Palace Music: Lost Blues And Other Songs

Any fan of Will Oldham and his band Palace (or Palace Brothers, or Palace Music) has no doubt expressed frustration at one time or another about the unevenness and unpredictability of the Palace canon: One album will consist of just the craggy-voiced Oldham and an acoustic guitar, while another has a full band, while another features a full band and a remarkably obtrusive drum machine. It's getting harder and harder to keep track of what to buy and what to avoid. (Buy Palace Brothers, Oldham's staggering one-man show, and avoid Arise Therefore and its inexplicable drum machine.) Here's another tip: Buy Lost Blues And Other Songs, an oft-brilliant, remarkably consistent collection of singles and outtakes recorded throughout the last four years. The album is worth owning just for the countrified "Ohio River Boat Song," one of the most accessible full-band songs Oldham has ever recorded, and "Come In," a sad, barren, gorgeous ballad that begs to be heard at home alone at night. As always, Oldham's voice and music are acquired tastes—his voice still cracks and squeaks like there's no tomorrow—but there's beauty spread throughout Lost Blues' 15 songs.