Neko Case, k.d. lang, Laura Veirs album "case/lang/veirs" due June 17, 2016

You have just convinced me. I'm going to buy the orange vinyl when record stores open in about two hours

 

I've listened to this several times now.
At first, it just seemed like a compilation album of the three artists.
Over several listens, I started to appreciate the vocal harmonies that would be absent if these we solo projects.
I like it more each time I listen.

 

I have been enjoying this album. I think I am 3 or 4 times through it ....keep coming back which is a good sign.

 

Orange vinyl?? From where?

 

That's the limited EU version on Anti, NL. A very nice looking orange. One spin and I wonder if Neko Case's voice is really dominant here or if I'm only hearing her more because I'm not familiar with Lang and Veirs!? First impression was positive. I mean stylistically there are no surprises but nobody seriously expected ambient electronica

 

I'm about to spin my LE blue one.

 

You can see their live performance of the album courtesy of NPR:

Watch A 'First Listen Live' With Neko Case, k.d. lang And Laura Veirs »

 

I converted using Trader's Little Helper and checked clipping with Soundforge 10. The source were the mp3 files from the email I received before I got the vinyl yesterday. Even before I converted to wav I loaded up the mp3s and there was clipping aplenty...
I'm glad the official flac files seem better.
And the vinyl, on first listen, was quiet and had a bit more dynamics that the mp3 files I got...

 

Also streaming is their appearance on KCRW "Morning Becomes Eclectic" (interviews and performance):
case/lang/veirs »

 

Didn't hit me before, but how did they not call this band Blonde, Brunette and Redhead?

 

First impressions are very good. I'm a big kd fan, and I don't think her stuff is the strongest here.

 

You can't come to my parties.

 

Just got my shirt and CD. Nice easy listen. Nothing earth shattering but a very welcome addition to my music collection and a "long player" for me (album that doesn't need track skipping). Wonder how these play out live. (Note: I haven't seen the OP's link above yet.) Not sure if I'll make the Brooklyn gig. Tis expensive.

I think Veirs is the MVP this time around.

 

And don't bother coming to mine, because this is the Neko I'LL be playing:

 

And at mine:

 

I love "Lady Pilot" from that album. At the risk of someone telling us to get a room already (haha), I'll post one more New Pornographers song with Neko singing lead. "My Shepherd" is one of my favorites of theirs, and a slow one at that. I just think Carl Newman gets the best out of her, rockers or ballads.

 

Where did you see dates for this? All I see are the trio dates.

Also: Anyone going to the trio Brooklyn show?

 

It's a benefit show, so possible not part of any tour? Was just announced last week and went on sale Monday:
Neko Case »

 

I'm a bigger fan of hers than the other two when it comes to their own records, but I think they mixed it up pretty well on this one.

 

If anyone has DR values they would share from their format of choice, I would be curious to know how they compare to each other. Perhaps the same mastering hasn't been used across the board.

 

I really think Behind the Armory and Best Kept Secret should've ended the album.

 

Any differences between the standard and orange vinyl sonically?

 

From the 16-44.1 flac download ...

Code:

foobar2000 1.3.8 / Dynamic Range Meter 1.1.1
log date: 2016-06-20 22:46:06

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Analyzed: case/lang/veirs / case/lang/veirs
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DR  Peak  RMS  Duration Track
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DR8  -0.10 dB  -10.28 dB  2:58 01-Atomic Number
DR8  -0.07 dB  -9.09 dB   3:04 02-Honey and Smoke
DR8  -0.06 dB  -10.28 dB  3:12 03-Song for Judee
DR6   0.00 dB  -10.13 dB  2:58 04-Blue Fires
DR6   0.00 dB  -7.69 dB   2:46 05-Delirium
DR9   0.00 dB  -10.45 dB  4:13 06-Greens of June
DR9  -0.09 dB  -12.78 dB  2:20 07-Behind the Armory
DR7   0.00 dB  -8.47 dB   3:17 08-Best Kept Secret
DR9  -0.08 dB  -10.71 dB  2:57 09-1000 Miles Away
DR8   0.00 dB  -10.20 dB  3:48 10-Supermoon
DR7   0.00 dB  -9.22 dB   2:47 11-I Want To Be Here
DR8   0.00 dB  -10.12 dB  3:02 12-Down
DR8  -0.06 dB  -11.26 dB  2:36 13-Why Do We Fight
DR6  -0.05 dB  -8.72 dB   3:17 14-Georgia Stars
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Number of tracks:  14
Official DR value: DR8

Samplerate:  44100 Hz
Channels:  2
Bits per sample:  16
Bitrate:  813 kbps
Codec:  FLAC
================================================================================

 

Just saw them live outdoors in Lowell, MA. A spectacular wind storm almost veered this one off course, but the skies cleared just in time for their set. A largely dour Andy Schauf opened for them. Not a good act for an outdoor venue.

case/lang/veirs were excellent. Much of the first part of their set was devoted to the album, and the only thing that kept the concert from really taking off were the sort of sameness to the tempos of the numbers. It wasn't until the latter part of the main set that they started to rock out more. The encores were largely uptempo and hard driving (and that included "Best Kept Secret"), and that really brought the entire energy up. If it were me, I would sprinkle more uptempo numbers (and non album numbers) throughout the main set instead of merely saving them for the end.

Regardless, they were really worth seeing. The sound mix was excellent, allowing their voices and the backing band to be heard distinctly.

 

After playing this a couple of times I have to admit that I find this album boring. I really like Neko's solo stuff but this sounds like alternative adult contemporary. The friend I gave the download to also thought it was dull. The voices are a nice combination but the music doesn't do much for me. This is just not the kind of music I listen to at home.