Neko Case - The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight, The Harder I Fight, The More I Love You
The Worse Things Get is Neko's most precise, urgent record to date, marked by a melodic immediacy, a loving embrace of the big rock gesture, and a lyrical frankness typified by first single "Man," in which she warns "I'm a man...you'll deal with me directly."
"My brain wilderness is more dense and dangerous than I thought," says Case. "It was an embarrassing and hilarious march, but I now feel like a more streamlined being. It's a good feeling. Four years of my life took ten years hostage, then gave me back twelve."
The album was executive-produced by Case and recorded at Wavelab in Tuscon, as well as Portland, Los Angeles and with Phil Palazzolo in Brooklyn. Tucker Martine, Case and Darryl Neudorf mixed the album, with backing by guitarist Paul Rigby, bassist Tom V. Ray, vocalist Kelly Hogan and multi- instrumentalist Jon Rauhouse. Other guests include M. Ward, Steve Turner, Howe Gelb, and members of The New Pornographers, My Morning Jacket, Calexico, Los Lobos and Visqueen. In addition to eleven new songs written by Case, The Worse Things Get features a cover of "Afraid" by Nico.
Wild Creatures / Night Still Comes / Man / I'm From Nowhere / Bracing For Sunday / Nearly Midnight, Honolulu / Calling Cards / City Swans / Afraid / Local Girl / Where Did I Leave That Fire / Ragtime