Description
Wild Creatures contains 23 tracks, including one new song, “Oh, Shadowless”, which adroitly blends the pretty with the abrasive. Fans might enjoy bickering about what was included and what was left off , but there’s little to fault here. Virginian could use some representation, but otherwise, each album gets its share of tracks. From the opening organ of “I’m an Animal”, the set never lets up.
The running order highlights Case’s strengths as an artist in any musical setting. Critics wore out the word “chanteuse” in the early 2000s, but it’s still easy to hear why. Case has a big voice (one even more remarkable in concert), and she knows how to deploy it whether she sings an angry rocker or a powerful ballad. She also puts her personality to work with her smart, effective lyrics embedded in memorable melodies. She could have succeeded in Nashville or Seattle or Durham, but she took off by playing with all of those sounds and a little more. With songs from throughout her career mixed, Case gives us a good sense of the quintessential elements of her work.
For that reason, Wild Creatures makes for a fantastic listen. For the uninitiated…an essential introduction to an amazing artist!
