Neko Case's 'Middle Cyclone' (Anti- Records) Debuts At No 3 On Billboard Top 200, The Highest Debut This Year By An Independent Release

New York, NY. (Top40 Charts/ Shore Fire Media) - Neko Case's acclaimed new album 'Middle Cyclone' (Anti- Records) has debuted at No 3 on the Billboard Top 200, the highest opening to date in 2009 by an independent release on Billboard's main album chart. 'Middle Cyclone' also bows at No 1 on Billboard's Top Independent Albums chart.

Case's strong showing follows recent television appearances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on NBC and The Tavis Smiley Show on PBS, as well as widespread critical acclaim for 'Middle Cyclone.' See below for some select quotes.

Case will kick off a national tour March 31 at Stubb's BBQ in Austin, TX, and she is scheduled to perform on The Late Show with David Letterman on CBS on April 15.

Case's last album, 2006's 'Fox Confessor Brings The Flood' debuted at No 52 on the Billboard Top 200.

What critics are saying about Neko Case and 'Middle Cyclone'
"Her voice is a force of nature." - THE NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE
"'The best album of her career by a generous margin." - THE NEW YORKER
"One of the most memorable and seductive voices in music." - NPR
"Indie's greatest singer." - ROLLING STONE
"America may need Neko Case's back-to-nature fantasias more than ever." Rating: 9 out of 10 - SPIN MAGAZINE