Bonnie Prince Billy new album -- "Beware" -- on tour now, going next to see him next thursday, Jim White drumming, yeah this'll be dope fuckin a

typical goofball press released but cool guest list on it....

BONNIE 'PRINCE' BILLY'S BIGGEST & MOST AMBITIOUS ALBUM TO DATE - BEWARE
TO BE RELEASED MARCH 17T ON DRAG CITY

Bonnie “Prince" Billy

Breaking through the dirt and shooting upward into our atmosphere is a new variety of exotic Bonnie “Prince" Billy plant. Stronger. Stinkier. It blooms in low light and cold but thrives in the sun as well, showing enticing spots and eating small creatures as they wander into its jaws. They had it coming, they were weak... and you're next! Beware.

Though Beware shares spit with its immediate predecessor released this past summer, Lie Down in the Light, its reach is longer and stronger, more grandiose. Where fiddle and steel contribute their rustic timbre alongside guitars and voices, a thickening thud of low tone rolls beneath, giving the record a bottom that's fun to watch bounce in new clothes. This intensifies the air and heralds Beware as Bonny's biggest, most ambitious record to date - yea, bigger and more ambitious than even The Letting Go. A listen or two through and you too may conclude that this could also be the great Bonnie “Prince" Billy contempo-country record - though, as always, the “Prince" goes his own special way, even when climbing the charts with brawny arms and classic titles like “I Don't Belong to Anyone," “You Can't Hurt Me Now," and “I Am Goodbye."

Though the title (and catalog number - DC666!) portends horror, Beware is a much more measured exploration of the soul's frailty and the sorry state of human relationships than your typical, everyday, bleaked-out, all-and-nothing roots rock platter. Song titles suggest half of a heated dialogue, perhaps just one side of a super-apocalypto phone call. Yet, there's humor here as well, some of it too cute to call black. Lyrically, domestic ripostes are mixed with I-thou asides, statements of lusty selfhood and subtlety in between the lines, examining culpability and the need for release and rebellion, if you must know. Basically, if you haven't learned already, love goes down mazy, anfractuous paths, on some days giving rise to irritations (both spiritual and physical) and the difficult consideration of an alternative fate. Sometimes all you want to do is f**k. Then there's the times of fun, laughter and learning, and the sudden appreciation of your partner, your only friend. And with all these things in hand, Bonnie “Prince" Billy says Beware.

Joining Bonny deep in the mix of Beware, the roll-call of top players include the band (Josh Abrams, Jennifer Hutt, Emmett Kelly and Michael Zerang) and special guests (Dee Alexander, Leroy Bach, Jim Becker, Robert Cruz, DV DeVincentis, Jon Langford, Greg Leisez, Rob Mazurek, Nicole Mitchell and Azita Youseffi)!

Beware will be released on Drag City on March 17, 2009. Bonny does not tour in support of records, however he will tour simultaneous with the record release, even in major markets. Beware!

Beware Track Listing:
1. Beware Your Only Friend
2. You Can't Hurt Me Now
3. My Life's Work
4. Death Final
5. Heart's Arms
6. You Don't Love Me
7. You Are Lost
8. I Won't Ask Again
9. I Don't Belong to Anyone
10. There Is Something I Have To Say
11. I Am Goodbye
12. Without Work, You Have Nothing
13. Untitled

new cover hee hee

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mf8u4mwictg/SafsN2we7uI/AAAAAAAACY0/G5ImRZpeSKM/s400/bonnie-prince-billy-beware.jpg

Going to see him at the Walker Art Center thursday, Jim White my fav drummer in da woild (dirty 3, nina nastasia etc) in playing for him..

very excited..

new video, lookin hella homeless...possibly muslim

http://stereogum.com/archives/video/new-bonnie-prince-billy-video-i-am-goodbye_056971.html

lolz great cover

writing is very Neil Young and Crazy Horse

funnily enough im just listening to this album now

do tell! how is it?

i might be able to procure the vinyl tonight, excited...

This is gonna blow everyone's mind, but I do not own a single Oldham-related album. For some reason, I've had an aversion, don't know what it is. I'd probably like him! Where should I start. PLEASE ADVISE.

I'm not a huge Oldham dude but "My Home Is The Sea" from the Superwolf album is just total fucking brilliance

^^covering Mariah. respect foreva

as for palace era, i'm a big fan of viva last blues; BPB - hard to say. i only own the first three (sorta partial to M&E), but the stuff i heard from the last two is as good as anything. i think the next time i treat myself it will be ordering the last 2 lps from DC.

xpost tha supawolf is good stuff, yep .

is "the brave & the bold" out of print???

I've now read profiles of Oldham in the past few weeks in the Wall Street Journal and the Financial Times.

that's surely another sign of the fiscapocalyspe, financiers are digging sounds that portend doom

it's definitely a good time for oldham press -- didn't he have that glowing new yorker review?

He had a profile in there about two months ago. He's going all-out presswise with this one.

good place to start with oldham is palace bros' days in the wake

Ease Down The Road is still my favorite.

I'd say "Viva Last Blues" (rockin') and the singles collection "Lost Blues & Other Songs" are pretty good starting points for Palace. I don't know the Bonnie Prince records very well

fucked up and didnt get tickets for the walker thing. im an idiot.

Death to Everyone is my fave BPB

i think it's only standing room left jj :(

surmounter he also did a great "world's greatest" by r kelly.

I would say "Lost Blues & Other Songs"

Oh and this isn't the majority opinion I'm sure, but the Superwolf album is right up there with anything he's done IMO.

I've only seen disappointing BPB shows (too noodly, too disinterested), but if jim white's there, that might be worth it?
(Although that was not the case when Cat Power was touring her last covers record).

the only time i saw him was solo acoustic and it was just gorgeous. one of my fav shows ever. i could see him being erratic, who knows. this is only the second time he's played mpls in like the last 15 years or so.

Going to see him at the Walker Art Center thursday, Jim White my fav drummer in da woild (dirty 3, nina nastasia etc) in playing for him..

That's one of the shows my old band is opening.

so michael zerang plays drums on the record? interesting, i've only heard him play free music before.

Going to see him at the Walker Art Center thursday, Jim White my fav drummer in da woild (dirty 3, nina nastasia etc) in playing for him..

That's one of the shows my old band is opening.

― Bonobos in Paneradise (Hurting 2), Friday, March 13, 2009 9:42 PM (17 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

oh that's right! that sucks dude would be been cool to see you play, venue is supposed to be nice, never been before..

so michael zerang plays drums on the record? interesting, i've only heard him play free music before.

― Tracy Michael Jordan Catalano (Jordan), Friday, March 13, 2009 9:44 PM (16 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

jazz guy mostly? cool..

Drummer is instead going to be ex-Occasion dude. Good drummer. Haven't heard them lately.

Josh Abrams on bass, too (another Chicago guy from the Vandermark scene).

oh sweet...i saw Vandermark 5 once and it was a real special evening. i wish they came to the twin cities more often.

The new cd is more slicky produced than anything he has done (well except Sings Palace Greatest Hits) and is pretty country sounding. I kinda like it. Not his best but not bad.

"Without Work, You Have Nothing" is a nice addition to the BPB sex jam. Especially the lines:

"Move your hands faster, that's what your man wants / Keep his filthy mind from frequenting his soiled haunts."

"Work baby and war will be no more / the Goddess of uniform will drop it to the floor."

got this on vinyl this weekend.

so far i'm loving it. def very arranged and sort of superficially very commercial for him, but then the more i listen it's sort of a bizarre record in a way i can't quite figure..

sort of like, uh....hill people version of robert wyatt or something.

but you know, i am a stan 2 death for BPB

xpost

haha yeah, also the getting a BJ in public joint off lie down in the light was good. he's so horny.

So I only find out about the two UK dates after the London one has effectively sold out while the other show is in Brighton? Well FUCK YOU! (I will buy tickets for the Brighton gig out of spite)

Grrrr me and my bro wanted to go but fuck travelling to Brighton tbh.

the brighton venue is nice, worth travelling to

not from Hull

and back

fucked up and didnt get tickets for the walker thing. im an idiot.

― a thread for clams that you are free to disregard (jjjusten), Friday, March 13, 2009 4:35 PM (2 days ago) Bookmark

fucked up and didnt get tickets for the walker thing. im an idiot.

― a thread for clams that you are free to disregard (jjjusten), Friday, March 13, 2009 4:35 PM (2 days ago) Bookmark

fucked up and didnt get tickets for the walker thing. im an idiot.

― a thread for clams that you are free to disregard (jjjusten), Friday, March 13, 2009 4:35 PM (2 days ago) Bookmark

fucked up and didnt get tickets for the walker thing. im an idiot.

― a thread for clams that you are free to disregard (jjjusten), Friday, March 13, 2009 4:35 PM (2 days ago) Bookmark

fucked up and didnt get tickets for the walker thing. im an idiot.

― a thread for clams that you are free to disregard (jjjusten), Friday, March 13, 2009 4:35 PM (2 days ago) Bookmark

fucked up and didnt get tickets for the walker thing. im an idiot.

― a thread for clams that you are free to disregard (jjjusten), Friday, March 13, 2009 4:35 PM (2 days ago) Bookmark

fucked up and didnt get tickets for the walker thing. im an idiot.

― a thread for clams that you are free to disregard (jjjusten), Friday, March 13, 2009 4:35 PM (2 days ago) Bookmark

i am also a bpb stan 4-lyfe, how did this happen

also where you get that vinyl? i just got my turntable working and want it

got mine at roadrunner, but most of the indie places should have it i think.

Am I right in thinking this is a lot more maximal than his previous work?

gbx, you and i can just stand outside the show and weep i guess.

srsly that is what i'm planning on doing.

dear ilx plz halp!

Am I right in thinking this is a lot more maximal than his previous work?

― Two hands in the air, that's the Lampard Skank (Matt DC), Monday, March 16, 2009 4:31 PM (2 days ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

kind of? it's pretty lush in comparison to what most ppl think is typical for him...lots of pedal steel, cornet, back vocals, violin, even some extended jethro tull cum herbie mann flute action on the last song. the arrangements are really nice on this.

but i don't know if it's as busy as the brave and the bold or that baroque pop EP he did with rian murphy or the mainstream country greatest hits thing..

think i'm gonna go pick this up today. i haven't even fully processed the last one although i did enjoy it the couple times i listened to it.

yeah, think i'm gonna head out and get this

Caught the show in Des Moines a couple nights ago. Band was on point. White's drumming esp. Loong, minor key "Drunk at the Pulpit" w/free improv style bass and fiddle was choice.

SHUT UP

Am I right in thinking this is a lot more maximal than his previous work?

Kinda glad to hear this tbh. Ease Down the Road is my fave bpb so far, and is the poppiest so I guess I approve of the more is more approach. Enough with the stripped-down thing, y'know?

i'm thinking about milling around the front door, tho, for realz

so first impression--this is indeed very maximal and i'm not really sure it's a good thing.

thanks to gbx my evening just got 1 billion times more awesome!

m@tt are you going to the late show or early show?

HIGH FIVES 4 EVERYONE

AWESOMES!

CU THER

I still say (like with Lay Down in the Light) it's very Grateful Dead (which is a good thing).

holy shit dude. that was incredible.

http://chethondo.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/fistpound.jpg

Has anyone heard this bonus 10" thing? It's rather expensive. Is it worth the $20 for the four extra non-LP tracks or is this just fan-baiting?

I meant 'nerd-baiting.'

I dreamed last night that there was a Bonnie Prince Billy concert outside of Mono (in Glasgow) with Mogwai in support and that I had a ticket but didn't go then hated myself for it.

DUDES WOW.

I went to the late show....He did "World's Greatest" by R Kelly, a super slow version of "I See A Darkness" and a fucking terrifying crazy ass 16 Horsepower/Bad Seeds version of "Drunk at the Pulpit"...

few off the new album, some goods off the letting go, couple master and everyone...

Jim White is maybe my favorite musician to watch play in the whole world.

yeah i fucking love jim white. i've only got to see him w/ the dirty 3 tho

he is like if ron jeremy was a drumming octopus

it was a great show

saw jim white play with smog, he is great

Saw him (White) with Nina Nastasia a few years ago, just the two of them; fantastic.

got excited bcz the website said there were still tix available for a london show but then clicked on it and the only ones you can buy are wheelchair ones. fuck.

got excited bcz the website said there were still tix available for a london show but then clicked on it and the only ones you can buy are wheelchair ones. fuck.

http://www.london-wheelchair-rental.com/

it's probably worth it.

Saw Him and his band in Milwaukee on Wed.The show was Fantastic.Sparse at times and heavy, dense, almost proggy at other points.

jJusten-

check yr gmail homie

you are a good man

gbx check ur gmail account too : )

M@tt, did you buy the "tour only" 7 inch? i had some sort of "8 dollars waht u mad" reaction last night and now i feel stupid.

yeah i did...haven't listened to it yet...checked out the record and apparently it's a collabo between him and some woman named "suzanne" from norway, one side is a buck owens song and one side is a john prine song.

i bought that 10 inch thing which is w/kelly and that cheyanne mize from the show and it's pretty awesome, sounds like stripped down songs that could have been on beware..

i think i paid $20 for both, kinda spendy but i was caught up in the moment.

i wonder if the walker takes a cut of merch? they were all walker people selling it and they even had bar codes on a piece of paper and a credit card machine for each record.

and some woman named "suzanne" from norway,

That will be Susanna then, and she's not just "some woman" damnit! :) She also records as Susanna & The Magical Orchestra.

Se's also still on tour with BPB when I get to see them in Amsterdam in april, luckily.

i wasn't trying to diss! i just looked at it last night at like 2:30 AM for a second

that's nice stuff, cover of jailbreak by lizzy is vv pretty btw

No that's allright!

Seeing as you saw her name for the first time, I take it she didn't play before BPB? Or did you miss the opening act?

xp

nope it was a band called begushkin

oh man a cover of jailbreak???

btw, thanks dude!

I finally picked up a copy of the live one Is It The Sea? It is great. I like it much better than Summer in the Southeast. Wilding is on the way to me now but I find it hard to believe it will be better than Is It The Sea?

chicago show was great. anyone know where i could find a setlist?

maybe try the electrical audio board?

Great cover of "Club Mekon" at the show we saw.

Really like the new release. His best in six years, I think.

I've been giving the new album quite a few listens waiting for it to reveal it's charms.

It's not done it yet.

The press release hype that starts this thread has it all wrong, the problem with this album is that its way too much 'more of the same'. Now, I quite like the same that it's more of - but like the fifth or sixth time you eat your favourite pudding, you notice the stodginess, the sweetness and stickyness much more that the fine flavours.

It is an album of fine flavours, don't get me wrong, but I've had those flavours too often before and there's nothing new here. The slicker production doesn't really help or hinder the songs, I'd compare these tracks to anything on the last half dozen or so Oldham albums and they wouldn't stand out.

Beware has really grown on me, my favorite release of 09 so far.

I know this isn't Craigslist or anything, but does anyone happen to have an extra ticket to his show at the Southbank Centre this Monday?

LOL

"Michael J. Fox"

lol

newsguy bopping around at the end is so awkward/great

So awesome!

Saw him last night in Amsterdam, and it was a really great show. The setlist was carefully constructed it seemed, with several parts with songs that are in the same vein (i.e. slow/melancholy, jangly country, rocking out). In almost all songs he was joined on vocals by the woman who also sings on the last records (I forgot her name), and their voices just 'click' so good, they really sound great together. Add all that a great sound, and I had a splendid evening, very fullfilling. It was raw, fun at times, and moving.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=na6gejkTtZE&feature=related

love this a lot at the moment

very late here, but that kansas city morning news segment was magical. compelling interpersonal dynamics are always guaranteed on these local FOX drive-time things where the interviewer obviously wants nothing more than to hop in their lexus and get the hell home but they're tortured by having to withstand a few more minutes patronizing some drug-addled fruitcake.

"another centimetre probably"

This sounds like it was rad:

http://www.ssgmusic.com/live-review-bonnie-prince-billy-at-wolf-haven-international/

I saw him play an in-store yesterday, took lots of requests, including mine ("For the Mekons et al"). Apparently there were plans for Ralph Stanley and Emmylou Harris to cover "Lay and Love" that never came to fruition.