Customer Reviews

Ease Down the Road

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Oldham's songs have always sounded as if they have lived for generations, under rocks, in the mud, just gestating and mutating. In the past, the minimalist "production" (lack thereof, actually) was an essential element in the Oldham sound... the hiss of analog tape somehow adding to the strange but massive emotional gravity of the songs.

I've folowed Oldham since "Days In the Wake" and managed to collect just about everything he's released. The first thing that stikes a long-time fan is that this album is a million miles from where he started. Sure, songwriting-wise, the oblique, minor-key paeans are still intact, but now, the production is densely layered-- female vox, strings, chimes--- It's not exactly Pet Sounds, but there is quite a bit going on sonically. The songs sound crisp, jumping out of the speakers, but some may miss the ragged immediacy of Oldham's old-style recordings. I'm conflicted, because I did regard the shoddy sound quality as an essential part of Oldham's vision. I think he has grown more confident as a songwriter (and also probably a little richer and able to afford better gear) and he feels he can give up the "gimmic" of hissy recordings. Fine, the songs stand up. It worked on "I See a Darkness" and it works here too. Will has also obviously taken singing lessons over the years, and his voice doesn't seem to crack like it used to as he strains for the high notes--- whatever he does, I've always thought he was one of the most original *singers* in music, really making his limited voice an asset rather than a limitation.

The album, while different, is amazing. The songs are among his best. Tilted, with lyrical twists and turns. Lovely, spare melodies. This may be an album that wins him wider recognition, as the sound quality is remarakable and it sounds more accesible. Fans will need to get used to it, but will find the gold buried beneath the layers of production... it's like Will's "Born In The USA"--- brilliant, brooding songs in a pop-disguise.

Once again, the prolific Will Oldham & friends (aka palace, palace music, palace brothers, etc.) bring us some of the most heartfelt gothic folk this side of the 1970's. If the mediocre bar band aesthetics of what is loosely classified as the alt.country movement has left you groggily reconsidering last year's purchase of a cowboy hat, sweat no more. Bonnie "Prince" Billy is the Cormac McCarthy to Jeff Tweedy's Larry McMurtry.

"Ease Down the Road" finds Oldham doing just that; this time around, the songs are less moody, more lush and cushy, like the audio equivalent of the smell of tall grass, or the sweet burn of kentucky whiskey. I suspect Dave Pajo (aka Papa M, Aerial M, etc.), who is credited with co-producing, played a significant role in forging what is arguably Oldham's most assured recording since Viva Last Blues.

Over the past 9 years or so, Will Oldham became one of the greatest songwriters not only of his generation, and "Ease down the road" contains some of his very best material so far - period.

"Just to see my holly home", my personal soundtrack of this years summer, and the wonderful "After I made love to you", one of the most sensitive and touching lovesongs I've ever heard, with Oldham's cracky, beautiful voice accompanied by Catherine Irwin, are two of the strongest songs of this fantastic album.

"Ease down the road" is the best record for a lonely evening, along with a bottle of wine and a beautiful sundown. So, please enjoy it and be happy and love thy neighbour !

The first thing that struck me about this album is that Wil's voice really sounds good. Whenever I've shared my Wil Oldham/Palace CDs with friends, I always hear the comment that they can't stand the voice (the same comment I've always heard from first time Dylan listenors). I've always enjoyed Wil's voice and the authentic and unpolished records he's made and it is strange but truly amazing to hear Wil's voice sound as technically good as it does on this album. This album also has a lot more accessible melodies than the last couple of albums he has put out and he also includes quite a range of instruments and back-up singers. The entire album is excellent with some songs that are among his best. One cannot stop singing along with "Just to See My Holly Home" or marvel at "After I Made Love to You." Overall, I'd say that this album is made in the style of his earlier Palace albums with much more polish, instruments, and a really good voice--I still like both Days in the Wake and Viva Last Blues better, but this one is damn good.

William Oldham (bonnie `Prince' Billy), finds himself alone in seemingly single-handedly broadening the possibilities of contemporary folk & Country music, thereby exploring downtempo emotional acoustic music to it very limits. It's an album of intimate melancholy, beautifully gloomy & deceptively complex. His songwriting continues to expand & grow in composition, and William knows how to pull magnificent performances from just the most minimal of melodies...."May It Always Be" & ""After I Made Love to You", are quietly understated tracks, yet contain a full body of emotions in a wonderfully plaintive way. William has this magnificent ability of being seemingly troubled & disparate, yet immediately charismatic, in a way few artists are able to convey. As with virtually all of William solos albums, there are too few tracks on his albums (in this case 12 tracks), and the combined running time is barely over half an hour, but William hands in such a splendidly balanced & delightful album, that such trivial quibbles are redundant.

probably the most polished oldham cd out there. thats not a bad thing though- in fact it is compulsively listenable, layered and complex. it just means the music is tight, his voice doesn't crack, and the songs aren't as loose as usual. its different, a bit more mature perhaps and a bit less endearing. the songs are great as always, and you can appreciate this even more if youve been following the progression of his career. i still opt for 'arise therefore' but i havent been able to get this album out of my cd player.

Again the Bonnie Prince springs us a surprise... he has now filled out his minimalist approach with slide guitar, female voice, harmonies but the songs are as dank and murderous as old.

This guy really is an undiscovered genius and up there with Tom Waits and Elliot Smith as the best contemporary American singer-songwriter.

Wonderful.

This one brought me to my knees then lifted me up again with desire.
Leaving me speechless I carried on and eased on down the road.
A masterpiece...period. My mind has found a home in The Lions Lair.
If there is any of the "Prince" to acquire it is this album.
Sure you have heard of the famous Darkness album but we are already there in darkness. This album reaches out to you after the darkness clears.
It's beautiful.... It's art..... High Art

You can reach me when I'm gone

Do your life a favor and pick this one up - it is my favorite

This is Will Oldham's best record since 1995's "Viva Last Blues"and ranks alongside it, "There is No-One What Will Take Care of You" (1993) and "Days in the Wake" (1994) as his finest song-writing achievement. What a joy it is to have Will back in form writing and singing genuinely affecting folk-rock lullabies like we know he can. Sure the lyrics are still as perverse, and quite frankly as depressing as ever, but here they are backed by sweeter, dare I say, even user-friendly arrangements that put a smile on your face and filter out the moroseness and sense of despair that overwhelmed Will's lesser records such as the much-overrated "I See a Darkness" (1999). If you like the Will that makes you feel suicidal then this record may jar with your sensibilities, but if you like the Will that puts a kindly glow on your face then welcome home.

Bonnie "Prince" Billy is back with yet another collection of emotional and folk-tinged songs. Will Oldham's last full length under the title of Bonnie Billy, I See A Darkness, was a critical masterpiece. This should be no exception. Oldham has a noticeable change of sound in Ease Down the Road, a fuller sound that does nothing to take away from his ability to evoke strong feelings in the listener. Songs like Careless Love, a simple song with Oldham singing a lovely melody over pulsing chords, and After I Made Love to You, a great soothing song, make the listener yearn for me. Will Oldham does not disappoint.