Will Oldham (Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy) has always seemed like some sort of untouchable legend of independent music. Three reasons for this: because he was making music when I was still a kid, his pseudonyms make him seem mysterious, and because I’ve never met him. For such a fixture of modern music, he keeps a relatively low profile in our home state of Kentucky. Hopefully after the release of his new album, The Letting Go, I’ll finally get to attend one of his shows. Here’s hoping.

MP3: Bonnie Prince Billy - Cursed Sleep
Yes, you can call “Cursed Sleep” a country song–if you want to insult it, that is. These days, country just means ‘take what was on the pop charts five years ago and add a steel guitar to it;’ it’s soulless.

Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy is anything but soulless.

No, I think the answer for what to call this song lies within Sufjan told me during our interview: “folk is the music of the people.” Well if you ascribe to that idea (I do), then I think we’re done here. “Cursed Sleep” is a majestic triumph of the human spirit; albeit one that’s as mournful as its name might imply. It’s something that everyone on earth can identify with, and that alone is cause for rejoicing.