Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Email
Answers.com

I See a Darkness

 
Album Review: I See a Darkness
Home > Library > Entertainment & Arts > Pop Albums

I See a Darkness

Buy Now

Similar Albums:

Fading Trails, It's a Game, Should Have Seen It Coming, Kissyface, Exposed Roots: Best of Alt. Country, Something Special for the Kids, To the Last Dead Cowboy, Vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot
  • Artist: Bonnie "Prince" Billy
  • Rating: StarStarStarStar
  • Release Date: 1999
  • Type: Lyrics are included with the album
  • Genre: Rock

Review

Bonnie "Prince" Billy's album I See a Darkness seems to pick up where Will Oldham's 1997 album Joya left off; a more melodic style than the veteran Palace listener might be used to. Oldham definitely hasn't abandoned his foundation of mordant lyrics and minimalist arrangements, but he has built a variety of different layers that make this album an emotional and pleasurable listening experience. In "Nomadic Revery," Oldham draws upon his classic Appalachian sound; it's the kind of song that begs you to join in. Oldham has always given the kind of energy to his character's voices that most people are afraid to relate to. This is all too evident in "Death to Everyone," Oldham punches out his bitter poetry in his most somber voice. The album takes its most surprising turn on "Madeleine-Mary," a Celtic-style folk song set to a Rastafarian guitar sound. "Today I Was an Evil One" introduces a horn section that drives home his morbid words in a strangely elegant manner. The album closes with a short and rare love song called "Raining in Darling"; Oldham stretches his voice to its most impressive limits, and the number is touching and hopeful. ~ Gregg Rounds, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
A Minor Place Bonnie "Prince" Billy (3:43)
Nomadic Revery (All Around) Bonnie "Prince" Billy (3:58)
I See a Darkness (Lyrics) Will Oldham Bonnie "Prince" Billy (4:49)
Another Day Full of Dread Bonnie "Prince" Billy (3:45)
Death to Everyone Bonnie "Prince" Billy (3:10)
Knockturne Bonnie "Prince" Billy (4:31)
Madeleine-Mary Bonnie "Prince" Billy (2:17)
Song for the New Breed Bonnie "Prince" Billy (2:31)
Today I Was an Evil One Bonnie "Prince" Billy (3:23)
Black Bonnie "Prince" Billy (3:52)
Raining in Darling Bonnie "Prince" Billy (1:54)

Credits

Konrad Strauss (Mastering), Paul Oldham (Band), Paul Oldham (Engineer), Paul Oldham (Musician), Will Oldham (Musician), David Pajo (Mixing), Bonnie "Prince" Billy (Main Performer), Sammy Harkham (Drawing)
Search unanswered questions...

Enter a question here...
Search: All sources Community Q&A Reference topics

Wikipedia: I See a Darkness
Top
Home > Library > Miscellaneous > Wikipedia
I See a Darkness
Studio album by Bonnie 'Prince' Billy
Released 19 January 1999
Genre Folk, indie rock
Length 37:56
Label Palace Records
Professional reviews
Bonnie 'Prince' Billy chronology
Joya
(1997)		 I See a Darkness
(1999)		 Ease Down the Road
(2001)

I See a Darkness is the name of an album by Bonnie 'Prince' Billy. It is Will Oldham's sixth album, and the first on which he used his Bonnie 'Prince' Billy moniker. The album was released in 1999 on Palace Records. It has been called Oldham's "masterpiece" and is his most acclaimed. The album also features Bob Arellano, Colin Gagon, Paul Oldham, and Peter Townsend.

Johnny Cash would later record the title track on his album American III: Solitary Man (2000). Oldham provided background vocals for Cash's version. Steve Adey also covered the title track on his 2006 LP All Things Real.

Track listing

  1. "A Minor Place" - 3:43
  2. "Nomadic Revery (All Around)" - 3:58
  3. "I See a Darkness" - 4:49
  4. "Another Day Full of Dread" - 3:10
  5. "Death to Everyone" - 4:31
  6. "Knockturne" - 2:17
  7. "Madeleine-Mary" - 2:31
  8. "Song for the New Breed" - 3:24
  9. "Today I Was an Evil One" - 3:52
  10. "Black" - 3:46
  11. "Raining in Darling" - 1:54

Awards

The album is one of Oldham's most acclaimed. It has been listed as a Best of several times in several publications:

  • #320 - Acclaimed Music: All-Time Top 3000 Albums [1]
  • #171 - Stylus: Top Favourite 101-200 Albums Ever[2]
  • #20 - Mojo: The 100 Greatest Albums of Our Lifetime[3]
  • #9 - Pitchfork Media: Top 100 Albums of the 1990s,[4] and notably received a rare 10/10 rating from Pitchfork.

References

  1. ^ Acclaimed Music
  2. ^ Top 101-200 Favourite Albums Ever : The Stylus Magazine List - Article - Stylus Magazine
  3. ^ Acclaimed Music Forum
  4. ^ http://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/5923-top-100-albums-of-the-1990s/10/ Top 100 Albums of the 1990s
v • d • e
Will Oldham / Palace Music / Bonnie 'Prince' Billy
Studio albums
There Is No-One What Will Take Care of You (1993) · Days in the Wake (1994) · Viva Last Blues (1995) · Arise Therefore (1996) · Joya (1997) · I See a Darkness (1999) · Ease Down the Road (2001) · Master and Everyone (2003) · Sings Greatest Palace Music (2004) · Superwolf (2005) · The Brave and the Bold (2006) · The Letting Go (2006) · Wai Notes (2007) · Lie Down in the Light (2008) · Beware (2009)
Live albums:
Get the Fuck on Jolly Live (2001) · Summer in the Southeast (2005) · Wilding in the West (2008) · Is It The Sea? (2008)
EPs
Goat Songs (1993) · An Arrow Through the Bitch (1994) · Hope (1994) · The Mountain (1995) · Songs Put Together For (The Broken Giant) (1996) · Western Music (1997) · Black/Rich Music (1998) · Blue Lotus Feet (1998) · Dream of a Drunk Black Southern Eagle (1999) · Ode Music (2000) · More Revery (live version) (2000) · All Most Heaven (2000) · Get on Jolly (2000) · More Revery (studio version) (2001) · Amalgamated Sons of Rest (2002) · Slitch Music (2002) · Seafarers Music (2004) · Pebbles and Ripples (2004) · I Gave You (2005) · Strange Form of Life (2007) · Ask Forgiveness (2007) · Among The Gold (2009)
Compilations
Related articles


Stub icon This 1990s album-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

 
 

 

Copyrights:

Album Review. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "I See a Darkness".  Read more