I’m for the triumphant return of Neko Case, whose forthcoming release of Fox Confessor Brings the Flood will leave more people swooning in the aisles than her topless appearance at the Grand `Ole Opry. It also features the brilliant casting of our own Rachel Flotard as a back-up vocalist, a role she will purportedly assume when Case hits the road this spring. For those of you who can’t wait to hear this PJ Harvey-channeling-Patsy Cline masterpiece, mark your calendars for March 7th, when Anti Records will release Fox.

Oh, and for the record, I’m actually the sole Stranger writer who is for smoking in some bars (unless, ahem, Bethany and Brad are wisely keeping mum). Go ahead and ban it in the music venues, but not in those lovely blue collar dives (where people go to die anyway). Sorry Dan—please don’t fire me.