Neko Case, Laura Veirs & k.d. lang - case/lang/veirs
Critic Score
Based on 29 reviews
2016 Ratings: #69 / 1004
Year End Rank: #42
User Score
Based on 185 ratings
2016 Rank: #233
Liked by 6 people
June 17, 2016 / Release Date
LP / Format
Anti- / Label
Folk, Chamber Folk / Genre
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CRITIC REVIEWS

90
musicOMH
When three strong, unmistakable voices come together, there’s always the possibility of getting something watered down, but instead each individual’s powers are amplified.
90
Exclaim!
The thing with this collaboration is that, as on all great records, your favourite songs are liable to shift around a little. And what this songwriting team has to offer isn't just pretty, though it can be that — it's also pretty profound, passionate and substantial.
90
American Songwriter
This collaboration works not just on a vocal level, as the women share lead and backing chores, but on a conceptual one as well since their occasionally offbeat Americana sensibilities also dovetail perfectly.
90
The 405
There is a song for every mood on this album. This trio has shown what happens when egos from greats are set aside and the art is elevated above everything else. Nothing feels forced.
85
The Line of Best Fit
There's genuinely something for everyone on this album, and in an age where artists have been ill-advisedly collaborating seemingly at random with often-disappointing results, it's refreshing to hear three unique personalities come up with something so egoless and self-assured in its own right.
84
Paste
During their respective well-established careers, Case, lang and Veirs had traveled in fairly different circles, which made the initial news of their collaboration a surprise—one that lasted just long enough to realize how well matched they really are.
84
Sputnikmusic

Far from the sort of thrown-together collaboration that is generally de rigueur, case/lang/veirs stands out because it remains an accurate representation of the sum of its parts, a catalog of what makes its three artists great.

82
Pitchfork

case/lang/veirs isn’t a springboard or a resting place—it's a tribute to connection, communion, and reflection on the things that bind us. And it feels particularly significant and sanctuary-like for the fractured times that we live in.

80
Uncut
This fruitful collaboration between k.d. Lang, Neko Case and Laura Veirs succeeds largely because it makes room for all three distinctive voices and songwriting styles, alongside sublimely blended three-way harmonies.
80
Mojo
For all its grace and subtlety, this is a vigorous, life-affirming record.
80
The Independent
The result is an album of rare beauty and intelligence, rendered in imaginative arrangements containing sometimes startling harmonies.
80
The Observer
Case/lang/veirs have hit upon a sound that is gentle yet resonant, and wrestled out of three fiercely independent careers, an alt-country record of depth and scope.
80
Record Collector
A rare example of a collaborative album that reflects well on everybody involved.
80
Q Magazine
From the off, it's beguiling stuff.
80
The Guardian
Their pure, alternating voices compliment each other perfectly, and when they come together in harmony, the results are glorious. The lush arrangements echo the classy, classic 60s pop of Burt Bacharach and Dusty Springfield, and the songs ooze with romance and stunning imagery.
80
Slant Magazine
The album flows like a conversation and negotiation between three artists who've done the same thing, but in different ways, now learning the world through each other's eyes.
80
Under the Radar
The performances by all three artists rank with any of their best work.
80
SPIN

The triply self-titled case/lang/veirs encompasses 14 songs, each more deft and lush than the last, but the proliferation of talent never feels overstuffed.

80
PopMatters

It’s rare that these sorts of collaborations feel like they should be more than one-statement diversion, but case/lang/veirs, intentionally or not, makes the case that these three artists shouldn’t stray from the slashes for too long.

80
Drowned in Sound

case/lang/veirs is a record full of compelling, tender, starry energy.

70
The Needle Drop
Three stellar songwriters come together for a harmonious collaboration.
70
AllMusic

While case/lang/veirs doesn't approach the greatness these women have managed on their own albums, it does offer more than a few beautiful moments they could not have achieved on their own. The result is a fascinating, rewarding experiment that deserves to be repeated.

67
Consequence of Sound

case/lang/veirs is certainly a cut above whatever record is playing in your local Starbucks at the moment, but it’s also content to steer clear of grand statements in favor of something more real-life.

60
NOW Magazine
It's somewhat surprising to learn that the songwriting was collaborative, because the songs lang sings lead on sound very much like k.d. lang songs ... the Case songs sound like Neko Case songs and the Veirs songs sound like Laura Veirs songs
60
Tiny Mix Tapes
Poetry aside, none of these 14 songs are highlights of any of the three artists’ vast catalogs. The stories and the production alike are pure sunshine, which often passes into the saccharine.
Jlepileo03
81

A pretty set of tracks. Well-written and tastefully performed.

itsyahboinoah
82

A great trio of veteran folk artists team up to make one endearing and sublime indie folk record.

77

A very enjoyable listen. It's hard to say that the combination of these three revered folk vocalists is greater than the sum of its parts, but it definitely equals the sum (even if I agree with the consensus that the Veirs songs are generally the best here). Each lead vocalist's solos sound like their solo originals, but the backup vocals add a potent new dimension to their songwriting. Hearing their three very distinct voices blend perfectly on "Atomic Number" is essential.

Jlepileo03
81

A pretty set of tracks. Well-written and tastefully performed.

sorrowfulsoil
78

case/lang/veirs is a beautifully relaxing and harmonious work

zaxapitsa
61

Pleasant harmonies over safe arrangements. Nice but forgettable.

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Added on: February 29, 2016