9:07

Had you asked me a couple of weeks ago which current female vocalist has the purest sounding voice, I would have responded with either Natalie Merchant or Norah Jones. Both are so smooth and able to convey a wide range deep emotions.

That was before I came across Neko Cases' latest cd - Fox Confessor Brings The Flood.

I bought the cd pretty much on a whim after hearing only a couple of songs. I was entranced. And still am. The past several weeks, I've gone to sleep listening to her sugary lyrics as her calming voice lulls me to sleep, listened to her music on the way to work, and again at various times throughout the day.

Like Jenny Lewis, Neko recounts deeply personal stories of lost love in her songs. But where Jenny sings more in prose, Neko sings more in lyrical poetry. If Jenny is Robert Frost, Neko is William Blake -- the metaphors seem to run a bit deeper and the songs need several times listening to them to piece together what she's trying to convey.

Neko played at the Granada Theatre last night and I'm terribly glad that I went.

The only way to describe yesterday is to say I was without identity.

Part of it is because I lost my money clip a couple of weeks ago. I've replaced my debit card but not anything else. The only identity I've had the past week is a picture-less bank card.

Other than that reason, I was able to lose myself in the music. Which isn't too hard to do.

I allowed her to take me on a rollercoaster of emotions. Just as she was about to move me to tears, she would cause me to laugh. With one verse, she was able to take my happiness and replace it with sadness.

Her songs inspire me. One of my favorite songs is one that sings about past regret and future hope.

I've learned that while the pain of confronting the past is sometimes too much to handle, the feeling of release is one I'm not able to describe.

I can only tell you that it makes the air smell fresher, the sun's warmth more comforting, and makes That Teenage Feeling something to live for.