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Neko Case Peacocks With M. Ward on ‘Man,’ Shares New Album’s Track List

neko case, man, m. ward

Last week, Neko Case shared a brief trailer for her upcoming sixth album, The Worse Things Get, the Harder I Fight, the Harder I Fight, the More I Love You. Aside from that tweet-averse title, the alt-country vet shared little in the way of details regarding her follow-up to 2009’s Middle Cyclone. Thankfully, that’s changed. Case has now confirmed that her next full-length will be out September 3 via ANTI- Records. The New Pornographers siren has also shared the LP’s entire track list (below) and the first single, the bracing, M. Ward-assisted “Man” (above).

When Case first announced the forthcoming record, the 90-second teaser clip featured a snippet of new track “Where Did I Leave That Fire,” a dreamy mood-piece that drifts at a stream-of-consciousness pace. “Man” finds the Blacklisted singer-songwriter in more confrontational spirits, boasting, “I am the man in the fucking moon / Because you didn’t know what a man was / Until I showed you.” 

In an official statement, Case said, “My brain wilderness is more dense and dangerous than I thought… 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 Worse Things Get… was recorded in Tucson, Portland, Los Angeles, and Brooklyn. Aside from M. Ward, guests include Steve Turner, Howe Gelb, and members of the New Pornographers, My Morning Jacket, Calexico, Los Lobos, and Visqueen. The 12-track effort collects 11 new tunes from Case, plus a cover of Nico’s “Afraid.” Pre-orders can now be placed through iTunes. Scroll down for track list and 2013 tour dates.

The Worse Things Get, the Harder I Fight, the Harder I Fight, the More I Love You track list: 

1. “Wild Creatures” 
2. “Night Still Comes” 
3. “Man” 
4. “I’m From Nowhere” 
5. “Bracing for Sunday” 
6. “Nearly Midnight, Honolulu” 
7. “Calling Cards” 
8. “City Swan” 
9. “Afraid” 
10. “Local Girl” 
11. “Where Did I Leave That Fire” 
12. “Ragtime” 

Deluxe Edition bonus tracks: 

13. “Madonna of the Wasps” 
14. “Magpie to the Morning” 
15. “Yon Ferrets Return” 

Neko Case 2013 tour dates: 

June 22 – North Adams, MA @ Solid Sound Festival
July 6 – Ottawa, ON @ Ottawa Blues Festival
July 7 – Toronto, ON @ Toronto Urban Roots Fest
August 9 – Edmonton, AB @ Edmonton Folk Festival
August 11 – Regina, AB @ Regina Folk Festival
August 24-25 – Monterey, CA @ First City Festival
September 6 – Chicago, IL @ A.V. Fest/Hideout Block Party
September 8 – Portland, OR @ MusicFest NW
September 11 – San Diego, CA @ House of Blues
September 12 – Phoenix, AZ @ Orpheum Theater
September 13 – Santa Fe, NM @ Lensic Performing Center
September 14 – Denver, CO @ The Ellie Caulkins
September 16 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Red Butte Garden
September 17 – Boise, ID @ The Knitting Factory
September 18 – Seattle, WA @ The Paramount
September 19 – Eugene, OR @ The Cuthbert Amphitheater
September 20 – Vancouver, BC @ Orpheum Theater
September 25 – Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory
September 26 – New York, NY @ Radio City Music Hall
October 4-6 – Austin, TX @ Austin City Limits Festival
October 5-6 – Los Angeles, CA @ Way Over Yonder Fest
October 11-13 – Austin, TX @ Austin City Limits Festival
October 15 – Lawrence, KS @ Liberty Hall
October 16 – Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
October 17 – Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
October 19 – Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall
October 20 – St. Louis, MO @ The Pageant
October 23 – Nashville, TN @ The Cannery
October 24 – Atlanta, GA @ Buckhead Theatre
October 26 – Durham, NC @ The Durham Performing Arts Center
October 27 – Charlottesville, VA @ The Paramount
November 1 – Boston, MA @ Orpheum Theatre