Hell-On
Hell-On is the seventh studio album by American singer-songwriter Neko Case, released on June 1, 2018, on Anti-. Case recorded the album largely in Stockholm, co-producing with Björn Yttling of Peter Bjorn and John.[1]
Hell-On | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | June 1, 2018 | |||
Recorded | ||||
Length | 52:44 | |||
Label | Anti- | |||
Producer | Neko Case, Björn Yttling | |||
Neko Case chronology | ||||
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Case promoted the album by touring with Ray Lamontagne.[2]
Critical reception
Aggregate scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AnyDecentMusic? | 7.9/10[3] |
Metacritic | 85/100[4] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The A.V. Club | A[6] |
Chicago Tribune | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Guardian | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Independent | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Mojo | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Pitchfork | 7.7/10[11] |
Q | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Rolling Stone | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Vice | B+[14] |
Hell-On received universal acclaim from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 85 based on 22 reviews.[4]
In the review for AllMusic, critic Mark Deming praised the album; "With Hell-On, Case has once again given herself an ideal showcase for her talents as a vocalist, songwriter, and producer; it's lush but intimate, and one of the strongest and most satisfying records she's delivered to date. Which, given her catalog, says a great deal."[5]
Accolades
Publication | Accolade | Rank | Ref. |
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The A.V. Club | Top 20 Albums of 2018 | 2 |
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Albumism | Top 50 Albums of 2018 | 16 |
|
Entertainment Weekly | Top 20 Albums of 2018 | 12 |
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God is in the TV | Top 50 Albums of 2018 | 9 |
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PopMatters | Top 70 Albums of 2018 | 25 |
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Uncut | Top 75 Albums of 2018 | 12 |
Track listing
All tracks are written by Neko Case and Paul Rigby, except where noted.
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Hell-On" | 4:11 | |
2. | "Last Lion of Albion" | Case, Jeff Galegher, Rigby | 3:38 |
3. | "Halls of Sarah" | 3:53 | |
4. | "Bad Luck" | 3:59 | |
5. | "Curse of the I-5 Corridor" | 7:01 | |
6. | "Gumball Blue" | Case, Allan Carl Newman | 4:14 |
7. | "Dirty Diamond" | 3:44 | |
8. | "Oracle of the Maritimes" | Case, Laura Veirs | 4:25 |
9. | "Winnie" | 3:54 | |
10. | "Sleep All Summer" | Eric Bachmann | 5:04 |
11. | "My Uncle’s Navy" | Case, Newman | 4:14 |
12. | "Pitch or Honey" | 4:27 | |
Total length: | 52:44 |
Personnel
- Neko Case – vocals, backing vocals, guitar, kalimba, tambourine, clave, piano
- Paul Rigby – electric guitar, acoustic guitar, 12-string guitar
- Mark Lanegan - duet vocals on "Curse of the I-5 Corridor"
- Eric Bachmann - guitar, duet vocals on "Sleep All Summer", piano
- Rachel Flotard, k.d. lang, Kelly Hogan, Laura Veirs, Nora O'Connor, Robert Forster, Kathryn Calder, Carl Newman, Jon Seiders, Beth Ditto - backing vocals
- Doug Gillard - guitar, harpsichord
- Sebastian Steinberg - autoharp, electric bass
- Joey Burns - upright bass, cello, bass, piano, wurlitzer, pump organ, synthesizer, vibraphone
- Barbara Gruska - drums, percussion, drum machine
- Jeff Galegher - kalimba loop sample, guitar
- Björn Yittling - keyboards, bass, guitars
- Steve Berlin - saxophone
- Thom Monahan - tambourine, tuba
- Tobias Tagesson - drums
- Simi Stone - violin, backing vocals
- John Collins - synthesizer
- Chris Schultz - soundscape, space echo loop
- Matt Chamberlain - drums, percussion
- Tom V. Ray – bass
- Jon Rauhouse – guitar, pedal steel
- Dan Hunt - drums, percussion
- Sandy Schwoebel - bass flute
- Kyle Crane - tambourine
Charts
Chart (2018) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australian Albums (ARIA)[21] | 88 |
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[22] | 123 |
New Zealand Heatseeker Albums (RMNZ)[23] | 4 |
Scottish Albums (OCC)[24] | 38 |
US Billboard 200[25] | 31 |
US Folk Albums (Billboard)[26] | 2 |
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[27] | 4 |
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[28] | 4 |
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[29] | 5 |
References
- Abdurraqib, Hanif (May 30, 2018). "Neko Case on her new album and moving on from tragedy: 'I've always been a person who fights'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
- Varga, George (May 27, 2018). "Neko Case, armed with new album, 'Hell-On,' is SDSU-bound with Ray Lamontagne". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
- "Hell-On by Neko Case reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
- "Hell-On by Neko Case Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
- Deming, Mark. "Hell-On – Neko Case". AllMusic. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
- Rife, Katie (May 31, 2018). "Neko Case is a force of nature on the masterful Hell-On". The A.V. Club. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
- Kot, Greg (June 1, 2018). "Neko Case stomps the terra with the powerful 'Hell-On'". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
- Snapes, Laura (June 1, 2018). "Neko Case: Hell-On review – a pitch-perfect roar of female defiance". The Guardian. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
- Kaplan, Ilana; Aubrey, Elizabeth; Morgan, Jessica (May 30, 2018). "Album reviews: Father John Misty, Roger Daltrey, LUMP and more". The Independent. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
- Nelson, Chris (July 2018). "Neko Case: Hell-On". Mojo (296): 88.
- Sodomsky, Sam (June 5, 2018). "Neko Case: Hell-On". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
- Barton, Laura (July 2018). "Neko Case: Hell-On". Q (386): 108.
- Hermes, Will (June 7, 2018). "Review: Neko Case's Fierce 'Hell-On' Is One of Her Best". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
- Christgau, Robert (July 7, 2018). "Robert Christgau on Merrill Garbus's Creative Compulsions". Vice. Retrieved July 7, 2018.
- Purdom, Clayton; McLevy, Alex (December 18, 2018). "The A.V. Club's 20 Best Albums of 2018". The A.V. Club. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
- "Albumism Selects: The 50 Best Albums of 2018". Albumism.com. November 27, 2018. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
- "The 20 best albums of 2018". Entertainment Weekly. December 6, 2018. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
- "GIITTV Album Of The Year Poll 2018 Results: 50 -1". Godisinthetvzine.co.uk. December 10, 2018. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
- "The 70 Best Albums of 2018". PopMatters. December 20, 2018. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
- "Uncut's 75 Best Albums of 2018". Uncut. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
- "ARIA Chart Watch #476". auspOp. June 9, 2018. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
- "Dutchcharts.nl – Neko Case – Hell-On" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
- "NZ Heatseeker Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. June 11, 2018. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
- "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
- "Neko Case Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
- "Neko Case Chart History (Top Americana/Folk Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
- "Neko Case Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
- "Neko Case Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
- "Neko Case Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 24, 2019.