Now i'm a bit of a BPB fanatic and admit that I am far from impartial in these matters, however I think everyone who listens to his new album will agree that it is the best of the year so far...probably the best album of the last 5 years......maybe even 10 years....hell, it's the best album of all time!!!!For a number of years I have been trying to introduce my friends and work colleagues to Will Oldham's huge back catalogue with absolutely no success. Comments have usually ranged from "feckin depressing out of tune dirges" to "Don't ever speak to me again, weirdo!". Despite this I still think Will is one of the best singer songwriters the world has ever seen and time and time again he manages to produce albums of hauntingly powerful songs. On this album Will's fragile vocals are perfectly complimented by Ashley Webber and the whole thing feels like you are sitting in your favourite remote pub, in front of a roaring fire, in the middle of winter, glass of laphroaig in hand, friends and family scattered round and Will & Ashley singing just for you.
Does he have a great singing voice.....no. Is he a fantastic guitar player....no. Is he handsome with a Hollywood smile.....no. Is he a fabulous songwriter with a warped, dark and compelling outlook on life......you bet.
OK, so I may be exaggerating about this being the best album of all time but it should be a must have for everyones music collection.
