At this point in Will Oldham’s career, nuance is the sine qua non. Whether in Sea Wolf, the Cairo Gang or any of his many previous solo iterations, Oldham’s folky ruminations vary exclusively in subtle shadings -- like the same vista changing moods in different light and weather. His rustic warble has become an iconic signature and it indelibly colors these songs, whose variations from recent BPB records exemplify the subtle changes: if 2006’s The Letting Go featured haunting folk duets in chamber group settings, the strings gave way to fiddle and “good earthly music” on 2008’s Lie Down in the Light, and here on Beware pedal steel and mandolin take Oldham as close to trad country rock as he’s ever ventured (if you don’t count the country re-stylings of old Palace songs he did on Bonnie “Prince” Billy Sings Greatest Palace Music). Throughout, the constant is Oldham. Though he’s played the Old Soul since his teenage years appearing in John Sayles’ film Matewan, now his narratives reflect how comfortably he’s grown into that role. The appeal of the Palace years was the anxiety of a young man with just enough self-awareness to see what was coming down the road; now that it’s here, no big whoop. Oldham comes off as that avuncular and eccentric relative whose occasional TMI moment keeps the starch out of those family reunions. Like Oldham, that’s something to give thanks for. 

Bonnie "Prince" Billy performed live at Amoeba Hollywood on 4/1/09. Watch the Bonnie "Prince" Billy performance video.