eko Case gives good cover. Rather, she is a damn fine interpreter of other people’s songs. She performed an exceptional cover of Ernest Tubb’s, “Thanks A lot” on her debut album, The Virginian, released a split single of Loretta Lynn covers with Kelly Hogan, and in concert, she’s been known to belt out Aretha Franklin songs. Powerful, but also capable of being sweet, subtle and understated, Miss Neko has got the vocal chops to cover just about any style of song you could throw her way.


Almost all of the material covered here is by Canadian artists, save two Neko Case originals (one of which was co-written by the Canadian group the Sadies) and a Hank Williams tune. The opening piece is Mike O Neill’s, “Andy”. A tender ballad about the end of summer and the end of an affair. Neko sings with a slight crack in her throat, softly accompanied by a lone acoustic guitar. It’s followed by the echo drenched, and expansive cover of Neil Young’s “Dreamin’ Man”. It’s an interesting choice, and she pulls it off gracefully, but it’s not nearly as effective as the song that follows, Sook-Yin Lee’s “Knock Loud”. Instrumentally, Case’s version is pretty similar to the original with chiming guitars and an eerie, late night feel. However, Neko Case one-ups Lee with her vocal performance. She gradually builds her way up from frustrated sadness to a palpable tension. It’s an utterly gorgeous tune.


Following up that killer performance is the first original, “Make Your Bed”. It's a song about murder played with plenty of slide guitar, sing-song “la-la’s”, and a dirge-like beat. Murder hasn’t been this hummable since Johnny Cash sang about Mama pleading “Don’t take your guns to town...”. “Poor Ellen Smith”, a traditional tune with some rockin’ little banjo plucking, muses on murder some more before Case turns in another memorable cover in "In California, originally done by Lisa Marr. Sublime and beautiful, Case’s vocals are mixed high and allowed to drive the song through its mournful tour of the sunshine state. Case fades out gently on the last line, “They tell me L.A.’s beautiful/ when it rains”, the song ends, and then comes the rain. The sounds of gentle rain lend a softness to Hank Williams', “Alone and Forsaken”. Lovingly made, Case’s cover of Hank’s tune is faithful and true. With no fancy additions and no vocal acrobatics or dramatic re-workings it ends up being just straightforward and lovely, doing right by the original.


Canadian Amp ends with the dramatic and sweeping, “Favorite”, another original by Miss Neko. Neko is backed deftly here by Furnace Room Lullaby collaborator Jon Rauhouse (guitar) and the Handsome Family’s Brett Sparks (backing vocals). Case’s lyrics are ripe with vivid imagery and longing. “Last night I dreamt/ That I hit a deer with my car/ Blood from his heart/ Spilled out onto my dress/ and was warm/ He begged me to follow/ But legions of sorrow defied me...” A little cryptic and a little heady, but in a really, really good way. A wall of layered guitars and strings swing their way around each other, repeating over and over until the song fades out.


Many cover and tribute albums fall flat in the end. Most offer a few interesting nuggets, then beef up with filler. Canadian Amp is one of the welcome exceptions to the rule. Sure, this isn’t an album worth of music, but it’s solid all the way through. Neko’s love for the material shows in her respect for the originals, but her distinct voice allows her to make them all her own.