This disc has been hanging around on a "Saved for Later" list of mine for weeks. My impressions are based on :30 samples, mind you, but I can't decide if I'm more taken with the harmonies (which sound pretty good on songs like A Picture of Our Torn Up Praise and Be Dark Night) or more put off by what sounds like some silly lyrics (like on Wolves: "Mama, they're mating at night; Mama, they won't make nice").
Anyone familiar with this disc? Is it good?
― Daniel, Esq., Wednesday, 12 December 2007 06:47 (sixteen years ago) link
This is one of my favorite albums of '07. Not top ten, but probably top 25.
― fukasaku tollbooth, Thursday, 13 December 2007 12:23 (sixteen years ago) link
"The Waves at Night" is beautiful, definitely the standout.
― Simon H., Thursday, 13 December 2007 15:14 (sixteen years ago) link
That's interesting; the reviews I've read say "Wolves" is the obvious standout. The song I heard via the Dusted Reviews website -- "A Picture Of Our Torn Up Praise" -- was kind of compelling.
― Daniel, Esq., Thursday, 13 December 2007 15:56 (sixteen years ago) link
new album "To Willie", 3/2/09.more of the same Will Oldham style, though pretty solid.
― Zeno, Wednesday, 31 December 2008 21:53 (fifteen years ago) link
i can't get over the whole croaky ersatz townes van zandt thing (previous lp, not this one, although i expect more cracked howlin').
― schlump, Wednesday, 31 December 2008 21:55 (fifteen years ago) link
Listening on repeat to "Reasons to Quit" off the new one. Their drone-y vibe suits the tune perfectly. As Xgau would say, inspirational line: "I need to be sober, I need to write some new songs that rhyme."
― that's not my post, Monday, 20 April 2009 04:52 (fifteen years ago) link
Thought To Willie was a bit weak but this mermaid song is a nice return to form.
― thistle supporter (mcoll), Tuesday, 11 May 2010 01:58 (thirteen years ago) link
Feels a bit less like Oldham, too
not much, natch
"L.A." is my favorite number -- evokes Time Fades Away-era Neil Young. The rest is tuneful and pleasant. The guy's voice is too nice for me: no edge.
― cool and remote like dancing girls (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 11 May 2010 02:00 (thirteen years ago) link
when he overdubs his voice, the harmonies are lovely. but yeah, there's no edge there.
― Daniel, Esq., Tuesday, 11 May 2010 02:01 (thirteen years ago) link
Really loving this guy after just discovering him with this year's record. Picked up To Willie (cuz I've always loved Willie too), what else is recommended?
― he's always been a bit of an anti-climb Max (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Tuesday, 13 July 2010 21:15 (thirteen years ago) link
Also the word went around today that the band's stolen van/gear has been recovered.
― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 13 July 2010 21:18 (thirteen years ago) link
Great news!
― he's always been a bit of an anti-climb Max (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Tuesday, 13 July 2010 21:19 (thirteen years ago) link
man i figured this guy was the type to just stick hard to the alt-country jams so "song for zula" is a really nice surprise
― ciderpress, Friday, 22 March 2013 19:15 (eleven years ago) link
ugh. can. not. deal. with this new record. he was always pretty much 2nd or 3rd tier for me but had some really nice songs. this space age troubadour schtick is painful. springstelectronica is not a genre i need in my life.
― moe handy, Friday, 22 March 2013 19:43 (eleven years ago) link
? there's only one or two tracks with the synth thing going, the rest sounds like a continuation of his last record to me
― ciderpress, Friday, 22 March 2013 19:56 (eleven years ago) link
honestly i wish more of the record sounded like those tracks
― ciderpress, Friday, 22 March 2013 20:04 (eleven years ago) link
Yeah, I really like "Song for Zula"
― monster_xero, Friday, 22 March 2013 20:41 (eleven years ago) link
I really like about half of this record but still find myself getting bored with it by track 8 or so. The Fleet Foxes-y intro and outro don't help.
― The Butthurt Locker (cryptosicko), Thursday, 11 July 2013 14:42 (ten years ago) link
(this record = Muchacho, btw)
― The Butthurt Locker (cryptosicko), Thursday, 11 July 2013 14:43 (ten years ago) link
With the exception of one really awful song near the beginning, this new album is very good.
― sctttnnnt (pgwp), Friday, 12 October 2018 20:09 (five years ago) link
love "the world is ending" on the new one, really nails that late for the sky era jackson browne sound
― ciderpress, Monday, 22 April 2024 19:51 (three days ago) link
That is a good song, but really I dig the whole album. Feel like Houck is somehow still a little underappreciated.
― Maxmillion D. Boosted (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Tuesday, 23 April 2024 16:51 (two days ago) link