I See A Darkness

Zware kost, maar ik vind het wel mooi.

Ja, mooi.

Far less amazing as „The Letting Go“. 2.6

As this was only on youtube, it was a pain to listen to. Not happy music but I love listening to emotional music, so i have to go back and listen to it again. Not sure I got a good feel to it the first pass at it.

Easy listenin music

Cheer up Billy. Remember you're a bonnie prince.

some call me the sad cowboy | some call me the gangster of glum

3.75

werid 3 stars

Indie folk. Un rollo. Un 2 porque le versionó una canción Cash, si no 1. Pues mira, a última hora le cambio a un 3.

Want to hear more, but not on Spotify

Indie folk. Un rollo. Un 2 porque le versionó una canción Cash, si no 1. Pues mira, a última hora le cambio a un 3.

Indie folk. Dulce, triste. Se hace un pelín aburrido.

The album grew on me, though harder to appreciate on a bright Sydney summer day compared to a dark Vermont winter

Started out great, kinda faltered at the end but I enjoyed this. Perfect 3 stars

Reading the Wikipedia page, it's easy to find out why he deserves one spot on the 1001 list. Listen to the album, I think it's nice but far from remarkable.

Fin.

honest but a little bit boring

Will OIdham is the darling of the music critics. I like his Americana take on a quite English sounding folk style. Pleasant.

An unknown album and artist to me. The opening track was reminiscent of the Avett Brothers track “I and love and you”, which came 10 years after this. The rest of the album didn’t grab me as much as the first track but will definitely seek out more.

I sense a bitter(sweet) lofi nostalgic mood while listening to this album. Imagine a safe cozy place where the only outlet to the outside world is a cozy album like this.

I have a passing and non fanboy interest in Will Oldham. I do have one Bonnie Prince Billie album that I listen to on occasion, it seems quiter and more sparely arranged than this one. I enjoyed I See A Darkness more because of its livelier musical presentation - didn't have time to delve into the lyrical subject matter however I'm sure there are themes of loneliness and struggle 3.5 stars

Good god this album is sad. It's very well written and performed but does feel a bit repetitive after a while

"Prosaic" and "pastoral" come to mind. But neither work. Aside from both being Music Crit. 101 cliches, the album has an edge that pushes aside the notion of bucolic domesticity. For what it's worth, I didn't not enjoy the album, but its lyrical subtlety could (not would) only speak to me in rare moments of introspection. So not sure this rating is a fair reflection of the album's potential.

Ninguna canción disponible en Spotify. No se puede opinar

Melan - collie. Didn’t know this album, this singer, anything. Loads of influential musos love this - hell, Cash covered the title track. Must mean something. Here’s what I got: the lead singer’s oboe-like voice makes me listen real hard. The subject matter is dark. I’d call this blackgrass if I was going to name this genre of gothic folk. Or maybe fothic. Something like that.

Unfortunately not available on Spotify, but the whole album was on YouTube.

Прослушано! Спокойный мужской вокал, любопытный стиль, но как-то нудно.

This album is what I would've hoped from yesterday's album. One downside to this album it takes a more concentrated listen to do the lyrics justice. And that is something I didn't have the ability to give it today.

nothing special

I like the overall feel of most of the tunes, but a lot of the vocal harmonies feel strained or shaky. I also thought that many of the lyrics were too noticeable for how bizarre they were.

Moody, mellow and mysterious

Knew the name, not the sound, but pleased to report I found it to be both bonnie and princely. Obviously it's a bit morbid (no problem) and one-paced (can be a problem), but for the most part it kept me enchanted with its earnest musings. Death To Everyone and the title track stood out as highlights. 3.5

Burde sikkert egentlig gitt da 2, men e visst litt i godlaget i dag

I enjoyed this well enough. It takes the unpolished schtick to a fault in many songs, however. The lyrics are smart but at times it seems that smartness supersedes good poetic structure - wordy mouthfuls that roll over the beat (such as it is). Ends stronger than it starts I thought. There are other artists (Smog comes to mind) in this vein that I like better.

With songs like Death to Everyone, Another Day Full of Dread, and Today I Was an Evil One, how could I not feel optimistic and uplifted! Seriously though, this album should probably come with a warning label - if you have suicidal thoughts and ideations please don't listen! Having said all that, it was pretty good. 3 stars.

Could do with less screaming

It's OK. 3/5

Really heavy stuff here. Good but sad all around.

I too see a Darkness

I thought it was pretty decent. A few songs really stood out that were quite beautiful and haunting. 6/10

Dark and sad. Probably a good album to put on when mourning the loss of someone close .

Dark and folksy I like it

boring, few good moments

There's a kind of naked wallowing to this that I don't relate to. Maybe I'm just not that emotionally evolved.

Interesting it's not available on Spotify in the US, so I went to YouTube. Definitely a very vulnerable album and I did the aesthetic but nothing stuck out to me to make me wanna listen to it again, unfortunately.

I think on a different kind of day I could appreciate this more, it's sombre and interesting, but not for me today.

Perfectly pleasant album

Niet beschikbaar op Spotify, maar wel op SoundCloud. Leuke meerstemmige zang op sommige nummers. Album is relaxt met verschillende stijlen, soms een beetje country-achtig en dan toch weer heel erg poppie. Goed te luisteren, al gaat de zang wel vervelen op den duur. ***

first listen definitely a variety of sounds, but is so short and not much stood out to me

He has a unique voice and the overdubbing is interesting. I would call it Americana style. Interesting but I wouldn't have it on heavy rotation.

Interesting

It was nice. Like Neil Young in a fit of depression nice. It had a gloomy atmosphere and was very well put together. Nothing transcendent (and annoyingly full of ads because it wasn't on Spotify, which didn't help with the flow of the album) but a nice album. It would probably grow on me with a few more listens, but not a luxury I had - maybe I'll get back to it one day.

There's something to like here, however I think it's mostly just surface level. I just listened to this album 2 hours ago and I already forgot pretty much everything about it. Not to say this isn't a good record, it just didn't stick with me in a meaningful way.

nice album, unfortunately in the wrong mood for something this gentle

The lyrics are poetic with a delivery that is genuinely catches me off balance. I have heard this album is a slow burn so I will see. Death To Everyone is good and creepy. Black is good. I get the lyrics, but it didn't really convince me of anything. Maybe worth a relisten?

Bon truc, chiant que c pas sur spotify

Bylo mainstreamowo, to teraz podziemny album od pana pod pseudonimem Bonnie "Prince" Billy, ktory z tego co widze jest plodnym tworca muzyki indyjsko folkowej, ale to juz jest taka nisza, ze operowanie gatunkami nie ma tutaj najmniejszego sensu, I See A Darkness jest jego pierwszym pod tym pseudonimem, drugim studyjnym, a szostym w dyskografii krazkiem, najlepszym okresleniem na kontent plyty bedzie bez zycia, instrumentalnie przewaza granie akustykiem, bongosem czy delikantymi klawiszami, moze dwa traki sa oparte na czyms bardziej elektrycznym, ale to nie samo instrumentalne brzmienie swiadczy o niezyciu tego nagrania, a jego pustka liryczna, ktora z pewnoscia byla celowym zabiegiem majacym otoczyc sluchacza aura apatii, ktora wyciekla z glowy pana Bonniego, ktory widac, ze szanuje swoja prace lirczna, bo nawet wydal booka bedacego guidem do jego tworczosci, stamtad wiekszosc adnotacji geniusowych pochodzi, pierwszy raz cos takiego widze, a plyta jest tak undergroundowa, ze nie ma co jej szukac na spotifaju, ciekawa plyta, ale trzeba byc w specyficznym nastroju zeby dac sie jej porwac, moze byc do rany przylol, gdy czlowiek bedzie potrzebowal czegos co upewni go w otaczajacej go nicosci codziennej wszechrzeczy, najbardziej hajlajtowymi momentami byl dla mnie tytulowy utwor i today i was an evil one, ktory dobrze oddaje podejscie czlowieka do kwestii bycia zlodupcem, jesli przeciez i tak wszystko jutro bedzie mial wyzerowane, ale jak na 37 minut materialu na 11 trakach, to nie czuc zadnych przeciaganych momentow, kontent liryczny jest na tyle gesty zeby przykuc uwage sluchacza, a instrumenty stanowia dla niego jedynie tlo

Needs more listening...

Very sad mood, good strings good voice, overall better than expected 3/5

Thought this album was surprisingly decent. The tone and style was pretty mellow but the songs felt like there was more depth to it. Didn’t really dislike any song but didn’t find any standing out either. It was a good new album. 6.4/10

Okay folk music

Välistä tosi makee soundi ja sitten seuraavan hetkenä hiipu kasaan. Ei kuitenkaan ihan paska vaikka tuskin tulee löytymään omalta soittolistalta tulevaisuudessa.

Alright. So. Having delved into artists like Devendra Banhart (thanks to this project!!), this kind of folk didn't surprise me too much. It oscillated between "what's happening" and "ah, yes" for me. It's getting a 3, but I want to give it another listen when I'm in a different headspace.

I'm not sure if I've ever heard of BPB before. All of the music was new for me. "A Minor Place" was my favorite track, and a good start to the album. The album was consistent and all of the tracks fit the same general mood. I liked the album, but towards the end it was harder to pay attention to each track. This was a good album.

Disc de folk gòtic, crepuscular, depressiu, gairebé suïcida on l'ambientació, la veu trencadissa d'Oldham i sobretot les lletres prenen protagonisme per sobre les lletres. Per moments molt concrets, però en ells, el disc excel.leix

The music sounded quite good, but I really can't imagine this as being anything other than pleasant and unobtrusive background music. 3.5 rounded down for lack of any standout tracks.

This was weird emo folk music. It was good but not a lot stood out

A bleak indie folk album isn't going to win any points for originality, but at least the execution was nice (most of the time). Best track: I See A Darkness

Bit morbid

Vaya racha de dos albumes, este ya te deja la navaja al lado de la bañera para facilitarte las cosas

Ni bien ni mal ni todo lo contrario

I have heard of Bonnie Prince Billy before but didn't know what he sounded like. I didn't really like this, but I didn't dislike it either. I feel like you need to be in a specific mood to appreciate this album. I may have to listen again another time.

Youtube link: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_m_OqnkSt68qy9R7vx7BkUnZPI4Z1zp3XI&si=UCnjlOiR_rwdZsF_ Pretty bland, wrong Pete Townsend...

Forgetable... yet another one where I really don't understand why or how it ended up on this list :-(

отвращение не вызвало, уже хорошо. ни о чем.

Saai

Boring

тіпа бітлс але шось ну не дкже дуже якось та 2

p850. 1999. 2 stars. Depressing and single paced American indie folk for hipsters, with no standout tunes. Only found on YouTube so interrupted by ads for Omega 3 and teeth straightening. On the plus side, it's short. The Johnny Cash cover of the title track is far superior.

I really cant tell you much abou this. I listened twice and came away entirely blank. Maybe its a headphone record, but to me it was instantly forgettable.

Dark, gloomy, depressing and dull - I believe him when he says he can see a darkness! 1 "A Minor Place" (3/5) 2 "Nomadic Revery (All Around)" (2/5) 3 "I See a Darkness" (2/5) 4 "Another Day Full of Dread" (2/5) 5 "Death to Everyone" (2/5) 6 "Knockturne" (2/5) 7 "Madeleine-Mary" (3/5) 8 "Song for the New Breed" (2/5) 9 "Today I Was an Evil One" (2/5) 10 "Black" (2/5) 11 "Raining in Darling" (3/5) Total - 25 Average - 2.27 332/1001 182/332 albums reviewed were new to me.

This one was… hard to find. Was it worth the extra effort? No. If it were on Spotify and easier to access I do believe I’d like it more but the misaligned vocals were kind of driving me crazy

This is #day647 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… I wish I had more to say about this record after listening to it. But if I don't, then I'm afraid it probably wasn't worth the time. I don't believe this is something you must hear before you die. Let it be a 2 out of 5. Looking forward to #day648.

Overdepressing.

I See A Darkness I feel like I should enjoy this more than I actually did. It has all the elements I like, and perhaps I was expecting a bit more, but it didn’t really resonate that much with me. I like the title track and quite enjoyed A Minor Place and Raining In Darling, but outside those I struggled to engage with it, it all felt a bit thin and reedy and a little ho hum, and that his vocal fragility seemed forced and ultimately hollow. I don’t think it's bad, it’s just not for me and I think I’m unlikely to revisit, so a 2c. 💀💀 Playlist submission: I See A Darkness

I know it would hit in dark moments. I, however, am a pretty positive guy and the sulking-ness of this album is dragged rather than portrayed. No songs really stood out. But then again, none ever do with these albums. It has potential, and the elements are there, but it doesn't dive deep enough into any of them to be called good.

This album had musical dynamics that ranged from A to B. Kind of a drag.

Kinda dark and sad

Unavailable on Spotify. Every other album was though. Listened on YouTube, which meant I heard more adverts for start-up banks than any music I liked. This wasn’t something that I wanted to be listening to on a nice sunny day

I like folk music. I like thoughtful lyrics. I even sometimes like minor key, but this was unrelentingly minor key somehow the ingredients just didn’t gel for me.

good album

el revolver se cargó solo

Just ok

Can't find the full album but what I hear is very sad, Iron and Wine without the joy.

Some interesting passages and generally I like the haunting vibe. But the execution of that second vocal is so distracting I found it hard to immerse myself. 2 stars.

This was an interesting listen especially on YouTube since it is not in Spotify. I honestly didn't mind a couple of the songs, but that was it. Also very interesting with the medical commercials and others after every song. 4.5/10 Top song I see darkness

Too much the same

I'm not averse to a bit of melancholy, and in general I liked the music here, but I don't particularly care for Oldham's wavery voice.

Really wanted to like this. I dig Will Oldham's vibe and the indie Americana thing he pushes, but this was just pale wallpaper music for me. No real big swings musically, lyrically, or sonically.

Too dark. Musically uninteresting. I couldn't connect.

Very heartfelt and sad but I found it pretty meandering and just kind of boring. I'm probably too happy for this album right now. I get that it is intentionally low fi and imperfect. Just not a huge sadboi folk person.

I do get (and somewhat agree with) the sentiment of there being a time and place for an album like I See a Darkness to properly hit, but something about it just didn't quite click for me. One could say the same thing about You Want It Darker or Either/Or, but both of those albums are ones I could instantly appreciate (regardless of my present setting). Highlights: Death to Everyone, Madeleine-Mary

Nope

Too folksy for me

Not available in my Spotify account. Had to listen through Youtube Music on my computer. Found the album repetitive and boring. Some lyrics peaked my interest an some melodies were hauntingly beautiful, but the album just failed to capture me.

Good.

SNORE

Listened, but with some difficulties. Not worth it.

This reminded me a lot of Nick Cave, but less terrible. Not really for me.

A dreary, country-adjacent mess.

This reminds me of something that might've been made in a bedroom by one guy without a lot of production experience. Almost more of a demo than a completed album, sort of like Springsteen's Nebraska. The sparse instrumentation gives the impression that one guy did everything, which the out-of-sync backing vocals and sometimes off-tune music adding to that impression as parts he added on later. The tone and content of the songs would make it seem like he did it on what happened to be the saddest few days of his life (at least so far). I have no idea if any of that's true, but I doubt the bedroom-record aspect of it is. At least I don't think something made like that would become well-known enough to make this list. Really though, I'm not sure why it's on the list as it is. Creating a mood was probably the best aspect of the album. If melancholy was the goal, he succeeded. Listening to this album felt like walking through a foggy cemetery. Everything seemed dark and sad, without much hope on the horizon. Though it worked, its persistence made it a chore to get through. The music didn't add a lot, putting the focus on the vocals. And the vocals really weren't anything special for me. They sounded strained and pained, but not really in a way that made them resonate. Occasionally something new would come into the mix, like a distorted lead guitar line to add flavor to the sound. Those were probably the best parts of the album, and really the only thing that kept me engaged throughout. Unfortunately those moments were rare, happening on just a few tracks. Madeleine Mary was the only song that really stood out from the rest. I wouldn't exactly call it upbeat, but it had a stronger presence and fuller music than the other tracks. More of that would've helped me like the album more. As a whole, I wouldn't say this was terrible. I also wouldn't say it was all that good. The melancholy vibes and minimalist instrumentation style were overly persistent for me. It was fine at best, but too often below that to me. Overall: 1.8/5

Bleak, melancholy. I don't really want to write a "meh, boring"-style review but this album leaves me little choice. It just doesn't stand out for me.

Honestly thought by the descriptors this was something I was going to like (chamber pop and folk are my favorite genres), but this was a little sparse without a voice (or guitarwork) to make up for it. Forgettable. 2.5 rounded to 2.

More prince andrew than purple rain prince

Top sad

The Good: A historic recording! The Bad: Nothing to do with Scotland… The Ugly: The actual darkness we get to see… Since discovering the “did not listen” button option, I’ve been doing a piss poor job at keeping up with rating the albums that I am daily presented with. Result, today’s album is number 614, yet I have only rated 588… Time to play catch up, and this is one of them… There was a point while listening to this album, that I found myself actually enjoying the experience… but it only lasted about 1 1/2 minute, and then the album went right back into whatever the hell this is supposed to be… Did not like, will only skim through this record again if, at some point, I accidentally get bored and want to see if I can change my mind about 2* albums...

im 14 and this is deep Really didn’t enjoy his singing.

you definitely need to be in the headspace for this one. existential that is. it's morose but calming at times. 2.5

I think you need to be in a very specific mood to listen to this. I don’t think it breaks any ground or does anything exceptional in this style. It certainly didn’t invent or popularize it so why is it here? Every song reminded me of drunk kid catholic by bright eyes which I feel is an objectively better composition than this entire album. Good grief I need something with a tempo after this.

Didn’t hate it … but did nothing for me

ha gester und hüt müese 139 minute Roni Size lose. DnB. de erst song isch gad wie balsam. sehr cute und warm und so :) okay ich han z wenig gnau chöne anelose aber s isch irgendwie churzwiilige indie aber au z wenig spannend zum mega guet sii. joo ok ich finds bitz langwilig.

I really wasn't too keen on this. It wasn't bad by any stretch, but it just didn't grab me, which is unfortunate as I think there probably is some talent at play.

Not sure what I was supposed to make of this, but it didn't do it for me. It gets a 2 because if someone put this on I would only politely ask the person to change it rather than physically changing it myself, which would be a 1.

Meh, they all sang and played fine, but I didn't find any of it interesting. It's just not for me.

Utterly mediocre. How have I got to listen to this but not yet a single Taylor Swift album? Oh well Taylor isn't quality music. And this is? Oh well Taylor hasn't affected the music scene enough? And this has? Compared to the biggest star in the world? Forget this I'm listening to 1989 to cleanse my soul.

Dreary

It’s a very beautiful and vulnerable album. I wish it was on Spotify so I could dive into it deeper.

Death To Everyone // 2.5/5

Maybe I’m just in the wrong mood , as I love folk and goth but not thier bastard child apparently

30/12/2025 1. a minor place - kinda folksy. not sure how i feel about the vocals.... warming on me as the song progresses. liking the keyboard on the bridge. alright, didn't not enjoy it, but didn't feel particularly strongly either. rhyme of the lyrics sometimes feels a bit forced, some words feel a bit shoehorned in? 2. nomadic revery (all around) - the lyrics are very poetic, had to get them up as i'm typing for closer inspection (i usually do this after listening to a song/album) i like them on the page, but doesn't really work for me in song form. not sure how i feel about this one. liking the electric guitar towards the end. 3. i see a darkness - liking the start so far. the piano is really nice. liking the call/response vocals.... lyrics are a bit emo.... i know it's a very sincere song, but the lyrics just seem a bit cliche?? i'm not disliking it, but i don't know how i'm going to keep listening to this for another half hour. bit subdued and bleak to listen to at length. just got to chorus, more upbeat. 4. another day full of dread - more of the other songs basically. chorus got a bit annoying. 5. death to everyone - drums and bass are nice immediately. sadly, for me anyway, it is just as slow as the rest of the songs so far. liking the sounds in the chorus! lyrics are a bit try-hard edgy? i like the absurdist themes, but it just sounds depressing with that funeral-durge pace. r/im14andthisisdeep. 6. knockturne - literally nothing to say. not bad background music, but can't see myself listening to this one again. 7. madeleine-mary - louder!!!! still painfully slow, but i'll take what i can get. all the songs are blending into one. aaaahhhh. 8. song for the new breed - more gospel-y i guess? still incredibly slow, feels like it's meant to be tender and honest, but just feels incredibly dull and a bit too pretentious in places. *9. today i was an evil one - liking the horns on this one. give a bit of energy!!!! more country vibes. probably because the volume's been turned up a bit. musically feels like it's taking itself a bit less seriously on this one, gives the lyrics a bit of levity. voice has deffo grown on me throughout this album though :) 10. black - back to minimalism :( just because the lyrics are depressing doesn't mean the music has to make you want to kill yourself. to me, it feels like a bad attempt at leonard cohen. *11. raining in darling - so glad this is almost over. i haven't hated the songs, i just haven't liked them either, which is somehow worse because i can't power through out of sheer anger and annoyance. this one is actually quite nice as well, which is really annoying me lol. if the rest of this album was like this, i would have really liked it!!! very sweet love song. bit of an abrupt ending though? it's not a bad album at all, but in a list of the best albums ever, i don't see how this was included! i might be missing some sort of historical context though? because that's the only explanation i can see. it's alright i guess. won't be running to listen to it again.

I thought that the opening track A Minor Place might reveal hidden depths and beautiful sentiments on a second listen, but unfortunately the rest of the tracks, which are mostly a man and a guitar with downbeat drums and piano to provide tempo, are so dull to listen to that I don't think I will ever revisit this album.

that's one very happy album

awful vocals. very depressing

In manchen Songs blitzt etwas Interessantes auf, wird dann aber meist im so belanglos aufgelöst, dass mich da am Ende wenig abgeholt hat. Für mehr als 2 Sterne reicht es nicht.

I couldn’t handle the vocals.

Couldn’t find it on Spotify, so listened to five songs of another album. Given how similar they all were, I think it’ll be a fair reflection of this album. Dull.

Boring. I guess people like the lyrics? The musicianship is third rate at best and the whole thing sounds like they wanted it to intentionally sound bad.

Well that was depressing AF. Not sure how I made it through the whole album, but not going to listen to this one again. Eesh

~this album was not available on Spotify so this review is for their album Superwolf~ From what I can see most of their albums are collaborations so maybe their other albums have a very different sound but I didn’t care for this one.

I can't get into this. I tried twice. It's not bad it's just too sad for me. It has all the hallmarks of something I should like but I just don't.

2 - not keen on vocals. Boring

1999 Before today, I'd never heard Bonnie "Prince" Billy album. Now I have. Proper mardy! Heard before ❌️ Listened this time ✅️ Revisit ❌️ Spiral of depression★★☆☆☆ (3/10)

Not very good. Harmonies were terrible, off pitch.

un poco muy soft y sad y country para mi gusto perooo lindas

That was a cheery record! It's generally not a great sign when you are looking at the time on the first song, thinking it has been going on for 5+ minutes and it's barely been 2. That's kind of how this album was for me. Short in nature but felt much, much longer and not for a good reason. Is it interesting? Sure. Is the song construction decent? Maybe. But the singing is painful. it’s like listening to the bad parts of Neil Young's voice but even worse. Don't get me started on the "harmonies". I saw someone say that this is like listening to a 3rd grade choir, but I actually would say it's more like a couple of middle school boys who are going through puberty. Still, I get why it is included. The title track reminded me of something I would hear on a Ben Folds album. Madeleine-Mary was a cool song, mainly because there was a lot more to it than just depression like the other songs. All summed up, though, I just didn't really care for it. Below average, but not bottom of the barrel bad.

next

meh

I don't think I was in the right mood to listen to this.

Nothing here for me. 2/5

Not really sure about thus one it seemed pretty bleak

Utterly slow and boring

This album’s inclusion on the list is puzzling. Nothing about it stands out musically or otherwise. A few so-so tracks (“A Minor Place”, “Madeleine-Mary”), but the rest sounds like any other gothic-folk songwriter at your local open-mic night. It’s listenable, but I won’t remember it.

Another one of those zero impression background noise albums

It feels like the singer doesn’t know what to do with his voice most of the time… much prefer Johnny Cash’ cover of I see a Darkness

Wasn't on Spotify and Youtube kept playing ads which made me pretty disinterested pretty quickly unfortunately

Another album listened to on YouTube because the artist in this case pulled much of his work off Spotify. Some great songs here (including the title track, covered by Johnny Cash), but overall not for me. Very slow. Monotone-ish throughout. I respect the album but it is not for me.

Anyone that knows me knows I'm a connoisseur of depressing, melancholic music... and I've never felt so disappointed by it than I did with this album. The back-up vocals being the worst quality of it all, but I found the choice of effects and arrangements to be very amateur. If you liked this album, or even kind of liked it, check out Tweaker (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3-fOTTKFr4) and Starsailor (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nigN8bSP9_4) instead. The Tweaker song I shared is sung by "Will Oldham" (aka Bonnie Prince Billy). I feel like that song is how this whole album SHOULD sound.

Fairly forgettable.

Bonnie “Doxepin” Billy - I See A Humdrumness.

Bonnie „Prince“ Billy veröffentlichte 1999 mit I See A Darkness sein erstes Album unter diesem Namen. Der amerikanische Singer-Songwriter, mit bürgerlichem Namen Will Oldham, nahm die Songs in intimer Besetzung auf, oft nur mit akustischer Gitarre, Klavier und spärlichen Begleitern. Die Produktion bleibt bewusst reduziert, wodurch die Stücke einen unmittelbaren, fast privaten Charakter erhalten. Musikalisch bewegt sich das Album zwischen Alternative Folk und Americana, mit deutlichen Anklängen an Country-Traditionen. Oldham trägt die Lieder mit brüchiger Stimme vor, die mehr an Ausdruck als an technische Perfektion gebunden ist. Der Titelsong „I See A Darkness“ wurde später von Johnny Cash gecovert und zählt heute zu den bekanntesten Stücken seines Repertoires. Weitere markante Titel sind „Death to Everyone“ und „Nomadic Revery (All Around)“. Die Texte kreisen um existentielle Themen wie Freundschaft, Sterblichkeit und die innere Dunkelheit. Trotz der Schwere wirkt das Album nicht resignativ, sondern suchend und offen. Es gehört zu den Werken, die sich erst in stiller, konzentrierter Auseinandersetzung erschließen. Abschließend bleibt ein Album, das durch seine Reduktion und Intensität bleibenden Eindruck hinterlässt und Bonnie „Prince“ Billys Platz als eigenständige Stimme im Indie-Folk festigt.

boring and not a good singer

Half decent easy listening.

Mumbly, depressing, and like the vocal can't decide if it wants to cone out.

A couple songs were interesting but most were boring to me

We should check in on this guy. Seems like he's going through a rough patch

I felt a darkness when this was playing boring one dimensional

Reminded me of Jose gonzales in terms of a very simply written slightly lofi strummy guitar and voice record. Didn't quite charm me in the same way though yet I'll have to try again some time.

Dreadful. I most certainly did not need to hear this before I die, and often wished I WOULD die while listening to this depressing, droning slog. A generous 1.5 rounded up because at least I was able to finish it.

Woof.

Zzzzz zzzzz zzz zzzzzzz zzz.

Slow and mellow mood, but not my tempo.

Not a bad album by any means, just not for me. Doesn't sound like it's from the late nineties.

Just don't understand the hype. I just don't get it. Not terrible but not great, and not an album I would ever put on again.

Pretty boring overall, but its fine. This album seems like one you have to be in a certain mood for.

O álbum é cru e extremamente pessoal, a atmosfera é que você está frente a frente com Billie em um pub, bebendo um conhaque e crises existenciais aparecem em sua cabeça. O álbum é bom, mas o que faltou pra mim foi ser menos “cru” e com mais arranjos e produção. A ideia destoa do que eu senti falta, mas ao mesmo tempo entendo que a experiência poderia ser muito melhor (embora não foi ruim).

Not for me

Everytime I started to think I liked this album I got bored again

This is the kind of album I should like. I wish I did. The title track is listenable but the rest is tied to a quiet plodding formula.

A bunch of one liners on this album: "This is something to listen to on the way to an abortion" "This sounds like the National with a drinking problem" "This is for people who found 'Sophie's Choice' too uplifting" Yeah, this album was a bummer. I don't see a re-listen soon. Top Tracks: "A Minor Place," "Death to Everyone"

Challenging listen.

Hmmm this is not on Spotify. I'll try YouTube I was kind of excited for this thinking that it was something gothic or dark. But it's not. I don't even know what I would classify this as. Yeah this is too slow and depressing 2 stars

I like the album art. Who hurt you, bruh?

This album isn’t on spotify, and it doesn’t seem like the type of album where I want to put in the effort and listen to it elsewhere.

Seems to be the blueprint for all the singer/songwriters of the early to mid aughts.

bored

Not my style.

[2.5/5] Final impression: Sad and depressing type beat. Holds up fairly well, if thats the vibe you're looking for. Nothing too great. Listened to on Youtube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78E0Gu3U1DI&list=OLAK5uy_m_OqnkSt68qy9R7vx7BkUnZPI4Z1zp3XI]. A Minor Place - Feels like this album might have aged well in terms of sound and tone. Nomadic Revery (All Around) - Not as good at the opening track. A bit too monotonous. I take it back the second half is making up for it. The instrumentals are pretty good. I See A Darkness - Subtle, slow, dark. Interesting. At times, barely more than a whisper. *Another Day Full Of Dread - Strongest track so far. Good cadence and beat to it. The interlude is sick. Death To Everyone - The instrumentals are kinda cool. I like this one. Probably second strongest track. Knockturne - This one's the roughest yet. We're at the saddest hour it seems. Madeleine-Mary - First song that doesn't feel depressing to listen to but the vocal style in it drives me up a wall. The instrumentals are solid but the vocals make it unlistenable. Song For The New Breed - Back to the standard droning sadness that defines this album. Starting to really wear. Today I Was An Evil One - Really don't like this one. Leaning more country, which I wasn't expecting for this album. Black - Generally fine. Raining In Darling - Not into this one. Overall notes: Man 1001 albums is not a list for someone who doesn't like folk and singer-songwriter. Really slow, melancholic, and sad which isn't the type of music I go for.

Just not my thing. I suppose it has some musical merit, and some of the melodies are pretty, but everything just kind of ran together.

Not a good enough album to warrant me having to watch this on bloody YouTube. Had like 5 ads. Specific rating 1.8 Fav song- I see a darkness Least fav- death to everyone

This album definitely had a theme, and that theme was not inspirational or pleasant or soothing. It was definitely dark (I mean, there's a song called "Death To Everyone"), and I didn't think that gothic folk was an actual thing before. But I will give credit where it is due, because Bonnie "Prince" Billy definitely found and kept to a vibe. The lyrics packed a punch, but the vocals were mediocre. A different kind of album that maybe deserves to be here, but I was just kinda meh.

I was hoping that with the gothic overtones of the album title, song titles, and album cover, that this would be a hit for me. In reality, that was not quite the case. There were gothic soundscapes in this album, certainly, but overall it leaned more in an alternative folk direction than anything. This album certainly has a haunting aura about it, but again, it just didn't quite land with me as far as enjoyable music goes.

The most boring person you know is feeling sad and made an album.

I’ve never heard of this band before and I’m immediately sad because it instantly sounded like folksy modest mouse, which is something I didn’t know I needed. I have only heard the Johnny cash version “I see a darkness”, so that was a surprise that popped up. Overall, it was ok. Probably just not in the mood for it today. Has kind of a more folksy Elliot smith vibe. I would listen to this again if it comes along. Seems like good sad mood music.

Off key half spoken vocals, stream of the conscious lyrics set to moody music that doesn't really go anywhere. It's not the worst thing on this list but it does come across as lazy and couldn't be arsed and ultimately a bit of a waste of recording tape really.

Well well well aslighty overcast morning and soggy ceral reminds me of more cereberal times

Found it quite drony and a bit too depressing. Maybe that was the point?

It's ok, but boring. Very boring.

in the immortal words of marge simpson: kids, could you lighten up a little? this was dreary and bleak as one would expect, but i didn't really get the appeal beyond that. what sets this album apart from thousands of other sad albums from a troubled soul? i definitely liked the elliott smith entries in the list more than this. meh. favorites: a minor place, i see a darkness

Not for me, sorry

Never heard of this before. A sad alt album, but nothing extraordinary. Death to everyone reminded me of Thom Yorke

Meh. 2/5

It was ok, but nothing crazy.

Very bland

Death to Everyone is probably the highlight for me. There’s something about its rawness that cuts through. But man, a lot of this album is a tough listen. The lyrics are bleak, poetic, and clearly coming from a deep place, but the delivery just doesn’t land for me. It feels like the emotion is buried under a presentation that’s a little too mumbly and muted. You can tell it’s heartfelt, maybe even cathartic, but I couldn’t help thinking... I hope his friends checked in on him after hearing this.

This predates the sadboy indie neofolk craze by a decade or two. I’ve been to countless Seattle open mics where ten guys who sound exactly like this are all trying to fuck the barista. Extremely meh.

Very unimpressed.

Overrated whiny white boy bullshit. More sea shanty than anything else. Hard pass. Doesn’t belong on this list.

I feel like I have heard an album like this a hundred times and forgotten it a hundred times too.

Why is this not on spotify

Had to listen on YouTube. Grow up and put your album on Spotify like everyone else

2.5

Boring.

Dudes will secure a record deal and record a gloomy album instead of going to therapy.

Before that, I only knew one song

What the heck was this old fart doing. He keeps wavering back and forth on whether or not he wants to actually try to sing or just kinda moan out random words. Instrumentally it's incredibly boring. Also the out of sync backing vocals on some of the songs is just painful not artistic. Just bleh.

2,5

Dark and broody but nothing of substance except I See a Darkness.

This one never got out of first gear. I quite liked his voice but can’t find anything else positive to say.

Haha, I don't know 😅 I saw someone comment that you need to be in a particular mood to enjoy this. I don't know if I've ever been in that mood. I appreciate that someone's exploring or expressing material addressing or suitable to that mood though. I'm going to try my best to stay away from that mood though. It was really down there.

Had high hopes for this, but it quickly became an annoying buzz.

The album cover put me off - I thought Bonny Billy must be another heavy metal headbanger band. So I was pleasantly surprised when the music began. I thought maybe even a 4, but then it turned out Billy was another kind of headbanger, the melancholic rather than the angry sort, so it dropped to 3. Then to 2 as it got very samey. I don't need this stuff. Maybe it appeals to young men?

Pretty meh

Ok yes I get it

not on spotify also werd i's eh nie hören

I need a Prozac/Zolaft cocktail after that album. I get it death is the only inevitable and if we focus on that too much this is what happens. There are some musically good points like Madeline-Mary and some of the back half songs. But the overwhelming sadness and depression is just too much for me to feel great about this album.

Kiedys to dosc lubilem. Lipa nie ma na spotify, co to sie odwala. Troche zamula

Monotonous, unremarkable, depressing

Weepy and boring. I could get behind the atmosphere of this, but no compelling songs or performances. Best song: Madeleine-Mary?

Dark but not for me

En España no está en Spotify, los escucharemos en YouTube Music. Deprimente desde la portada hasta las letras y la música. Supongo que hay algún momento en la vida en que te puede apetecer eso.

Eh this was fine

Gloomy indie folk. u/diskosimpa set me up with a Spotify playlist that automatically updates with today's album, to which I set up my morning alarm to automatically play. I was disappointed when the alarm failed this morning, but it turns out it only failed because this album isn't on Spotify. Pranked yet again.

You need to be in the right mindset to connect with morbid depressive off-kilter discordant folk, I guess. Unfortunately, I was not, and not sure I will give this another chance. 2⭐️

It's almost like some modern indie-bedroom music only produced in a studio with probably session musicians., Sparse, lowfi, and mumbly! Oh yeah, sure don't want any energy or any emotion other than resignation.

Uninteresting. I must be missing something but I don't get the appeal.

Not on Spotify

Quite dark and not upbeat for my liking - needs some joy in his life

Didn't realize Bonnie Prince Billy had been around this long. Had first heard of him back in 2009 and barely listened to him back then, but this older album sounded exactly like I expected. Real melancholy and simple.

Mid at best, could of been so much better.

I'm not keen on folk it appears

This is not for me, but I can see it is charming to some degree.

Pretty long and boring.. Not offensively bad, just not very interesting.

Not available, I'll have to come back to this someday.

didn't like it, not for me

I won't shit on this. I can see why some people love it and find it beautiful but it's not for me

The title song is good, but I like the upbeat version of it a lot more. This is a downer of an album, and nothing really stands out from the rest. Needs more variety!

I see darkness also, because this puts me to sleep. 2 stars or D-.

Weird

Well, I WAS having as good day. While I can totally see how this is someone's favorite album, I think it's no secret that it's 100% a mood album. You had to be in the right palce at the right time to really resonate with this one, and like I said, I was having a nice morning when I popped this on. I felt it was too easy to tune out to while I wrote emails. I would like to (and plan to) come back to this one when I have the time to dedicate wholly to it. I'll drink a glass of bourbon and sulk in my existential thoughts. Or wait, you know what, today's election day in the US! That's depressing enough. Got all I need.

Bonnie “Prince” Billy has to think about his entire life before he plays.

This was quite sad and discordant as expected. One of my old colleagues loved this band and nothing goes better with sitting in a windowless basement office on an otherwise lovely summer day than Bonnie "Prince" Billy. If you're into that kind of thing.

That was kinda awful. Just sad for no reason. I think maybe I'm in a bad mood and maybe this genre is not for me, but wow I did not enjoy listening to this guy strum and whine for like 40 minutes.

Umm… happy for y’all. This was much better than many terrible things but still not my cuppa tay.

I could hear some different sounds in this, like Beck, but overall didn't really care for it. Most songs sounded the same.

I really wanted to like this. I didn't. It's kind of proto-slowcore? Give me some texture, please. Some dynamics, even. Not for me. Highlights: Madeleine-Mary, Today I Was An Evil One, Raining In Darling

Tem uma utilidade de grande importância, lembrar escutar mais a versão do Johnny Cash da música título.

Not a particularly exciting or uplifting record.

First, let me apologize. Listening to the first few tracks, I had the horrible image that this is what I would sound like if I were to do a drunken karaoke. If you ever had to listen to that, and liked it but his album is for you

So very very boring

No es malo, rescato un par de temas, pero intenté escucharlo con atención y me aburrió

Weird new age hippy rock

I couldn’t get this album on Spotify so I picked the album closest in year to this one. I’ll be reviewing Superwolf as if it were this one. This guy is like a really mellowed out Evan Dando which would make this album a really mellowed out Lemonheads album. Very slow and less than happy sounding. This type of music lends itself to a certain type of person who is feeling a certain type of thing in the spectrum of sadness. That’s a beat around the bush summary for an album that wasn’t the one pictured and could sound nothing like that particular album.

Wtf was that? Not the worst on this list got sure, but hmm. 2.4.

A nice album. Nothing ground breaking.

No recuerdo nada de este álbum. Más mid imposible.

Indie sähellystä huhhuh deep meaning vrm vrm... ei jaksa kujnnella edes conceptia kun ei biisit ala useiden herätyskellojen soitolla..

I really wanted to like the album a lot more than I did. I don't know why it didn't connect with me; I appreciate the stripped-down nature of the songs, and the lyrical subject matter is introspective and relatable. But something about the vocal performance and production is what turned me off. It feels shaky and uneven, and none of the dual-tracked songs are successful. All in all a huge missed opportunity, with some solid moments in between. Top tracks: I See A Darkness, Song For The New Brees

A total lack of energy

Good to a degree. Maybe a bit uneventful tho

Not for me

Gothic Folk was a new genre for me. It's dark and broody, just like the album cover. And though I like dark stuff, I prefer it heavier. This was light as a feather. Loved the song Black. Maybe I'll revisit this. But for now, it's just meh.

He’s like a miniature Thom Yorke singing sad songs in his basement. I’d give it a 3 if I didn’t have to go to YouTube and listen to commercials.

Joah. Geht.

Overall boring and I don't see the point. The songwriting had some interesting bits, but never enough that I cared what was being said.

Yawn ….

Not bad but what is so special?

Pretty dull musically. Interesting lyrics sung with simplistic vocals.

Not super interested. Not bad either 2.75

Bad

Oh fuck no

Beetje saaie singersongwriter met een jammerende stem. Er is zoveel beter in dit genre.

hier en daar een klein lichtpuntje, vooral veel Darkness

The songs are OK, but he doesn't even seem to try to sing in tune. I know people who love it and I kind of understand why, but I disagree. With very little extra effort, this could have been a 3 star record to me, but alas. Favorite song: death to everyone

It has the necessary emotionality for such an album. I buy the singer's absolute despondency and melancholic, nihilistic view of the world. But what the album lacks is the collateral beauty that comes with the sadness. There is little grace, elegance, or sophistication in the vocals, lyrics, or melody. Maybe I'm just too sensitive, but I prefer the darkness of a starry night to the endless emptiness of a black hole. To truly see darkness, you need a little light, or you just don't see anything at all.

Gear: Meze 109 PRO Artwork: Majora's Mask Vibes Mix: reduziert und präzise Musik: in den (raren) besten Momenten setzen sich die Majora's Mask Vibes des Cover-Artworks fort - zumeist rührt sich bei den spärlichen Arrangements bei mir aber gar nichts Wertung: 💀💀(💀)/5

Didn't hate it but Father John Misty does this style much better. This album is quite a downer and I got tired of it midway through. Pass.

EN FAIT L'ALBUM EST SI DÉSESPÉRÉ...COUS AVEZ TORD. Bonnie Prince Billyn, tai kuten hänen läheiset saavat kutsua: ''BPB'' albumi on sykähdyttävä, ajanpysäyttävä täräyttävä kokemus.. koska aika kulkee niin pirun hitaasti kun kuuntelee kaltaista sontaa! pari hyvää biisiä laimentaa paskaseosta pikkusen mutta kun pää ainesosana ihme öyhötys, ei oikein miellyttävä maku sen jälkeen. vähän kokkiretoriikkaa sinne. EN FAIT L'ALBUM EST SI DÉSESPÉRÉ...COUS AVEZ TORD. EN FAIT L'ALBUM EST SI DÉSESPÉRÉ...COUS AVEZ TORD. EN FAIT L'ALBUM EST SI DÉSESPÉRÉ...COUS AVEZ TORD. EN FAIT L'ALBUM EST SI DÉSESPÉRÉ...COUS AVEZ TORD. EN FAIT L'ALBUM EST SI DÉSESPÉRÉ...COUS AVEZ TORD. death to everyone

Neil Young like quavering voice, pretty bleak lyrics and minimal, slow music. A little depressing. Today I am not in the mood.

I find this boring and dour. Might grown on me if I spent more time with it. I know Will Oldham is considered a great songwriter and I enjoy some of his other stuff. Can hear similarities to Jason Molina’s Songs:Ohia output, but again, I don’t enjoy this.

Different. but I liked it.

Very troubled, sad guy music. Reminds me a bit of Nick Cave, Sun Kil Moon, etc. It's not bad, but it's a style that I think others do better. Still, a couple tracks I'll keep so not a total loss. Favorite tracks: Nomadic Revery, Death to Everyone. Album art: A freaky dinky ahh skull. Seems almost like a collage of small images, but not sure. Very simple cover, not bad though. 2.5/5

This guy has an interesting voice but aside from that this album didn't really strike me as anything memorable. His music sounds like how he looks and his name makes me go "blahh-arrgh." It's downbeat, depressing, and a bit haunting. It doesn't stand out against the other sad boi albums we've had in the list but I did check out some of his other work, which was better. He's ok.

Meh. I don't think it's bad just not my cup of tea. I'm sure there is more to it but it didn't engage me. 1.65 stars

This album isn't on Spotify... And I'm convinced it is because the creator of this app has a good friend that makes music. And he just out him on this list. Very generic, uninspiring singer song writer music that isn't polished. Perhaps that raw, "I just woke up, and recorded this in my bathroom" feel is what the record is going for... But it just isn't that great. I'm of course holding it to a different standard as it's on this faux prestigious list... If it was on a list of hometown records, it'd probably get a better review... But it's on the same list as artists such as The Beatles, and David Bowie. It isn't a one because it's listenable.

Nah this aint it, slow and melancholic but without any real emotional pull, just a sad dude waffling on with out of key vocals and lack lustre instrumentals. I've had a very nice week so maybe I'm being harsh on a particularly depressing album. 1.5/5

pleasant enough folk-y rock. silly at times. i feel like this is a name i've heard tossed around a lot as sort of an artist's artist. maybe i am just not artistic enough to understand why this is special. its giving: man who loves A24 films & has an extensive vinyl collection but no bedframe.

Weepy. Idk, it feels too gentle, I want my sad music to suffocate me. Like how can you be so sad yet so calm, I don't get it

I hate when albums only available on youtube One good song and a bunch of tolerable ones I guess

A far less interesting Jason Molina