Yes, I’m thinking it’s time to reintroduce a version of Stayfun Celebrity Death Match. For the opening bout, how about Neko Case vs Sandi Thom?

In case you’re not aware, and let’s hope that you aren’t, Sandi Thom is the latest (fake) internet sensation, and after “webcasting her way to fame” she has found herself number one in the UK charts with that lovely - i mean dire - track ‘I Wish I Was A Punk Rocker’.

It’s not even that I care about what happens in the UK charts, or anywhere else in the world. I’m just prone to being irked by stories of independent success and internet hype, when in reality, any variety of fame is being masterminded by publishing companies and managerial-type people, as always. So as revenge, I’d love to see Neko Case kick Sandi’s ass out of the recording studio and back out of the charts.

Fox Confessor Brings the Flood is one of my favourite albums so far this year, and while I never mentioned it at the time, Neko was particularly wonderful when I saw her in Rotterdam last month. Perhaps a little more shy and restrained than with an English-speaking audience, but every song was musically spot on, not only in terms of her amazing voice, but in regards to some fantastic musicianship from her band too. I’d love to go on about the cymbal playing on ‘Dirty Knife’ particularly, but people already think I’m weird.

I shall conclude my argument with the statement, “Neko rocks! Thom is lame! Download some Neko and marvel in the fantastic rhythms driving ‘John Saw That Number’.”

mp3: Neko Case - John Saw That Number