Product Description

Falling somewhere between the creeping gloom of I SEE A DARKNESS and the brighter, more open perspective of MASTER AND EVERYONE, 2001's EASE DOWN THE ROAD finds Bonnie "Prince" Billy (AKA Will Oldham) refining his minimal, poet-with-a-guitar aesthetic. Though still somewhat "old-timey", Oldham's sound is miles removed here from the ragged, backwoods aura headopted for his recordings with Palace Songs in the early '90s. As Bonnie "Prince" Billy, he employs an understated vocal delivery and a straightforward lyrical and melodic style that borrows from traditional folk, yet feels utterly distinctive.
On EASE DOWN THE ROAD, Oldham's concerns turn primarily to love--its devotions ("May It Always Be"), deceptions (the title track), and luminous moments ("After I Made Love to You"). In their balance between detail and meditation, Oldham's lyrics are affecting, and his plaintive voice distils their poignancy. But the dark and violent aspect of Oldham's persona is here too, as evidenced by "Sheep" (an eerie, ambiguous parable with a lightly driving discordant progression on acoustic guitar). Tasteful instrumentation (includingsoft drums, bass, backing vocals, and the occasional violinor lap steel) completes the focused, intimate feel of this very fine collection of songs.

Track Listing

1. May it always be
2. Careless love
3. A king at night
4. Just tosee my holy home
5. At break of day
6. After I made love to you
7. Ease down the road
8. The lion layer
9. Mrs William
10. Sheep

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #32277 in Music
• Released on: 2001-03-12
• Number of discs: 2

Amazon.co.uk Review
The second instalment of Will Oldham songs recorded under his nom de plume of Bonnie "Prince" Billy, Ease Down The Road finds Oldham playing his quintessential role as the crack-voiced acoustic troubadour. He is backed by a drunken choir and a rickety orchestra--featuring, among others, brother Ned Oldham, avant-garde director Harmony Korine, Papa M's David Pajo and a gaggle of long-time musical comrades from Oldham's first group, Palace. In comparison to the first Bonnie "Prince" album--the spectral I See A Darkness--the mood is warm, playful and concerned mainly with love, infidelity and the joys of the flesh; "She's a fine looking lady, and she likes to go down on me", croaks Oldham on "A King At Night", "And I like to go down on her too..." Lewdness aside, though, there's much to recommend Oldham's latest incarnation as a serious artist, rather than some lo-fi freak, suitable only for a niche audience; the lazy, sleep-encrusted love balladry of "Break Of Day" drags on the cast-offs of a raggedly clothed Bob Dylan, while "After I Made Love To You" gently embraces the gospel tradition--albeit, a gospel to the joys of infidelity, with Oldham whispering of "doing something filthy/in a rented room tonight". He's made better albums, but Ease Down The Road finds this lo-fi Lothario reclining into a comfortably gritty middle age. --Louis Pattison

Customer Reviews

Wow!
In my mind I see Ease down the road as the greatest album of the twenty first yet. A work of chilling lyrical genius sung by the best voice(s) in todays music world. The album never misses a beat, it's dark, crooning, joyus and uplifting at the same time as it carelessly swings from tune to tune. From the swaggering majesty of A king at night to the darkly driven Grand dark feeling of emptiness this album just keeps on delivering. Some of the most lazy and wonderful harmonies appear backed by the full band, but they easily drift away to songs such as Carless love were Will Oldham literally hypnotises you with his voice alone. A true work of genius on par with anything he's done before. Perhaps the most instantly accsesible of his albums it's a great starting point for people new to the world of Will Oldham.
This Album I recomend to anyone with ears.

Superb
The cleaver lyrics make the albumn - all about real life and love. You won't be disappointed, and the envy of your friends for having something different

Romance - Bonnie Prince Billy style!!
Will Oldham is a strange bloke to say the least. In this album, where there's love all he can see is depravity. Oddly, these are the bits he seems to like most of all. The songs are beautifully crafted, but like 'Break of Day' there is a sick pleasure lying underneath. He has a unique slant on love, and darkness is his forte. It's incredibly powerful and eerie, in stark contrast to the sweet music he makes. 'Careless Love' is as rich as anything by Chris Issak, it just happens to have been made by, quite possibly, his evil twin. Oldham has always had a knack of crafting simple tunes intertwined with wonderfully dark lyrics. This truly is his darkest hour, and it's all the better for it.