While many may know her from her current stint in the Canadian Power-Pop super group The New Pornographers, Neko Case is a pretty amazing solo artist in her own right. In 2002, she released Blacklisted with a rag tag team of stellar musicians such as the Good brothers from The Sadies, Howe Gelb from Giant Sand, Joey Burns and John Convertino from Calexico (and also formerly of Giant Sand as well), Kelly Hogan, and guitar virtuoso Jon Rauhouse.

As good (hell, great) as Blacklisted was, it all feels like a dry run now after listening to Case's latest, starkest and best release Fox Confessor Brings The Flood. All the musicians listed above are back to lend a hand, and now that they've all been here before, they sound tighter and ever so more confident working with Case. It also helps when you bring in a legend like Garth Hudson from The Band as well to play piano and organ.

It doesn't hurt either that Case's songwriting and vocals are stronger now than they've ever been. Case's voice is so powerful now that it seems it's almost like its own instrument. Think of Loretta Lynn or Dolly Parton in their hayday and you'll understand what I mean. On the whole, the best moments of Fox Confessor are the epic "Star Witness" and the southwestern flare of "Hold on, Hold on"; but for vocal moments, nothing beats "A Widow's Toast" or "Maybe Sparrow." Jenny Lewis may be the new female flavor of the month in Alt-Country, but with Fox Confessor Brings The Flood, Case makes us all remember who really is the reigning queen.