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Middle Cyclone
Middle Cyclone
Middle Cyclone
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Middle Cyclone
Studio album by
Neko Case
ReleasedMarch 3, 2009 (2009-03-03)
GenreAlternative country, indie folk
Length74:29
LabelANTI-
ProducerNeko Case and Darryl Neudorf
Neko Case chronology
Fox Confessor Brings the Flood
(2006) 		Middle Cyclone
(2009) 		The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight, The Harder I Fight, The More I Love You
(2013)
Singles from Middle Cyclone
  1. "People Got A Lotta Nerve"
    Released: January 13, 2009

Middle Cyclone is the fifth studio album of American alternative country singer-songwriter Neko Case, released on March 3, 2009, on the ANTI- record label.[1] Her first solo effort in three years, Case stated that "it took a very long time to make".[2] As the title of the album suggests, the record's lyrics are permeated with imagery of tornadoes and, more generally, nature. Thematically Middle Cyclone concerns how Case's upbringing socialized her to form strong emotional attachments to nature and animals, to the neglect of human relationships, and her reconciling "the fact that I need love".[3][4]

Middle Cyclone features a variety of guest performers, including M. Ward, Garth Hudson, Sarah Harmer, and members of The New Pornographers, Los Lobos, Calexico, The Sadies, Visqueen, Kurt Heasley of Lilys, and Giant Sand.[1] It also features two prominent covers: "Never Turn Your Back on Mother Earth" by Sparks and "Don't Forget Me" by Harry Nilsson.

Middle Cyclone debuted to strong reviews from contemporary mainstream and independent music critics. In particular, Case's voice garnered unanimous praise for its strength, clarity, and emotional range. In December 2009 Case was nominated for two Grammys for her work on Middle Cyclone: Best Contemporary Folk Album and Best Recording Package (the latter nomination shared with artist Kathleen Judge).[5]

Conception and recording

[edit]

The recording of Middle Cyclone took place in Tucson, Brooklyn, Toronto, and Vermont.[6] Case herself stated that only the "piano orchestra" sessions were recorded in Vermont and that the rest was recorded using WaveLab in Tucson.[7] At the time, Case was transitioning from living in Tucson to a recently purchased farm in Vermont, where she recorded in a barn on the property.[7] Case described how the barn was retrofitted to suit her musical needs, as well as the "piano orchestra" that appears in three of Middle Cyclone's tracks:[8]

I didn't really convert it [the barn] into a studio. Basically the floor was made of dirt, and so I hired a friend of mine to come in and put in a wood floor and build a stage. And it looks amazing, but then we decided it would be really hilarious to see how many free pianos we could get off of—because that's how I got a piano right off the bat, but when I went on I couldn't believe how many free pianos there are on Craigslist. And I was like, well I have a barn. So I ended up with eight, which are playable. That's when I came up with the idea for the piano orchestra. I thought it would just sound so beautiful to have a bunch of people playing piano at once in that barn.[7]

Of the eight pianos that Case rescued, six were playable after two days of tuning by two tuners.[2] One was a broken player piano, which Case decided had the potential to be repurposed.[9]

The open and unconstrained nature of the barn-as-recording studio resulted in several of the tracks on Middle Cyclone having elements akin to a field recording. Case asserted that because of the barn "We ended up with robins on the recording and frogs and all kinds of stuff. And with a barn, you just don't have control, which was another element I really liked."[7] "Polar Nettles" features the aforementioned birdsong 39 seconds into the track, as well as a chorus of spring peeper frogs at the track's end. (The latter fortuitous event was recorded on video and published on ANTI-'s YouTube channel.[9]) "Don't Forget Me" contains a gust of wind close to the song's end.[10] The final track, "Marais La Nuit" (French for "Marsh at Night"), is an actual field recording of the environs around a pond on Case's farm.[7] When asked about the track in an interview with Paste magazine, Case responded "I actually went down to the pond and recorded that myself."[7]

Publicity

[edit]

New material from Middle Cyclone was first widely publicized when Case performed at Bumbershoot in Seattle, WA on Saturday August 30, 2008, from 1–2:15 pm.[11] In addition to older material such as "Favorite", "Margaret vs. Pauline", and "That Teenage Feeling",[12] the set included four songs from the unreleased album, including "I'm an Animal", "The Pharaohs", "Don't Forget Me", and "Vengeance Is Sleeping".[13] Fan-made video recordings of the songs were posted the next day to YouTube[12] and received widespread attention shortly thereafter in early September when the videos were posted to websites such as Stereogum.[13]

The cover art for Middle Cyclone was released in early December 2008.[6] The image of Case, crouched and ready to spring off the hood of her 1967 Mercury Cougar with a sword in hand received enthusiastic responses from Internet-based media. In a news article entitled "Neko Case, Reigning 2009 Album Art Champ", Matthew Solarski of Pitchfork Media, stated "So Fox Confessor Brings the Flood had some awfully lovely, subtle artwork. But this? My friends, pictures created to accompany music just don't come any better than this."[14] "Dear God she is wielding a sword" was the subtitle of the article.[14] Images from the sword-and-muscle car photo shoot were also used in advertisements on the ANTI- blog to encourage preordering of Middle Cyclone.[15]

On December 15, 2008, ANTI- released an Electronic Press Kit for Middle Cyclone in the form of a YouTube video.[9] It features selections of an interview with Case, excerpts from several Middle Cyclone songs, footage of Case and her band performing the songs, and collage art and animation to bridge segments. The video also provided fans a first listen to parts of "Magpie to the Morning", "This Tornado Loves You", "Middle Cyclone", "Polar Nettles", and "Fever" (in addition to two already featured at Bumbershoot: "Don't Forget Me" and "People Got a Lotta Nerve").

On February 18, the entirety of Middle Cyclone was streamed by NPR until the album's release on March 3.[16]

On February 24 the ANTI- blog released a free mp3 of Neko Case's song "Middle Cyclone" to commemorate the one year anniversary of the label's blog.[17] The promotion also included a give-away of four autographed copies of the album, with the fifth winner receiving not only a signed copy of Middle Cyclone but also her entire ANTI- catalog: The Tigers Have Spoken, Blacklisted (reissue), Furnace Room Lullaby (reissue), Fox Confessor Brings the Flood (bonus), and Fox Confessor Brings the Flood.

"People Got A Lotta Nerve"

[edit]

The first single from Middle Cyclone is "People Got a Lotta Nerve", which initially was released as a free download on January 13, 2009, on the ANTI- blog[18] and the day after on their website.[19] In celebration of Best Friends Animal Society's 25th anniversary in 2009, for every blogger that reposted "People Got a Lotta Nerve" or iLike user who added it to their profile, Neko Case and ANTI- made a cash donation to the charity.[18] The promotion ran from January 13 to February 3, 2009, with five dollars donated per blog post and one per iLike profile-add.[18]

On February 24, "People Got a Lotta Nerve" was featured as a downloadable track in the "Alt Country Pack 01" extension for the video game Rock Band 2.[20]

Case was interviewed and performed "People Got A Lotta Nerve" live for QTV on February 24, accompanied by Paul Rigby on acoustic guitar and Kelly Hogan on backing vocals.[2][21] On March 4, 2009, Case performed on The Tonight Show.[22]

The red-head takes aim at a monkey.

On March 20 ANTI- released a music video for "People Got A Lotta Nerve" on both MTV2's early-morning show "Subterranean"[23] and its YouTube channel.[24] The animated video, created by brother/sister team Paul and Julie Morstad,[25] depicts a red-headed schoolgirl – ostensibly Case – who is ejected from a killer whale's blowhole onto the grounds of an estate. The red-head witnesses the interactions of a multitude of other girls with animals, but is returned to the belly of the whale when she takes aim at one of the animals with a rifle found in the estate's manor house.

Various types of interactions between humans and animals are presented in the video, including the care, stewardship and play associated with domesticated animals, hunting, animal servitude, and man-eating. Despite the prominent repetition of the lyric "man-eater" the video does not depict men or boys. The schoolgirls' childlike activities (climbing, swinging, walking on stilts, jumping rope, piggy-back riding, pillow fighting, and clapping games) take place near and even on animals such as elephants, greyhounds, tigers, rheas, falcons, and monkeys. Animals are depicted in the video with as much agency as the humans: monkeys read pieces of paper, falcons intervene to prevent the red-head from shooting a monkey, the rhea allows two girls to ride on its back, and the tiger eats the girls brushing him. The video also contains several depictions of Case in the form of a portrait hung in the manor's stairwell and the transposition of one of Case's promotional portraits from Middle Cyclone onto the paper one of the monkeys possesses. The black comic scene in which the tiger has eaten his youthful groomers (their shoes and brushes have been left behind as the animal licks its chops) alludes to Case's song "The Tigers Have Spoken", whose lyrics describe a man-eating tiger driven mad by the isolation of captivity and shot on his chain.

Reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?7.4/10[26]
Metacritic79/100[27]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStarStar[28]
The A.V. ClubA−[29]
Entertainment WeeklyB[30]
The GuardianStarStarStarStar[31]
The IndependentStarStarStarStar[32]
MojoStarStarStarStar[33]
Pitchfork7.9/10[34]
Rolling StoneStarStarStarStar[35]
Spin9/10[36]
UncutStarStarStarStar[37]

Middle Cyclone received generally positive reviews from critics.[27] NPR praised the album's songs as "heartbreakingly-beautiful and, at times, comical" and praised Case's voice as "one of the most memorable and seductive voices in music."[16] The New York Times' Daniel Menaker praised her "real richness and body," writing that "She has often been described as a belter, a force of nature, a kind of vocal tornado. So this increased admixture of playfulness, delicacy and orchestral effects strikes you as the kind of variegation that artists — and species — make in order to survive and thrive."[10]

Middle Cyclone debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 albums chart in its first week of release, making it Case's first album to reach the top ten in the United States.[38]

As of 2013, sales in the United States have exceeded 223,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan.[39] As of 2010 it has sold 17,000 copies in Canada.[40]

Middle Cyclone tour

[edit]

The Europe February 2009 Tour, described as "a sneak peak [sic] of the new album", began in Berlin, Germany on Wednesday February 18, 2009, and ended on the 23rd in London, England.[41]

Middle Cyclone's Spring 2009 Tour began at Stubb's BBQ in Austin, Texas on March 31, 2009. It then snaked through the Southeast, US East Coast, Canada, and Midwest through the end of April.[42] It was expanded to include locales in the Southwest, US West Coast, other locales across North America, and eventually expanded to other countries such as Australia.[43] The band Crooked Fingers opened for the majority of Case's spring 2009 shows.[42]

Track listing

[edit]

All songs written by Neko Case, except where noted.

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."This Tornado Loves You" 3:21
2."The Next Time You Say Forever" 1:46
3."People Got a Lotta Nerve" 2:33
4."Polar Nettles" 2:26
5."Vengeance Is Sleeping" 3:22
6."Never Turn Your Back on Mother Earth"Ron Mael2:14
7."Middle Cyclone" 3:05
8."Fever" 3:18
9."Magpie to the Morning" 2:44
10."I'm an Animal"
2:21
11."Prison Girls" 5:25
12."Don't Forget Me"Harry Nilsson3:09
13."The Pharaohs"
3:37
14."Red Tide" 2:53
15."Marais la nuit" 31:39
Total length:74:29

Note

  • On the vinyl release "Marais la Nuit" is shortened to about 15 minutes and takes up all of Side Four.

Personnel

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Middle Cyclone

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Middle Cyclone is the fifth studio album by American singer-songwriter , released on March 3, 2009, by the independent record label Anti-. The album blends elements of , folk, and , featuring Case's distinctive powerful vocals and impressionistic lyrics centered on themes of nature, animals, and human emotion. Produced by Neko Case and Darryl Neudorf, it was recorded across multiple locations in , including her farm in and studios in , with contributions from her core band—guitarist Paul Rigby, bassist Tom V. Ray, multi-instrumentalist Jon Rauhouse, and backing vocalist —as well as guest artists such as of , , and members of Calexico. Upon release, Middle Cyclone debuted at number three on the US Billboard 200 chart, becoming Case's highest-charting album to date and the strongest debut for an independent artist that year. The record includes notable tracks like "This Tornado Loves You" and "People Got a Lotta Nerve," which highlight Case's fascination with wildlife and atmospheric soundscapes, culminating in the 30-minute field recording "Marais la Nuit" of frog croaks. Critically acclaimed for its immersive production and emotional depth, the album earned two nominations at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards in 2010: Best Contemporary Folk Album and Best Recording Package.

Background and development

Conception

Following the release of her 2006 album Blacklisted, sought to delve deeper into themes of home, nature, and personal vulnerability, reflecting a desire to confront emotional openness after a period of more guarded storytelling. This shift was influenced by her recent relocation to a 100-acre in rural , where the surrounding landscape provided a sense of reconnection and introspection, allowing her to explore ideas of rootedness and exposure in her work. Case began sketching songs for Middle Cyclone in 2006 and 2007, marking a turn toward more autobiographical songwriting drawn from personal dreams and experiences, such as visions of that symbolized inner turmoil. Environmental sounds from her property, including birdsong and frog calls, emerged as key influences, inspiring her to integrate these elements as a way to evoke the wildness of and bridge her interest in field recordings with . In pre-production, Case decided to incorporate these natural recordings—such as looped frog croaks and bird calls—as structural components rather than mere embellishments, aiming to capture the authenticity of her surroundings and steer clear of the detachment often felt in conventional studio environments. She selected longtime collaborator Darryl Neudorf as co-producer, drawing on their previous joint work with projects like the New Pornographers, to pursue a raw, site-specific recording method that emphasized organic imperfections like wind and wildlife interference.

Recording

The recording of Middle Cyclone took place from late 2007 through 2008 across several locations, beginning with initial demos in at Seaside Lounge, followed by band tracking in at Batty Steer and Mono Center in . Overdubs were handled at Wavelab Studio in , where bed tracks were laid down, while live takes were captured in a barn on Neko Case's farm. Additional vocal sessions occurred at Wall to Wall Recording in for contributions from and Nora O'Connor. The production emphasized an organic feel through the use of analog tape and minimal , allowing for a raw, unpolished sound that captured the performances in real time. Environmental audio was integrated directly into the tracks, particularly during the Vermont barn sessions, where natural acoustics and ambient sounds like robins chirping and frogs croaking were recorded alongside the music; for instance, the track "People Got a Lotta Nerve" prominently features the barn's reverb and these elements. Case co-produced the album with Darryl Neudorf, who played a key role in arranging the material to blend sensibilities with orchestral touches. Key personnel included Case's core band—guitarist Paul Rigby, bassist Tom V. Ray, multi-instrumentalist Jon Rauhouse, drummer Barry Mirochnick, and backing vocalist —along with guest appearances such as on acoustic and electric guitar and on piano and organ. Case took a hands-on approach to production, overseeing much of the process to ensure the integration of these elements while maintaining creative control. Sessions in the barn were particularly challenging due to their dependence on weather conditions, which could disrupt outdoor-adjacent recordings and required flexibility in scheduling to harness the natural ambiance.

Content

Musical style

Middle Cyclone blends and at its core, incorporating elements of , orchestral arrangements, and experimental field recordings to create a dynamic sonic landscape. The album's sound draws from Americana traditions while introducing swells of reverb-heavy guitars and atmospheric textures, evoking a sense of natural vastness through unpredictable compositions. The 15 tracks span a total runtime of 74:29, featuring a mix of full-band arrangements with driving rhythms—such as the frantic snare and chiming guitars in "This Tornado Loves You"—and sparser acoustic moments, including the layered, second-hand in the cover of "Don't Forget Me." Song structures frequently eschew standard verse-chorus formats in favor of lurching, ominous progressions, as heard in "Prison Girls," or garage-rock stomps in "Red Tide," contributing to the album's hypnotic and immersive quality. Production highlights layered instrumentation, including pedal steel accents, accordions for textural depth, and guest contributions like solos that add ethereal flourishes alongside orchestral strings such as moaning cellos and music-box plinks. Experimental touches, including thunder-like surges and ambient natural sounds like frog choruses in the closing "Marais La Nuit," enhance the cinematic scope. The reinterpretation of Sparks' "Never Turn Your Back on Mother Earth" transforms the original into a folk-infused arrangement with guitars and airy vocal layers. Building on the spookier, more restrained Americana of (2006), Middle Cyclone evolves into a more expansive and cinematic work, emphasizing broader dynamic shifts from intimate, introspective passages to explosive, full-ensemble choruses while retaining core folk-country roots. This progression refines earlier experimental flirtations, resulting in a warmer, pop-leaning elegance that rivals the polish of Blacklisted (2002).

Lyrics and themes

Middle Cyclone's lyrics delve deeply into as a for emotional turmoil, with recurring of storms, animals, and apocalyptic forces symbolizing human vulnerability and resilience. Case employs animals and phenomena to explore themes of love's destructive power, displacement, and feminist empowerment, often drawing from her autobiographical experiences of rootlessness across . For instance, tornadoes and predators represent obsessive romance and predatory relationships, while broader motifs of environmental chaos evoke a tempered by personal strength. These elements blend humor, horror, and tenderness, reflecting Case's songwriting approach that prioritizes raw emotional honesty over polished narrative. Key tracks illustrate these motifs through vivid, persona-driven storytelling. In the title song "Middle Cyclone," Case portrays romantic obsession as a —a tornado's core—capturing the dizzying pull of with lines like "Baby, why am I worried now? / Did someone make a fool of me?" The track fuses personal doubt with natural fury, positioning the cyclone as an uncontrollable force of desire. "People Got a Lotta Nerve" adopts a predatory animal , likening unreliable lovers to sharks or wolves, as in "It will end again in bullets, friend," to toxic dynamics with sharp wit and menace. Similarly, "This Tornado Loves You" opens the album with a dream-inspired of a pursuing the narrator, blending apocalyptic destruction with fervent : "My love, I am the ," emphasizing nature's fierce, fleeting attachments. "Vengeance Is Sleeping" shifts to quieter resilience, using animal as a for suppressed anger amid emotional displacement. The Harry Nilsson cover "Don't Forget Me" serves as an intimate plea, stripped to its core vulnerability with Case's tender delivery, underscoring themes of and in a chaotic world. Case's influences stem from personal dreams and her affinity for animals, shaped by a childhood relating more to than , which informs the album's empathetic portrayal of non-human perspectives. This approach echoes her punk and roots, infusing with surreal humor—such as or vultures circling—to humanize traits like and survival, without overt literary references dominating the text. Autobiographical threads, including her moves from to , weave in motifs of instability and empowerment, as symbolize overlooked human emotions. The album forms a conceptual arc around in a turbulent , progressing from natural declarations to pleas, with animal personas embodying frailties like obsession and redemption. This narrative culminates in "Red Tide," an ecological of decay, reinforcing resilience against apocalyptic odds, while the closing nature sounds extend the theme into immersive environmental reflection. Overall, the lyrics craft a feminist lens on chaos, celebrating emotional rawness through metaphorical .

Release

Promotion

Middle Cyclone was released on March 3, 2009, by Anti- Records, with an initial rollout that included an electronic press kit (EPK) distributed to media outlets and advance listening opportunities emphasizing the album's themes of , , and rural life. The EPK highlighted the recording process at Case's 100-acre farm in rural , where she filled a with instruments and captured ambient sounds like tree frogs to underscore the album's organic, environmental motifs. Marketing efforts incorporated viral storytelling around the Vermont barn sessions, positioning the album as a personal, nature-inspired project that resonated with Case's independent ethos. Anti- Records coordinated media appearances to build buzz, including a featured NPR segment on March 1, 2009, discussing the album's meteorological imagery and Case's songwriting process, as well as a performance on The Late Show with David Letterman on April 15, 2009. Publicity focused on innovative packaging and visual elements, with the album's —a of Case atop a 1967 in front of the barn—tying into her multidisciplinary artistic background and earning a Grammy nomination for Best Recording Package in 2010. The overall design and thematic cohesion contributed to the album's buildup toward Grammy recognition, including a nomination for Best Contemporary Folk Album at the . Digital pre-orders were available through platforms like Amazon, helping generate early anticipation ahead of the physical release.

Singles

The lead single from Middle Cyclone was "People Got a Lotta Nerve", released digitally on January 14, 2009, as a free download to promote the album. An animated for the track, directed by Austin Vesely, premiered in March 2009 and depicts Case alongside various animals, including an , in a style that echoes the song's nursery-rhyme structure while emphasizing themes of captivity and animal retribution. The single saw promo releases on in and was included in music samplers for radio promotion, contributing to rotation on alternative stations, though it achieved limited commercial success. The title track "Middle Cyclone" served as a promotional single ahead of the album's release, distributed exclusively through retailers like and receiving airplay on adult alternative radio without a major commercial push in the U.S.

Reception

Commercial performance

Middle Cyclone debuted at number three on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 44,000 copies in its first week and marking the highest-charting debut for an independent release in 2009. It also topped the Billboard Independent Albums chart. In , the album entered the Canadian Albums Chart at number five. By June 2009, US sales had surpassed 100,000 copies, driven by critical acclaim and supporting tour dates. The album's performance signified a commercial breakthrough for Case compared to her prior release, , which peaked at number 54 on the 200. Despite its strong indie label showing, Middle Cyclone received no in the US.

Critical reception

Upon its release, Middle Cyclone received widespread acclaim from music critics, who lauded Neko Case's commanding vocals, evocative lyrics, and the album's atmospheric production. The album earned an aggregate score of 79 out of 100 on , based on 31 reviews, reflecting "generally favorable" reception. Reviewers frequently highlighted Case's vocal prowess and the thematic depth of her nature-infused songwriting. awarded the album 7.9 out of 10, praising Case's "immense control and surprising physical and emotional range" in her voice, as well as the band's unpredictable arrangements that created an immersive listening experience, though noting that some subdued acoustic tracks occasionally dragged in pacing. gave it 4 out of 5 stars, describing the sound as "hypnotic alt-country twang" driven by reverb-heavy guitars, music-box plinks, and moaning cellos, which amplified Case's emotional precision. rated it 4 out of 5, commending the album's use of vivid nature metaphors—like killer whales and tornadoes—to explore the mysteries and destructiveness of modern relationships, calling it a cool, considered work despite some overly earnest moments. dubbed it a "meteorological ," appreciating how Case innovated within folk traditions by weaving storms, hurricanes, and cyclones into songs that blended raw emotion with environmental imagery. Critics also drew comparisons to artists like for Case's poetic, introspective style and for her blend of confessional country-folk elements with raw intensity. SPIN celebrated the album's embrace of Case's "beast within," carrying her unique vision further in back-to-nature fantasias that blend rootsy twang with man-made squall. The critical buzz contributed to the album's strong commercial debut at number 3 on the . In recognition of its artistic merit, Middle Cyclone received two Grammy Award nominations at the for Best Contemporary Folk Album and Best Recording Package.

Aftermath

Touring

The Middle Cyclone tour launched in April 2009 to support the album's release, beginning with a North American leg that covered more than 30 cities across the U.S. and over approximately 10 weeks. Accompanied by her core band—including vocalist , multi-instrumentalist Jon Rauhouse on guitar and pedal steel, bassist Tom Ray, and drummer Barry Mirochnick—Case emphasized full-band arrangements to evoke the raw, expansive energy of the album's barn recordings in . The tour expanded through summer and fall dates, with openers varying by leg, such as Crooked Fingers in the spring and Calexico members in the fall. Setlists heavily featured tracks from Middle Cyclone, typically including 8 to 10 songs from the album in a 20-song , such as openers like "Things That Scare Me" or "Maybe Sparrow," mid-set staples including "People Got a Lotta Nerve," "Middle Cyclone," and "The Pharaohs," and closers like "This Tornado Loves You" or "The Train from Kansas City" as an encore. often incorporated acoustic segments for select older tracks, blending the tour's rock-oriented full-band sound with intimate moments drawn from Case's catalog. Notable highlights included festival appearances, such as at the in August 2009, where Case delivered a set with her band and backing vocalist on the Fort Stage. The tour also hit major venues like the Greek in and the in New York, with one November 2009 show at the Wellmont in Montclair shortened due to an electrical shock incident affecting the performance. By early 2010, the itinerary extended to international markets, including dates in and a January show in , , still promoting Middle Cyclone material. Economically, the tour bolstered the album's promotion amid its strong commercial start, with 44,000 units sold in the first week; many headline dates, including the in April 2009, sold out, reflecting heightened demand following the record's critical acclaim. Overall, the outing encompassed over 100 performances, as evidenced by the play counts of key tracks like "Middle Cyclone" exceeding 107 times across documented shows.

Legacy and reissues

Middle Cyclone marked a significant breakthrough for , propelling her from niche indie acclaim to mainstream recognition, as evidenced by its debut at number three on the chart and subsequent Grammy nominations for Best Contemporary Folk/Americana Album and Best Recording Package. The album's blend of alt-country, pop, and environmental imagery influenced subsequent artists, with figures like expressing admiration through radio features and playlists highlighting Case's work. Its themes of nature's fury and human vulnerability have resonated in climate-aware music discourse, underscoring Case's prescient ecological lyricism amid rising global environmental concerns. In retrospective appraisals, Middle Cyclone has been celebrated for its enduring emotional depth and innovative songcraft. During the , it appeared in various best-of lists, praising its expansion of Case's sonic palette beyond traditional country roots. By the 2020s, reappraisals highlighted the album's feminist and ecological foresight, particularly in light of events like intensified climate crises and social upheavals, positioning it as a timeless reflection on personal and planetary turmoil. Academic discussions have further explored Case's environmental lyricism, linking tracks like "People Got a Lotta Nerve" to new materialist theories that emphasize interconnectedness between human and nonhuman worlds. The album saw a vinyl reissue in 2025 by Anti- Records, released as a double LP on black vinyl to commemorate its 16th anniversary, with production mirroring the original but featuring packaging for enhanced collector appeal. No deluxe editions have been produced, though the album received updated streaming availability in the mid-2010s to improve quality across platforms. Broader aspects of Middle Cyclone's legacy include its role in shaping Case's career trajectory through Grammy recognition, which amplified her visibility and collaborations. Tracks from the album have been covered by artists associated with Case, such as members of during live performances, extending its influence within circles. Additionally, scholarly analyses continue to examine the album's contributions to environmental themes in , reinforcing Case's status as a voice for ecological awareness.

Credits

Track listing

All tracks are written by Neko Case, except where noted.
No.TitleDurationWriter(s)Notes
1."This Tornado Loves You"3:21
2."The Next Time You Say Forever"1:46
3."People Got a Lotta Nerve"2:34
4."Polar Nettles"2:26
5."Vengeance Is Sleeping"3:23
6."Never Turn Your Back on Mother Earth"2:14Cover of Sparks
7."Middle Cyclone"3:06
8."Fever"3:19, Paul Rigby
9."Magpie to the Morning"2:44
10."I'm an Animal"2:21
11."Prison Girls"5:26
12."Don't Forget Me"3:10Cover of
13."The Pharaohs"3:38,
14."Red Tide"2:53
15."Marais la Nuit"31:39Ambient of frog and insect sounds
The album has a total runtime of 74:00. The standard edition follows this sequencing across all formats, including and digital releases. The 2009 vinyl edition is a double LP with the following side splits: Side A (tracks 1–5), Side B (tracks 6–10), Side C (tracks 11–14), and Side D (track 15). No significant bonus tracks appear on major international editions, though some digital platforms include minor promotional extras in select regions.

Personnel

Neko Case served as the lead vocalist, performer on guitar (including 8-string and electric), piano, tambourine, and happy apple, while also contributing backing vocals across multiple tracks. Core band members included Paul Rigby on acoustic guitar, electric guitar, twelve-string guitar, piano, dulcimer, and music boxes; Tom V. Ray on bass; Barry Mirochnick on drums; and Jon Rauhouse on acoustic guitar, steel guitar, Hawaiian guitar, and pedal steel. Guest musicians featured prominently, with providing acoustic and electric guitar on several tracks, including "Fever" and "Magpie to the Morning"; on piano and organ, notably on the Lowell George-inspired keyboard elements and tracks like "Polar Nettles" and "Don't Forget Me"; and on backing vocals throughout, such as on "This Tornado Loves You," "People Got a Lotta Nerve," and "Vengeance Is Sleeping." Other notable guests included Joey Burns on and bowed bass (e.g., "This Tornado Loves You" and "Prison Girls"); on saxophone and Yamaha organ (e.g., "Polar Nettles" and "Red Tide"); Kurt Heasley on guitar and backing vocals (e.g., "Polar Nettles" and "I'm an Animal"); Dallas and Travis Good of on electric and fuzz guitars (e.g., "The Pharaohs"); on and electric guitar (e.g., "Prison Girls" and "Red Tide"); on vocals for "Fever"; and , Nora O'Connor, Rachel Flotard, Carl Newman, and Carolyn Mark on various backing vocals. The orchestra, recorded in Case's barn, consisted of , John Collins, Blaine Thurier, Ryan Boyles, Paul Rigby, , and , contributing to tracks like "This Tornado Loves You" and "Don't Forget Me." John Convertino provided drums on "Red Tide," while Tara Szczygielski played violin on "This Tornado Loves You." The production team was led by co-producers and Darryl Neudorf, who also handled mixing at The Woodshed in and in . Engineering credits included Craig Schumacher, Chris Schultz, and Nick Luca for bed tracks and overdubs at Wavelab in ; Phil Palazzolo for vocals at Seaside Lounge in and piano orchestra recordings, with Ryan Boyles assisting; Dan Korneichuk for additional vocals at Wall to Wall in ; and for further vocals at Batty Steer in Mono Center, . Chris Shreenan-Dyck assisted with mixing at The Woodshed. Mastering was completed by Peter J. Moore at The E Room in . Additional credits encompassed art direction and all drawings/photography by , with design by Gary Card and additional art assembly by .

References

  1. https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/12729-middle-cyclone/
  2. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/middle-cyclone-183579/
  3. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/on-the-charts-u2s-no-line-on-the-horizon-is-number-one-in-2009s-biggest-week-90046/
  4. https://www.grammy.com/awards/52nd-annual-grammy-awards
  5. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2009/03/16/the-winds
  6. https://www.kqed.org/arts/24133/neko_case_middle_cyclone
  7. https://pitchfork.com/features/interview/7636-neko-case/
  8. https://pitchfork.com/news/34156-neko-case-stirs-up-cyclone-with-m-ward-calexico/
  9. https://www.npr.org/2009/02/18/100826714/exclusive-first-listen-neko-case
  10. https://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/15/magazine/15neko-t.html
  11. https://www.discogs.com/release/1864100-Neko-Case-Middle-Cyclone
  12. https://tapeop.com/interviews/127/neko-case-songwriting-production-and-being-real
  13. https://www.discogs.com/master/33151-Neko-Case-Middle-Cyclone
  14. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/feb/27/neko-case-middle-cyclone-review
  15. https://www.npr.org/2009/03/03/101373780/neko-case-the-fierce-fleeting-nature-of-love
  16. https://www.metrowestdailynews.com/story/entertainment/music/2009/03/08/neko-case-looks-to-nature/41192779007/
  17. https://www.npr.org/transcripts/101246137
  18. https://www.anti.com/releases/middle-cyclone/
  19. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbjnS_RTj_o
  20. https://www.npr.org/2009/03/01/101246137/neko-case-a-meteorological-masterpiece
  21. https://www.npr.org/transcripts/101246137?storyId=101246137
  22. https://pitchfork.com/news/13427-this-tornado-loves-you-live-on-the-late-show-with-david-letterman/
  23. https://www.anti.com/news/neko-case-presents-the-cougar-rama-muscle-car-splosion/
  24. https://mintrecs.com/news/neko-case-nominated-two-grammys
  25. https://www.amazon.com/Middle-Cyclone-Neko-Case/dp/B001MWGZDG
  26. https://www.anti.com/news/first-single-from-neko-cases-forthcoming-album-a-middle-cycloneatm-availabl/
  27. https://www.slate.com/blogs/wild_things/2013/11/01/neko_case_animal_songs_the_best_videos_and_lyrics.html
  28. https://www.discogs.com/release/13251931-Neko-Case-People-Got-A-Lotta-Nerve
  29. https://www.discogs.com/release/1646221-Various-Paste-Magazine-New-Music-Sampler-February-2009-Issue-50
  30. https://www.allmusic.com/album/release/middle-cyclone-advance-promo-single-barnes-noble-exclusive--mr0001932974
  31. https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/u2-tops-the-billboard-200-269233/
  32. https://www.anti.com/news/neko-cases-middle-cyclone-debuts-at-3-on-billboard-top-200/
  33. https://glidemagazine.com/13520/neko-cases-middle-cyclone-debuts-at-3/
  34. https://www.billboard.com/charts/canadian-albums/2009-03-21/
  35. https://variety.com/2009/music/markets-festivals/neko-case-1200475147/
  36. https://www.metacritic.com/music/middle-cyclone/neko-case
  37. https://www.spin.com/2009/02/neko-case-middle-cyclone-anti/
  38. https://www.anti.com/press/anti-records-artists-nominated-for-six-grammy-awards/
  39. https://www.ticketnews.com/2009/05/neko-case-tour-continues-to-ride-cyclone-across-north-america/
  40. https://consequence.net/2009/03/neko-case-readies-cyclone-of-a-tour/
  41. https://bigtakeover.com/concerts/neko-case-with-crooked-fingers-keswick-theater-glenside-pa-friday-april-10-2009
  42. https://www.brooklynvegan.com/neko-case-200/
  43. https://www.setlist.fm/stats/average-setlist/neko-case-33d69821.html?tour=33d604a1
  44. https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/neko-case/2009/930-club-washington-dc-2bd634ea.html
  45. https://www.npr.org/2009/08/02/111396860/neko-case-newport-folk-festival-2009
  46. https://www.brooklynvegan.com/neko-case-got-s/
  47. https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/neko-case/2010/san-francisco-bath-house-wellington-new-zealand-43d7776b.html
  48. https://www.popmatters.com/93629-neko-case-2496023823.html
  49. https://www.setlist.fm/stats/neko-case-33d69821.html?tour=33d604a1
  50. https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/neko-cases-new-fight-inside-her-most-revealing-album-yet-4308780/
  51. https://www.siriusxm.ca/blog/phoebe-bridgers-plays-neko-case-paul-westerberg-and-others-on-the-latest-saddest-factory-radio/
  52. https://www.academia.edu/41641915/Neko_Case_and_the_Molecular_Turn
  53. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/336597072_Neko_Case_and_the_Molecular_Turn
  54. https://propermusic.com/products/nekocase-middlecyclone
  55. https://www.qobuz.com/us-en/interpreter/neko-case/54420
  56. https://www.grammy.com/news/neko-case-interview-new-album-neon-grey-midnight-green
  57. https://www.singforscience.org/episodes/neko-case-rebecca-mcmackin-ecological-horticulture-gardening
  58. https://www.discogs.com/release/1675447-Neko-Case-Middle-Cyclone
  59. https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/neko-case/middle-cyclone/
  60. https://www.discogs.com/release/2237070-Neko-Case-Middle-Cyclone
  61. https://nekocaseofficial.bandcamp.com/album/middle-cyclone
  62. https://redrumrecords.ca/products/neko-case-middle-cyclone-cd-album
  63. https://www.discogs.com/release/1675859-Neko-Case-Middle-Cyclone
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