --David Hill