Reviews (page 4 of 6)
3.5/5 will definitely listen again when I'm blue.
Had to listen to this on YouTube, and experience I really do not enjoy. So that may have flavored my listening, but I found some tracks on this album to be frustratingly unlistenable. At the same time there were some songs that were really compelling and that I really enjoyed so overall I think this album feels kind of inconsistent. It is obviously by design that it sounds like a teenager Fucking around with a four track in their bedroom, but whatever. I guess that’s good for some people, but not for me.
Definitely solid but not as impressive as the other 4’s of its time
A lot different than I was expecting. Dark and weird but still listenable. Not party music. But not bad.
Melancholy but, wonderfully recorded. Great sound but not something I would listen to.
Befittingly grim, as per the title and the album cover. I usually don't like stuff this understated, but it was pretty great.
is ok. was never crazy about Will Oldham. maybe a little bit the same territory as Silver Jews but doesn't work for me as much. the title track has a bunch of versions and one of them is really good. the music video version maybe?
Tough to get the full experience when it’s not on Spotify. I think I found most of the tracks on a YouTube playlist but was hilarious listening and then an ad would come on in a completely different style and confuse me. Happened more times than I should admit. This is tough. Some really interesting parts and songs. The harmonies were really cool. But overall this didn’t really stand out and felt quite sleepy at times. 2.75
Thought this was pretty good. Would benefit from a proper setting of solitude in a dark room, not around screaming kids. I am rounding up cuz I think I like it a bit more than a 2* 2.5/5
Ok
Not available
First time of hearing this guy. Feels a pretty raw and emotive album, but when that gets going and is in full on whining, it’s doesn’t really work (see track 2) Stripped back, raw and shaky, I can see this fitting a certain mood and vibe, but I’m not really there as I listen to it. Just kinda feels depressing and rough but trying to listen with an open mind. I’ll give it 2 listens. Just feel like I’m missing something or maybe not in the right place, but it just ain’t connecting. Sorry Billy Boy
The whole album feels like one long, weeping song.
It sounds like the sun going down on a freezing cold blue sky day with deep snow on the ground. Dark Americana, the sound of going to cabin in the woods with a guitar to work some shit out. Fraile alto vocals on the cusp of tears give this a delicate fragile mood: sombre, reflective, hurt. They're doubled and split, with a small gap between them, playing with multiples of one voice and amplifying the unsettling psychic environment of the album. Sparse arrangements let everything breathe, fill and linger in the space available for a melancholy ambience.
Oh joy and bliss, it’s time to listen to an album on YouTube. Look, I guess this is a good time to talk about Spotify. Sure, they don’t pay the artists nor their employees and hey, what’s a little military-industrial funding coming from my family subscription? I hate this modern world. Truly. Corporations gut every possible crevice where money may be lingering and then when the populace looks to distractions (bread & circuses), they capitalize further on that, making each day a waking nightmare with a drastic price tag. The way I see it, I can either become a nomadic protester, moving from company to company, switching loyalties upon the discovery of the next human rights abomination, or I can pick and choose my battles, trying to minimize the evil I expose myself to on a daily basis. I’d love to buy more music, but I can’t afford anything else, so here we are. Rock, meet hard place. That’s where the big corps come in! I’m about to have to listen to a crypto ad before every song because Bonnie Prince Billy isn’t on Spotify. We all know it’s time for guillotines, but leftist in-fighting has left us arguing on fascist platforms over “which of the evil companies is the least evil.” Whatever. Uh oh yeah, uh time for music. No track reviews today. Too much tab switching. I might trigger another ad. You come here for bad music reviews, reviews of bad music, and now, lazy political takes. Well those have always been sort of it I guess. This album is hard to judge. I found it to be really sweet in places. It obviously has a sense of humour to match its sense of melody. It is overwhelmingly dark, which I enjoyed for the most part. I would revisit this. Not as “bonnie” as I hoped it might be, but in the doldrums of depression, there is some comfort. That soundtrack is held within this album’s track listing. 3-3.5 HIGHLIGHTS: A Minor Place, Death to Everyone, Black
3.5
It was okay, couple of good songs though.
Har sitt formål
Some tunes not bad. Needs a smoother voice a la Gregory Alan Isakov or Bon Iver. Not sure its an album you must hear.
Not my jam
Unable to find a copy of this
еле нашла. очень печальный, но в целом норм
Kunne ikke finde på Spotify eller andre steder
3/5. A dark and quiet album that I think I would appreciate more if I forgot to take my anti-depressants this morning. The songwriting is strong, and the vocal delivery has a charm to it that works well here, but it wasn't exactly hitting all the parts I was hoping for. I think on a different day, I might appreciate this one a little more so I can't say I didn't enjoy it but I think it might require some more time. For now, it achieved its goal of making me sad so kudos for that. Best Song: A Minor Place, I See A Darkness, Today I Was an Evil One
There were no standout tracks to me, but I didn’t mind as I listened. If I forget the whole album later, I feel like it has to be a 3. Not memorable for me in either direction
I would add browns to this album art, visually I was swayed to expect something sonically darker. It's quite a beautiful listen, the darkness is hidden in the lyrics with a gloomy haze and empty spaces to let everything sink in. I would replay for the mood. Feels goth without being too punchy on the drums. 3.2/5
dark gothic folk. not bad.
Pretty boring but not dislikable. I guess.
Not bad, but I feel like it should have been more up my alley than it ultimately was.
Another album that I think I would really enjoy if I was in the right mood for it.
I thought I was really going to enjoy this when the initial vocals hit but it was kind of a downer.
-another random album i knew absolutely nothing about and ended up being very fascinated by. there’s a lot of emotion and eclecticism in this one. i Felt Things while listening to it -it’s a deceptively digestible album but i still don’t think i’ve ever really heard anything like it -Favorites are Nomadic Revery (All Around), Another Day Full Of Dread, and Madeleine-Mary
eh
I quite liked this, especially “Death to Everyone” and may well return to this. Some of it passed me by but I was also a bit fed up working in the office and it was really hot which may have affected my mood! 🥵
Title track is great. Ads on youtube kind of ruined the mood. Potential to grow on me.
The album sounds very nice, and I like the instrumental, but every couple songs, the lyrics just sound so forced that I have a reaction to it. Similar to an edgy teenager trying to portray themselves as an outcast, or putting on a mask.
This was an interesting listen. I was really down when I put it on and that both helped and hurt the experience. I'll definitely return to it at least once and I bet theres some songs to take away.
Some very beautiful songs on this album. If I listened to this a few times I'm sure I would grow to love them.
Ni puta idea. Vamos a la aventura. Las canciones son buenas, pero la interpretación y la producción se empeñan en ser miedosas.
Really sad
A bit emo, but pretty good
This album isn't the most exciting thing in the world - I feel like this is the sorta album that would be helped with nice rain ambience behind it. It did help with with my studies though - so i'll give it that.
For an indie folk album, it is good, but nothing too special. Those who truly love this genre will appreciate it much more than I would.
Melancholic soft Rock.
Pleasantly surprised by this
Another downer. I try to ignore lyrics but the tunes were so slow and low-key that it almost felt like spoken word. Nonetheless, I can see being mesmerized by this guy. I tracked down the Johnny Cash version of I See a Darkness (another reviewer sent me to the wrong album--it's American III) and the song did work better with a harmony.
Folky, chilled, but not the right vibe for spreadsheeting on a warm summers day. I shall return to this when it is more dreich
"A Minor Place" is a brilliant opening track.
3.36
Loved the electric guitar and drums combo, very groovy BUT too slow/sad to be truly enjoyable
It was alright. The songwriting reminds me of Leonard Cohen, although his voice is very different. A melancholy ride that would probably hit the spot at times.
I liked this one. Folksy but kinda punk and weird at the same time.
Good album but I did not enjoy this as much as I thought I would. Vocals are overweighted in my mental review system. If the vocals are out of tune or the harmonies aren't great, it just ruins it for me. "A Minor Place" and a "Nomadic Revery (All Around)' set that tone. "I See A Darkness" redeems things a bit just in terms of its profound sadness. The whole album is sad. Well written songs though even if the execution was a spotty.
It’s ok, if a little bit too lo-fi at times. It’s pleasant but not amazing.
I really enjoyed this, although the listening format of YouTube with frequent ads peppered in dampened the mood a little bit. I thought this might be a four star album, and then by about an hour or so later I couldn’t remember anything that stood out to me which dropped it down to a three. The experience at the time was good though.
Un style qui me parle un peu moins, mais tout de même plutôt agréable. J'aime beaucoup l'aspect discordant de l'album, mais je suis très divisé sur la voix du chanteur. Parfois magnifique dans les envolées, mais lors des lenteurs, un peu trop lamentant à mon goût. Thème généralement très dépressif, mais le reste de la composition "sauve" le mood. Certaines chansons rafraîchissent l'écoute avec des montées de guitare et de clavier solides, ce qui met bien en contraste les pièces plus lentes. High point : Nomadic Revery
After only seeing the cover, the actual music gave me whiplash. Pretty album!
I think the artist needs a hug. He is going though some life changing shit with this album. It's not a bad album but I suspect it helps to be depressed to grasp everything in it.
--A Minor Place...this is certainly a tone setter --Nomadic Revery...not sure I enjoyed this track but there's passion here. Sincerity --I See a Darkness...minimalist but deeply affecting. This guy doesn't have the best voice but he seems to "get it" --Another Day Full of Dread...I'm not into this one --Death to Everyone...a sad album suddenly turns sinister --Knockturne...a nice reprieve from the gloom --Madeleine-Mary...something different. I don't love it right now but something tells me I could learn to --Song for the New Breed...sounds similar to earlier songs but more sluggish --Today I Was an Evil One...meh --Black...straightforward folk. I like it a lot --Raining in Darling...feels like it's missing an ending
Moments of good neo-folk vibes but ultimately a snooze.
a bit too downbeat but not bad 5/10
Jammer dat deze niet meer volledig op spotify staat. Live versies zijn prima, maar niet ideaal. Dit album is normaal best een vibe.
Decent album. Good background music, but nothing special. I'm not sure what sets it apart and puts it on the list of 1,001 albums I need to listen to before I die though. Some good songs in here - and a fairly short album. Shame it wasn't available on Spotify - I would listen to some of the songs more if it was. With all that, I would say 3.
A bowl of Cheerios
I hear a very depressing album
Gentle singer-songwriter, conteplative-feeling
Couldn't find the album online but I found one of the songs and I thought it sounded relatively nice. 3/5
Not on spotify. Weird album. Glad i listened to it
Solid album but don't love that it was on YouTube Music where I had manually play every song. 6.7/10.
Starting on "A Minor Place" I had every hope for the album's potential to end up being great, then somewhere in the middle of "Today I Was an Evil One" I sort of understood the reality of all these albums I've never heard of before, and why they don't reach the sky-high heights they could for me. It was pleasant while I was listening but through that all, I could sense the aura of filler emanating from the song. This song would be there in line at Heaven's gates, watching A Minor Place be welcomed in, but when it was its own turn it would find itself denied entry. It would be thrown in the great pit of the lesser, more forgettable songs, to be lost to time as it faded from the memory of humanity. So basically this album is pretty cool with a few occasional parts that stand out especially
Another middle of the road album. Not bad, but it takes a certain mindset for it to be great.
Not my thing, and I found this album rather so-so. Oldham is much-beloved by the music press, so maybe I'm missing something.
“The most downer album possible” should not be a creative goal. “Madeline-Mary” is the only interesting song here; everything else is just a bummer with no nuance.
Wasn’t on Spotify. Downbeat
Think I need to listen much more to decide
Sits just the right side of the melancholy/miserable divide, worth seeking out
Some good moments.
3.4 2x solid album but didn't process all the lyrics (listened on youtube as spotify unavailable)
Probably need another but was good
I did not find a connection to this album. The songs sound ok, the singing is good, there is a dark, sad mood over everything. From that point of view it is good work. But still, it doesn't touch me.
Very endearing!
Okay album, a bit slow burn 3/5
7/10
7.5
Overall: 6/10 I really like the lyrics for this one. There's an underlying sadness to every single song and it's obvious that the lyricist went through a lot of tragedy to be able to write like this. I found it to be a bit of a bore instrumentally though, and the urge to skip through a couple of tracks was strong. I still think it's a good album and worth checking out though. Fav Song: Another Day Full of Dread Least Fav Song: Knockturne
Such Great Music, but SO slow and retrospective with lots of sad words. Maybe a 2.5
If I'm in the mood for slow, sad music, this is as good an option as any. Simple and gloomy.
to me this was just ok. singing was kind of atonal for me (not necessarily a dealbreaker - i love bright eyes!) and instrumentation was very spare. maybe i needed to be more depressed listening to it lol
2,75
Fun one. I'd love to revisit this.
I did not like this album on my first go, though I came around to it quite a bit on my second listen. I have a storied history of thinking that folk music is performative and a specific antonym of heteronormative, though I guess I can put this album down as one of the good ones. The biggest appeal of these kinds of albums are the lyrics, which is damning as I write about these albums while I'm listening to them and it's pretty goldarn hard for me to follow along with the ideas of these tunes while also attempting to form my own thoughts on them. Regardless, there seems to be quite a bit going on in these songs. I'll have to return to this album sometime in the future for a proper deep dive as this album has successfully piqued my interest. The second half of this album is much weaker than the first, which is unfortunate. None of the clever rhyming conventions, good songwriting choices or pleasing instrumentals are on that half of the album, which ultimately left me sitting on my hands and twidling my thumbs at the same time no less. It's possible that I could come around to those cuts on future listens. I quite like the vocals, though I just know that they're gonna be a polariser to the listeners of this list. They're very good at holding my attention and the way that they're paired with the minimal, stripped-back instrumentals works very well on a thematic level. They sound very "warm", which contrasts nicely with the cold darkness that is the instrumentals and lyrics.
judged a book by its cover for sure! wasn't too bad
Meh
“The tracks on this release this release are not available.” Fuck you, Spotify! I listened to his newest album, The Purple Bird, instead. It’s quite good! Is he always playing countrified folk? Guess I’ll have to listen more.
6/10 - it was a strange album but not my cup of tea
Pretty decent
Moody but not necessarily dark. The way it ends.. I wasn't really sure what to do with myself afterwards. Recommended for quite parts of road trips, early morning near water/ open space, or misty afternoons with a chance of sunshine.
It is a slow album. Guitar threaded drums with brushes vocals intimate in style and confessional. It is dark and unleavened. Not an album to have on continual rotation but an interesting and important album in content and style.
I understand the appeal but wouldn’t revisit
01) A Minor Place - 8,0 02) Nomadic Revery (All Around) - 7,0 03) I See a Darkness - 8,0 04) Another Day Full of Dread - 7,0 05) Death to Everyone - 8,0 06) Knockturne - 7,5 07) Madeleine-Mary - 7,5 08) Song for the New Breed - 7,0 09) Today I Was an Evil One - 6,5 10) Black - 6,5 11) Raining in Darling - 6,5 TOTAL: 7,23 (72/100) Current ranking: 294/532
Tough rating for this - torn between 3 and 4, but rounding down.
Correcto
Not your usual album. A bit of country, soft rock and a folk coming together for some good tracks and some boring songs. It was quite hard to gauge if I liked Will's vocal or style, mostly because every song seemed to be totally different. "Death to Everyone" was clearly the best track on the record, you could feel a gothic influence on it, but this style wasn't replicated anywhere else. Slightly disappointing album, just because you could feel the potential for more.
4/17/25. My first time listening to Prince Billy. Enjoyed his unique style and songwriting, would put it in the gothic/folk acoustic territory. Will give this one another listen.
I know I should like this album more than I do, but I don’t.
I was very bored by “I See A Darkness” until “Death to Everyone” finally got me into the vibe. Couldn’t quite keep it up though.
Well that was sad. Not the thing to listen to whilst taking a walk on a beautiful, sunny spring day full of new life.
I think I might begin to like this as time goes by and I’ve listened to it some more. I had never heard of him before, but I really find his music quite interesting
Didn't really get it back then and I gotta say I still don't really get it.
Spotify does not have access to these tracks, but I listened to anorther album from about the same time and I can say I rather like his sound. So, for lack of data, I'll give this a three.
interesting songs but not very captivating. singing in harmony is often nice.
I wish I could say I got more out of this personally, but for me it was just a bit too downtrodden/mellow, even at its high points. Not that this record is bad, I’m grateful this list included it, as it’s sooo outside of my realm of music. Just not my taste. My favorite is probably “Death To Everyone” for its measured perspective on life. Really hard to listen to something this smooth/tame when that new Skrillex album is lighting up my world rn. A respectful, I’ll never listen to it again 3/5 stars.
Burde sikkert egentlig gitt da 2, men e visst litt i godlaget i dag
вайб присутствует, классный меланхоличный вокал и подходящий, приглушенный инструментал делает альбом идеальным для того, чтобы пойти нахуй и не выебываться,однообразно сука, 3/5.
Not on Spotify.
Wijs album, al zou ik het niet altijd opzetten (los van het feit dat het niet op Spotify staat). Donker en breekbaar en wat mysterieus ook. 3.2
Not on spotify.
I thought it started strong, then about a third the way in it sounded the same. Not bad, but likely would not seek it out to listen again.
I found his voice to sound like Third Eye Blind’s lead singer. It was melancholic the entire way which is good in the sense that the same theme was stuck to in this album.
not familiar w/him at all. interesting lyrics....dark & melancholy for sure. music was nice, but his voice is a bit annoying. would never seek out to listen to again
Maybe I’d listen again if it was on Spotify , but it isn’t so I won’t. Welcome to 2025
Highlights: Death To Everyone, Madeleine-Mary. In a nutshell: folk-emo Don’t know why but these songs remind me of Jeff Tweedy, but mournful. Earnest. I wonder if Bonnie “Prince” Billy was the muse of Bon Iver and Father John Misty, because his arrangements are reminiscent of early works of the aforementioned. Overall: 6/10
Soothing very calming songs. Really calming music
Decent album. Kind of angsty and understated
This was fine but I felt by the end it was a little dreary! A lot of the songs sounded similar. I didn't hate it though, definite elements I enjoyed. But would I go back for more? Probably not... Sorry BPB
Beautiful sad songs that wash over me a bit. Gotta be in the mood.
Quite liked this one but suspect the situation and mood when playing it may make a difference. Quite liked the more upbeat later re-recorded version of the title track but alas that wasn’t on the album.
Simple, intimate and dark. On a cold rainy morning, when the kids have annoyed you on the school run, I found this album quite comforting. By some irony I really loved the track ‘death to everyone’, but not from a literal sense (to clarify, I love my kids). High 3.
Good album. Standout songs: A Minor Place Madeleine Mary Today Was an Evil One
Could work as slow music for porch sitting, but still unremarkable. If it started looping I probably wouldn't notice
I think there’s some solid songwriting in here but I just couldn’t get into it even after three listens. At worst it’s fairly ordinary folky singer-songwriter fare but I can see how it would be more than that to some people. Just didn’t get there myself.
I apprecite the good songwriting, and I like folk/indie, though overall it wasn't very memorable at my first listen or just I wasn't into the mood for it today. 3 stars now.
This is one of those albums whose fragile beauty really depends on how you are already feeling going into it. Today it wasn't for me. Different time and place, perhaps.
Not on the Spotify. played while bonking things with a brick
These tracks gave me the feels. Oldham certainly knows how to embed emotion into his melodies. The album was fine. Not too long. A good sequencing. No tracks pop off the listing other than Today I Was An Evil One. Sonically, this reminded me of Modest Mouse with less Rock influence
Nice listen in the vein of Bill Callahan. A little dark and dull at times, but happy to have heard it.
This was interesting. Never listened to them before, I’d be open to listening to more.
I like his voice and the simplicity of what he's doing and also appreciate the layers he builds into the tracks. It grew on me a little as the album went on, and I found the later songs to be more palatable than the earlier part of the album. I do prefer songs about death and sadness to be a tad more upbeat though. I'd have to be in a rather dark emotional state to want to listen to this again.
Was not in spotify
When I tried to listen to this on Spotify all of the songs were blacked out?? So I had to listen to it song by song on Youtube. I really liked "A Minor Place" but the rest of the album was okay. Nothing really memorable other than that one song.
Cryptic, melancholy, minor key and minor attitude with a lack of aptitude. Mostly this music allows me to harness my internal pain and allow it to flow with the music. But this stripped down out of tune and off tempo depression circle jerk ended up coming off more like an open mic performance. Which I guess is cool if you like that kinda thing. But, if you really wanna get your sadness on try Pacific Ocean Blue by Dennis Wilson.
Sad boi folk. Rather enjoyable.
interesting. might grown on me in the future. Highlights include: "I See A Darkness" "Another Day Full Of Dread" "Death to Everyone" "Madeleine-Mary"
Not on Spotify but i liked this artist
nice sounding singer songwriter record
i only see darkness. the songs are not dark enough.
I like the album cover. The music was also pretty good, just not my favourite style. Will I listen to again: 10%
The album is melancholy perfection . Manages to make its own space is a pretty crowded folky dark music vibes by going darker than most
This was good in a low key way. Sort of Neil young vibes.
It’s not terrible.
Interesting album. Never heard of it or the artist but I thought it was pretty good. Initially reminded me of Billy Bragg, but the more I listened, the less it did. Not sure how to categorize this. Folky, country, singer-songwriter? Would listen again. High 3
Out of tune and out of time but still magical in places.
C: 6/10. The first track A Minor Place led me to believe I would adore this album. It was beautiful, gorgeous production of the vocals and piano. Sad but hope-twinged lyrics were sung to a simple, lovely melody. It went downhill from there. The most tediously juvenile of all is Death To Everyone. Billy sounds a bit old to be grappling with the concept of death as though he only just became aware of his own mortality, yet the whole song is him incessantly repeating that we're all going to die as if that's some enlightened message only he could impart. The album's clumsy and adolescent lyricism is sometimes just what is needed to produce a poignant and touching portrayal of a dark subject. In oh no, I see a Darkness, the narrator struggles internally with suicidal ideation and wonders if his friend might notice. The chorus' repetition of the track's title accompanied by a piano-bar piano that sounds like it's underwater made me feel like I was being buried slowly. The album best succeeds when Billy leans away from the Trent Reznor-esque lyrics he doesn't have the musical chops for and into a twangier folk sound (a la A Minor Place, Madeleine-Mary). A highlight of the sound is the delayed onset vocal layering, though it borders on hard to bear as Billy reaches the top of his range. More flowers for the production of the piano and percussion. Both maintain their sonic nuance despite being buried deep in the background of the mix, giving the music a lot of depth without being muddy.
Just a bit too grumpy for my liking.
No entiendo las malas reseñas de este álbum. Es verdad que las letras son melancólicas, la voz peculiar y los coros muy discordantes. Pero eso no tiene nada de malo. Es un folk experimental, avant-garde, o "gótico", como he leído en alguna parte, y eso lo hace más interesante que muchos otros álbumes de folk de esta lista. El álbum perfecto para un día de bajón. Volver a escuchar a otro de esos grupos que todo el mundo conoce está muy bien, pero este es el tipo de álbum que hace este challenge interesante. 3.5
This wasn't bad but also didn't do much for me.
Lucky it's not getting knocked a star for accessibility. It's not available on Spotify as of this review, and some videos on YouTube are unavailable. How am I to return to an artist if they make their music hard to access? The songs feel raw, like they’re coming straight from a place of hurt. It’s stripped down, kind of like early Neil Young but with less polish. The simplicity does work, though. It’s like sitting with someone who doesn’t need to say much to get the point across.
I like a few of Will Oldham's collaborations and he doubtless has a place in music. I don't enjoy this album as a whole. I don't think it's very good.
I liked this. Definitely an album that fits a mood. Pretty sad lyrics and tone, but done well. 3/5 Might listen again
Not on Spotify for some reason but it is on Amazon Music which I luckily have a free period of. I constantly confuse this guy's name with Father John Misty, who I always forget the name of. I like this more. Nomadic Revery was pretty great. The rest flowed pretty well. I don't really know the Johnny cash covered one. Possibly a record I could grow to love, however today it was sort of just on. It wasn't arresting folk like say, Richard Dawson. It was far gentler than that. And as such could be much cosier to cuddle up to. But that would require repeated listening, and I'm too busy today. Sorry Billy
Tussen de reclames door van hogedrukspuiten en vakantieparken waar altijd de zon schijnt levert Billy best een mooi album af. OOR is ook altijd fan van deze beste man maar echt veel eerder heeft het me nooit super gegrepen. Ook na deze luisterbeurt blijft hangen dat het album nog een poging nodig heeft... MAAR DAN WEL OP SPOTIFY AUB! 6,5/10
I enjoyed it. I’d probably give it a 3.5
It was ok
i think i would have liked this much more when i was younger and really into, like, keaton henson and artists like that. i’d like to know what allegedly makes this so special compared to every other melancholic white guy with a guitar. it does sound VERY 2010s (in a bad way, unfortunately) despite being from 1999 so i guess i can give it credit for that? i’d rather just listen to the magnolia electric co. by songs: ohia......
That was really pretty! Honestly none of the songs stuck out to me until the last one, but they were all still good. Not something I can picture myself reaching for but I wouldn’t be upset if someone put this on again. Fav tracks: Raining In Darling
I've always felt that this album should be right in my wheelhouse, but for whatever reason it always falls slightly flat. I think this is the first time I have been able to listen all the way through. It is decent, but I don't get all the hype. 3/5
Moody and gloomy and not an album you will listen to and leave smiling. That’s not to say it’s bad. Bonnie manages to create a real atmosphere with this album and it’s at least interesting. It’s solid but not something I’ll revisit soon
When you really want to sit down and have an existential crisis, here's the accompaniment.
Ooh, pleasantly mild. Maybe a little too mild.
Wasn't my favorite, very sad, low sound.
This was mostly good but there were a few moments where the vocals were mixed so prominently it sounded like someone was in the room singing karaoke to you
That was an unexpected treat on a Sunday morning
pues sí, hay que estar en el ánimo para escuchar un disco oscuro, invernal y triste. Pero algo bueno tiene si Johnny Cash decide hacer un cover de una de sus canciones
First listen. It was ok.
Solid, NMH vibes - not on spotify though
This is a nice little contemporary folk album. Very depressing, which is something I usually like, but found it to be just ok. I definitely had heard of this before, though, so it probably does warrant inclusion on the list. Key tracks: A Minor Place I See a Darkness Death to Everyone
Pretty alright, some really good stuff and some meh stuff
5/10 Singer Songwriter
Fairly standard indie folk with a gothic twist
Low key, melodic and unpolished. Not really my jam
Like the girl in science class you won't admit to your buddies you kind of like, it's weirdly ptetty in its ugly way.
Strange album. Thought it would be dark, but the music is reasonably cheerful. Some of the lyrics seem dark. Not sure what to make of this one.
Didn’t particularly love it, didn’t particularly hate it. The last song on the album is beautiful and I wish the album was on Spotify so I could save it.
It's a very hard album to rate, because I WANT to like this album a lot more than I actually do. I remember this well from when it came out, and many of my friends loved everything about this, some even calling it the best they've ever heard. And I get it. I just don't feel it.
++: Death to Everyone, Today I Was an Evil One +: A Minor Place, Nomadic Revery (All Around), I See a Darkness, Another Day Full of Dread, Knockturne, Madeleine-Mary, Song for the New Breed, Black, Raining in Darling 8,1/10
Sad and depressing but I still found myself listening to the whole album. Its okay, not my brand of sad music but its lyrically beautiful in places.
The star of the best Kanye West music video does his best Radiohead impression and it’s pretty good! I always enjoy seeing Will Oldham so this was exciting. It’s a big bummer of an album but we’re all going to die someday so it fits just right!
Between 2 and 3 stars. Couple solid songs.
Can't listen
He must have had his reasons
First few tracks I liked but then it become a bit samey
This was an interesting discovery. An album that really needs to be felt to be understood. Fun Fact: This album isn't on Spotify (at least not in my country) so I had to turn to YouTube and luckily I found it. There I had the opportunity to read the comments section and I wanted to highlight one of them here: "A very special album. I revisit this every few years - it is it's own universe."
pretty good album weighed down by mid songs and lack of variety. if i could give this a 3 1/2 i would but i’ll round down for now
Better than I expected based off the album cover, but nothing super memorable.
Har äntligen lyssnat igenom skivan (på YT). Hade kanske för höga förväntningar. Hade lyssnat på I see a darkness-låten tidigare och gillar den. Den här typen av musik ligger mig varm om hjärtat. Men i slutändan tycker jag nog övriga låtar saknar lite av den stämning som I see a darkness bjudet på. Överlag ligger Billy snäppet under andra "deppiga" singersongwriters.
Melankoliskt och rätt deppigt, men ändå fint. Mer förmedlande av känsla och stämning än en stor musikalisk upplevelse. Svag trea.
really sad but pretty album - its a bummer it's not on spotify
It was just slightly ever so boring
Day220 - gen-x is the coolest most melancholy generation and i love it. this is not bad and i really liked madeleine mary
i take my life like i kept it
I only listened to about half of this since it isn't on spotify. It was decent.
Decent album but a bit boring. I liked the alternative sound but it was just a bit too dreary 3 ⭐️
This made me depressed which was a surprise based on its cheerful album art.
Fun, depressing, an album that is somehow inaccessible in full anywhere but Youtube (or buying on bandcamp but not ready to commit!)
Mellow, nice if you’re one the mood for quiet core.
3.5 was good
The most apt genre given by Wikipedia for this very dark, slightly depressing album is Goth Folk.
Lyrically it was good, but the instrumentation tended to be mostly uninteresting for me. Favorites were A Minor Place, I See A Darkness, and Black.
I listened to this when it came out and recall enjoying it but I just have been depressed because it is good but I don’t think I’ll listen again
3.5
A lot to like here.
Nostalgic to my early 20s getting plastered by myself in my kitchen apartment. 3.5
Meh
I want to beat up on it because it was hard to locate, but I kinda liked it.
Sur la pointe d’être trop geignard, mais je laisse passer pour aujourd’hui, je me sens d’humeur joviale
Vrij depressieve plaat van iemand die zichzelf Prince noemt. Je zou denken dat hij wat bombastischer is ingesteld. Het is juist een heel rustig album, waar meneer Billy zijn zielenroerselen op uit kan storten. Op een bepaalde manier voelt het urgent aan, er zit zeker emotie in. Het is iets wat je even op je in moet laten werken. En waar je niet altijd zin in hebt. Ik luister niet zo naar teksten, maar Death to Everyone komt me heel zwartgallig over. "Death to Everyone is gonna come". Zijn stem doet me af en toe wat denken aan Neil Young. Madeleine-Mary klinkt als Ohio van Neil Young. Ook al zo'n gezellige tekst "Four dead in Ohio". Misschien moet hij wat minder Sonnema drinken voordat hij zijn zielenroerselen op plaat vastlegt. En toch he, ik vind het wel wat hebben. Het schuurt, het is rauwe emotie. Maar het is moeilijk te beoordelen. Ik ben geneigd een 3 te geven, met uitschieters naar zowel boven als beneden.
It’s ok
It’s a 2.5 that I’ll kindly bump up to a 3. I just don’t think this album ever really hit a groove for me; I appreciate what it’s trying to do, and on the few songs where everything did come together for me, I thought it did its job well. I just think the other songs don’t execute the vision as cleanly or as clearly – there are times where I think the metaphors and the imagery and the storytelling get a bit muddled, and when those get muddled, it takes the focus away from what’s already a pretty minimal soundscape, which simply just never really worked for me throughout this album. I get what it’s going for, and maybe if I caught this album on a moodier day, I’d be feeling it a bit more, but there’s nothing here that fully grabbed my attention save for a few songs. It isn’t bad though, just not my thing, so I’m OK with a 3.
It’s interesting. I think it’s ahead of its time in terms of the sort of gorilla recording - very spurr the moment, I’m moody, grab a guitar and start recording. I think possibly influential to Alex G and Elliot Smith. Buuuuuuuttttt not the easiest or most pleasant listen.
Good album. I'm really torn on this one. This has a beautiful simplicity with some haunting tones and lyrics. However, I couldn't fully embrace the album for some reason. It's got some Songs: Ohia/Jason Molina aspects, but it feels like it never fully resolves. I think this is one that needs to occupy a certain time/space to really resonate, and I will certainly try to revisit to see if it has a deeper impact. ***
A time and a place for this one. Makes you want to curl up in a ball. Depressing, down but peaceful and quite good. Certainly evokes some real emotion. The utter defeat BPB expresses almost brings the listener to tears. Get sad, get out of your comfort zone, get exposed...that's music for ya...2.8.
I can see why people are a big fan of this. I liked it but I think I need to be in an exact type of moose to really enjoy it.
Unavailable
Deprimucke. Sehr melancholisch. Je nach Stimmung kann es gut passen, an sich gut zu hören. 3/5
This is the first time I've ever heard of Will Oldham; likewise, this was the first time he published music under the alias Bonnie "Prince" Billy. From what I can tell, this kind of music can be described as "gothic folk", where dark and weighty lyrics are sung over haunting melodies. In that regard, the album is certainly well-crafted. I can see why Johnny Cash would cover the title track shortly after. There are just a few problems with this album - Will's warbly vocal delivery and the overall tone. This is not for everyone, given how bleak it comes off. If you're already in a bad or unpleasant mood, chances are good this album will not make it any better. From the right mindset, give it a spin.
The bad thing about this not being on Spotify, is I have to listen on YouTube and have it being interrupted by ads. As for the music, its atmospheric and beautiful. It becomes a bit repetitive, but at the same time being contained enough with a short runtime.
Sad stuff. Idk man
*Not On Spotify* Favorite Track: A Minor Place
Very very mellow and sad. Kinda with a folk vibe. Listened to this on a rainy and cloudy day which kinda fits. His sound is actually kinda reminiscent of more modern folk acts such as Alex G.
It was fine.
This album is very slow, very sad. Most of it just doesn't catch me, but the title track and "Death to Everyone" are incredible songs and on repeat when I'm feeling worse for wear. Those 2 songs along bump this from a 2 star to a 3 star
Hits notes and themes that I often enjoy. Just more cinematic than it was musical for me though.
I don't want to go on and on about how annoying this was to listen to on youtube where the deep and emotional tracks are interspersed with upbeat loud ads for grammaly and KFC (the album is not available on Spotify Aus) BUT it does impact on the enjoyment of the vibe. I don't mind a bit of this style of music and I'd possibly listen to Bonnie Prince Billy again if I was in the kind of mood for some depressing pared back folk
Wow …. Heavy vibes from album…. I see a darkness best song!
Definitely a gloomy, contemplative vibe, but I enjoyed this quite a bit. You have to be in a certain kind of a mood to appreciate it. Not available on Spotify, but easy to find on YouTube. Fave Songs: Madeleine-Mary, Another Day Full of Dread, A Minor Place, Song for the New Breed, Today I Was an Evil One, Black, Raining in Darling
A beautiful album, not always 100% engaging but it's definitely beautifully sad all throughout. Fav songs: - I See A Darkness - Death To Everyone
It was kind of one note.
Not on Spotify
Only listened to a couple songs because it's not on spotify and I was too lazy to track them all down individually on YouTube. Imagine this project 20 years ago.
Ok depression music
it's pretty, it's haunting, but it's a bit boring
Loved Death To Everyone.
Bleak, yet, at times, beautiful Folk album with a dose of Country sprinkled in. You definitively have to be in the right mood to apprecialte this. The music reminds me of Radiohead in their darker moments, or even of YOBs Beauty in Falling Leaves. Yeah, Tom Yorke would be proud. 3/5
this is one of those albums you have to be in the right mood to appreciate and relate.
Not what I was expecting after reading the reviews i did. Was expecting For Emma, Forever ago Vibes. Got Leonard Cohen meets John Denver Vibes. Haunting in places but I expected way too much
It was alright, just a bit whiny
Nice if you want something to fall asleep to 2.5 stars
Not chicken dinner, but not chicken liver neither.
Quiet. Dark. But tranquil.
Melodische ruhige Rhythmen mit einer markanten Stimme. Die Songs sind gut aufeinander abgestimmt und eignen sich den Hörer zu schnell zu entschleunigen und sich auf die wohltuende Klänge zu fokussieren. Es ist jedoch leider kein absolutes Highlight dabei.
This is fine. Maybe some songs are a bit too slow, but it fits the mood I think he's going for.
Probably one of the few examples of music from this genre in this time period to actually fit in with this list. I See A Darkness by Bonnie "Prince" Billy hits all of the morose tones without being too obtuse in its execution. 3/5.
Decent album of folky songs. Will Oldham’s voice is kinda weird on this album. It’s also kind of good, though. It sounds like a proto Will Toledo from Car Seat Headrest. 3.8/5 Fav: A Minor Place Least Fav: Knockturne
Good!
There is an honesty and a sincerity to the music, I will grant you that. But the delivery is so... dully depressing. Johnny Cash covered the title track, and even though his delivery is as depressing, there's something about it that's more... passionate. The songs definitely have something to them, but the delivery just needed more for me.
Interesting that this album directly followed the one from American Music Club. Both dismal and sad, but not considered to be in the same genre. This apparently is more gothic, in the spirit of Nick Cave. And I do agree there is not the same minimalism here - or at least the music and the vocals don't feel as subdued as slowcore. Is it the jangly piano? Still, it also has some alt-country undertones. I liked it better than AMC - more melodic. But still roughly average.
Wtff not avail on spotify yeah not sure about this one. You def have to be in low spirits to engage with this. I love the vocal quality and some of the instrumentation. I think the electric bass on a few of the tracks wasnt the best fit. I also found the lyrics overly trite and simplistic sometimes, idk there is just a lot of other lyricists who do this but better. Didnt love it, didnt hate it.
This is mood music. It either sets the mood or is the type of music you want to listen to in a certain mood. Surprisingly, I didn’t hate this and may even have a relisten when I am in such a mood. Notable tracks: Madeleine-Mary
Por causa dos títulos e capa do álbum, eu esperava algo que "soasse" mais depressivo. Eu achei melhor do que esperava. É gostoso de ouvir, mas não me vejo voltando pra procurar alguma música. Fave: I see a darkness
Not on Spotify
Probably hits really hard if you’re feeling sad
Known Before: One song Standouts: 3. I See A Darkness 5. Death To Everyone 6.5
This is almost more of an album of poetry with music to fill the background. Nothing really stood out.
had some moments but far from great
About dark inner thoughts, grief, turbulent (&) love 1999 Folk music, Indie rock, Indie folk, Gothic rock Complex emotions, evokes thought 6/10
Solid listen. Nothing spectacular, but a solid 3 stars.
Soort proto-Phoebe bridgers
This was a lovely album, a bit slow and vague at times. Reminded me of The Frames or a low-fi Neil Young. Will try some more BPB.
It was OK. Liked a lot of the instrumentation. I'm not the biggest acoustic folk fan TBH
Hmmmmm ....another unusual 1. I'd read about BPB but never paid attention (too common a response from me!). So I put my headphones on a and dialled in. The 1st track 'A minor place' was ok and a nice spot of classic show gazey stuff. 'Nomadic revery' was also ok and threw in some loud guitars which made things more interesting. 'I see a darkness' is quite beautiful. After just 1 listen I was bowled over. The album just never quite gets to the same lofty heights. Great potential. I'll have to listen to more of Will Pelham or BPB
Mournful background music which reminded me of Jeff Buckley and Bright Eyes
Well I appreciate the relatively lo-fi, indie sounding approach, it was hard to get into this album. It was slow, moody and kind of depressing, but the songs were well written and it probably was good. It was hard to comprehend listening once, so I plan to listen again with more of a focused listen. It didn't seem like a good idea to listen in the mid-afternoon when I needed an energy boost and I feel it sucked more life out of me by the end. Overall, interesting enough to explore more from "Prince" in the future.
A great, more mature country/folk album that still could be darker so it deserves the subgenre 'gothic folk'. So, yeah, one could've seen even more darkness!
Hey Bill, wanna take a break from the slow, sad ballads and do something exciting? No? Fine, just go back to singing like your seconds away from eating the shotgun. 3/5
Good singer-songwriter album with a mostly somber tone. Some interesting off-kilter moments throughout. “Nomadic Revery (All Around)” stood out to me. I like that dramatic climax with the howling backing vocals!
Wow right from the start- I love this. I love the folky, unpolished, straightforward sound. I love the loose and almost at times fluttery celtic harmonies. I'm so sad that this isn't on Spotify. It's a Monday morning, it's already a beautiful fall day that is coming up on Halloween, and I'm about to drive an hour and a half and I would love to be able to listen to this on the ride. I really enjoyed this. Not so much for a 4 I don't think, as I found it got a little weaker as it went on, but I'll definitely come back and listen.
Probably being generous, but one of the better country albums i've listened to.
Unsurprisingly it's extremely dark, but really well put together. I reckon repeated listens would add even more to it
One thing that cannot be denied: this thing is sad. One thing that can be argued: it gets kind of boring as it progresses.
Had its moments. I need to explore more, but we all know that isn't happening anytime soon... so here's a lazy 3.
First thought: ugh, how will I get through this? I already have depression! But then it kinda clicked after the first few songs. I like the sound of the bass, the mood, the lyrics. Still a 3 though. + Another Day Full Of Dread + Death To Everyone + Knockturne + Song For The New Breed + Today I Was An Evil One
Un excelente trabajo de folk gótico, bastante íntimo y ambiental. La esquelética producción resalta la voz de Bonnie, sus letras desgarradoras y su inflexión depresiva. Un gran álbum para todos los seguidores de los géneros relacionados con los cantautores.
okay mais pas incroyable. l'album s'est déroulé sans trop se faire remarquer.
Had to listen on Amazon and it kept going to songs like his. Like the vibe though.
Blocked on spotify
a nice, sparse, quiet, sad boy alt-country album. not bad, but not my favorite. a lot of really pleasant moments but nothing that stood out to me as being incredible. still a good listen, especially if you're in the right mood.
Seemed like a gloomy fellow
Good album
J'attendais depuis longtemps que Robert nous génère un album plus tranquille pour mettre un terme à la série d'excités qu'il nous a récemment proposée. Et malgré une pochette de type tête de mort qui nous a tous bien fait peur, cet album de chialeuse-folk a parfaitement fait l'affaire.
C'était vraiment nul donc bien dans le thème du générateur actuel, très bien joué de ta part Robert
Not terrible
There are some excellent lyrical moments, but most of the songs are very slow, more like reading a poem over some soft piano or guitar chords than a song.
Oldham's sad-rhythmed folk music is of a particular mode, but I'm always ready to twist my brain to it somewhat. Compared to other Anglo strains, this music is American: naturalistic and not quite unsubtle. The only occult actor of note is, of course, Death. Capital Death and the chorus of voices in their own time sometimes appearing. I feel the shortness of a debut which isn't really a debut.
3.3 - I listened once and was left confused and unimpressed. Then I read the fawning Pitchfork review and thought maybe I missed something, so I gave it another listen. Then I gave it another….So…look, this record has its charms. “Nomadic Revery…” shows Oldham’s uncanny knack for maximizing negative space. There’s beauty lurking in the hushed recesses of that track. The record also has its moments of poignance, like the chorus of “I See A Darkness” and the gorgeous refrain on “Raining in Darling.” But aside from those, most of the other musical elements simper. This record seems to seriously lack a sort of “life force.” Oldham’s overlayed vocals don’t harmonize so much as skitter like moths bashing randomly into each other. The instrumentals sort of warble in and out of the picture offering little structure or support. The words don’t lend any transcendent nuggets of truth. And the melodies just sound tired (see “Today Was An Evil One.”) This is a record that wishes to triumph by being understated but I’m left wondering if it simply has very little to actually say.
I found this one a little boring. I think I may have been a bit too distracted and in the wrong mood to really appreciate this one today, but I think it was okay. Will probably return to it sometime when I need a moody and melancholic folk record. Favourite: Madeleine-Mary
If I had to describe the album with one word, I would pick obscure. If I had to describe the album with invented words, uninvasive and tuneoutable seem to work.
The frail wavering voice in “Minor Place” sounded familiar. He reminds me a bit of Andy Shauf on that track as well as the title track, which are my favourite quiet songs on the LP. Overall, it’s listenable, edgy, dark Americana and it was good to include more rhythmic and electric, though not upbeat, songs like “Madeleine-Mary” and “Death to Everyone”. A higher mark was forthcoming but the closing songs weren’t as strong.
It was alright. It felt like something I would listen to in my emo days after discovering a track from them from tv shows like scrubs. Didn’t find it on Spotify had to you tube to listen to the album
Decent without being spectacular
Not available