There’s something oddly haunting about Casey Neill & The Norway Rats. When considering the song titles on Neill’s ninth album — Goodbye to the Rank and File — it might seem strange that tracks called “When I Came to You,” or “Radio Montana” could be considered haunting, but that’s just it: Casey Neill’s music isn’t designed predictably. Looking at a song title isn’t going to help you learn the words to his choruses, nor will it yield any results for your subject matter expectations. In fact, the only way to really understand what this guy’s all about is to listen through every song with your ears wide open and ready to receive. Along the way, you’ll probably end up figuring out a lot more about Casey Neill than you expected. His ballads are poignant, and his lyrics hold the kind of weight that indicates he’s singing nothing but personal truths.
The Norway Rats, who have been working their way towards becoming a fully fledged collective for some time, have finally been able to spread their wings with Rank and File. Featuring performers from The Minus 5, The Decemberists and Lucinda Williams’ band, the Norway Rats allow the entire project to tie itself up with a bow. The twinge of country in Casey Neill’s voice, those beautiful lyrics and the Rats’ clean instrumentation on Rank and File add up to make this tour all the more appealing. Neill sums it up perfectly, as usual, with lyrics: “My work here is done.”
Casey Neill & The Norway Rats and Ezra Holbrook play at 9 pm Thursday, Nov. 11, at Sam Bond’s Garage. 21+. $5.
EW 11/11
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