Hell-On | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | June 1, 2018 | |||
Studio |
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Genre | Alternative country | |||
Length | 52:44 | |||
Label | Anti- | |||
Producer | Neko Case, Björn Yttling | |||
Neko Case chronology | ||||
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Hell-On is the seventh studio album by American singer-songwriter Neko Case, released by record label Anti- on June 1, 2018. It was largely recorded in Stockholm, and Case co-produced six of the album's twelve tracks with Björn Yttling of Peter Bjorn and John.[1]
The album was recorded during a tumultuous period in Case's life. Already dealing with serious problems caused by obsessed stalkers, her farmhouse residence in Vermont was destroyed in a fire while she was in Sweden working on the album, leaving her homeless. Recording and being away from home during this time helped her not dwell on these problems and allowed her to focus her energy on something positive.[1]
Case promoted the album by touring with Ray LaMontagne.[2]
Fans and critics have speculated that the fire in the album's cover art represents the fire that destroyed Case's Vermont home, but she has said this was actually completely coincidental. Inspired by the popular HBO series Game of Thrones, she wanted to craft a family sigil, saying: "I decided that my background was so trashy that my family crest would probably have a cigarette butt on it. But I was also obsessed with fake Hollywood cigarettes, so I thought it would be funny to make a costume out of what looked like burning cigarettes."[1]
Aggregate scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AnyDecentMusic? | 7.9/10[3] |
Metacritic | 85/100[4] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The A.V. Club | A[6] |
Chicago Tribune | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Guardian | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Independent | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Mojo | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Pitchfork | 7.7/10[11] |
Q | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Rolling Stone | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Vice | B+[14] |
Hell-On received universal acclaim from critics. On Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, it has an average score of 85 based on 22 reviews.[4]
In his review for AllMusic, critic Mark Deming praised the album, writing: "With Hell-On, Case has once again given herself an ideal showcase for her talents as a vocalist, songwriter, and producer; it's lush but intimate, and one of the strongest and most satisfying records she's delivered to date. Which, given her catalog, says a great deal."[5]
Publication | Accolade | Rank | Ref. |
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The A.V. Club | Top 20 Albums of 2018 | 2
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Albumism | Top 50 Albums of 2018 | 16
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Entertainment Weekly | Top 20 Albums of 2018 | 12
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God Is in the TV | Top 50 Albums of 2018 | 9
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PopMatters | Top 70 Albums of 2018 | 25
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Uncut | Top 75 Albums of 2018 | 12
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All tracks are written by Neko Case and Paul Rigby, except where noted
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Hell-On" | 4:11 | |
2. | "Last Lion of Albion" | Case, Rigby, Jeff Galegher | 3:38 |
3. | "Halls of Sarah" | 3:53 | |
4. | "Bad Luck" | 3:59 | |
5. | "Curse of the I-5 Corridor" | 7:01 | |
6. | "Gumball Blue" | Case, Allan Carl Newman | 4:14 |
7. | "Dirty Diamond" | 3:44 | |
8. | "Oracle of the Maritimes" | Case, Laura Veirs | 4:25 |
9. | "Winnie" | 3:54 | |
10. | "Sleep All Summer" | Eric Bachmann | 5:04 |
11. | "My Uncle’s Navy" | Case, Newman | 4:14 |
12. | "Pitch or Honey" | 4:27 | |
Total length: | 52:44 |
Chart (2018) | Peak position |
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Australian Albums (ARIA)[21] | 88 |
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[22] | 123 |
New Zealand Heatseeker Albums (RMNZ)[23] | 4 |
Scottish Albums (OCC)[24] | 38 |
US Billboard 200[25] | 31 |
US Folk Albums (Billboard)[26] | 2 |
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[27] | 4 |
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[28] | 4 |
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[29] | 5 |