Bonnie Prince Billy - Master & Everyone

List Price: $15.98
Our Price: $10.06
You Save: $5.92 (37%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $5.99 (click here)
Category: Music CD
See more new music releases

Music CD Cover

Free Music Notes for Master & Everyone

Free Music Review: Grows on you slowly
Hit: 5 Stars

A few months ago, I decided to toss a majority of my music collection onto my computer at work. I had to buy a new hard drive to do so, as I have amassed well over 1,000 CDs. I use iTunes and often just switch on the random feature in order to make things a little more interesting. One day, while iTunes was jumping through the tracks in my library, it stumbled upon 'Maundering', a track off 'Masters and Everyone'. I liked it and decided to give the album another chance.

'Masters' is a very subtle collection of songs, its greatness veiled in both Oldham's quiet approach and unwavering tempo. But repeated and focused listens reveal melodies, harmonies, and lyrical gems that will stick the songs in your head. The choral melody on 'Wolf Among Wolves' is pretty perfect. It's got an emotional and musical impact that's moving without being forced. The quiet, somber tone that Oldham delivers on 'Masters' works with his voice -- a voice that's been tamed over the years. Gone are the deliberate bad notes and voice cracks (which weren't without charm -- just a little bit too stylistically motivated) of his Palace days. His voice is controlled and mature without seeming dull in that AOR sort-of way. So, in essence, what made Beck's last album an awful, contrived-for-critical-praise bore fest makes Oldham's 'Masters' work. Oldham's been working toward this for a while and his soul oozes out of every song, whereas Beck's soul seemed afraid to leave the house on the day he decided to record 'Sea Change'.

The last thing I'd like to offer is this: some of you will find this album boring and/or not worth it. That's OK. I'm pretty sure I would have intensely disliked this album in college, but now that I'm older, I appreciate subtlety and substance over style. Gone are the days when Jon Spencer's calculated 'soul'-howls got me into a song. To those who say 'Masters' is pretentious or favors style, I'd ask you to listen again. It's a pretty amazing collection of songs that requires attention, but also delivers on the attention paid.

Master & Everyone Poster

Alternative Rock Music CDs

• Music > Styles
• Country
• Folk
• Pop
• Rock