Fox Confessor Brings The Flood - Musical Style, Writing, and Composition

Musical Style, Writing, and Composition

Upon its release, “Fox Confessor” was praised as Case’s most stunning album for many reasons. Not only does the album cover a wide range of emotions from resentment, to pity, to despair, and passionate romance, but it does so in a variety of styles. Case blends gospel and early rock influences along with her country twang voice. The artist, herself, likes to classify her new style as “country-noir”. In an NPR interview, Case tells of learning to be more dynamic with her powerful voice and many critics agree that she does so flawlessly while creating a cinematic, mysterious, and suspenseful feel.

In “Star Witness”, Case leaves many details out and creates a distinct mood around a vague story. Much of the album is praised for such masterful weaving of emotion and suggestive description. Case offers that the songs on this album were created by writing a lot of words and paring them back so that it is not “overly literal”. She gives hints and helps her listeners to use their imagination to fill in the gaps. “That Teenage Feeling” is praised as a 50’s-style pop ballad that suggests a memory of intense and passionate love, while “Hold On, Hold On” tells the story of the artist leaving a wedding reception, relieved to be alone, with drugs from the bride. In “John Saw That Number”, Case mixes words of “an old American spiritual with a musical idea from India” and “Widow’s Toast” is an example of the artist creating “more space on the record” in order to make what is there stand out. Case began recording the track with a full band, but the removed all components for the final product save her haunting voice and a drone. This track also deviates from the standard verse-chorus-verse structure of contemporary songs, making it a noteworthy addition to the album.