It might be a stretch to call Neko Case the best country singer out there today—not while some of the old legends are still out there, and not while she’s banned from appearing at the Grand Ol’ Opry (for taking off her top during a hot performance; possibly apocryphal, but it wouldn’t surprise anyone if it wasn’t). It wouldn’t be much of one, though; it’s more a lack of exposure than anything else that keeps her a secret to most American country lovers (topless stint notwithstanding). On the other hand, having the #1 song on a John Peel best-of-year list has to count for something, right?

I’ve never had the chance to see Case do any of her own material in concert, although I have seen her sing (with Carolyn Mark and Kelly Hogan, no less), so I had no idea who sang the high parts on “Porchlight” until I saw an archived concert webcast of one of her Toronto shows. Turns out it’s Neko Case herself, adding impeccable vocal range to her list of talents.