I finally got to hear Will Oldham’s new album Beware and have fallen for it. It’s a youthful answer to I See a Darkness. NPR was right, 2009 is already better than 2008.

link removed by request

MP3: Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy – Beware Your Only Friend
Now, “Beware Your Only Friend” is a fantastic song. However, I’m only selecting it to share because it’s been leaked around the internet already. My true love on first listen is “I am Goodbye,” which I’ll get to in a minute. But now, let’s go with the titleish track.

Beware opens up with as much warmth and humor as the Lexington show Will Oldham put on last year. Not only is this song a well-written, balanced gem, but it features fantastic backing vocals that offer counter melodies to the main verses. I don’t know if he played this song last November, but I really wish I’d had this record in advance of his show so I could properly enjoy this one.

“I am Goodbye” is a stomping folk tune that internalizes the Beatles’ classic “Hello Goodbye” and spits it out in plain, yet poetic, language. Will compares himself to the end of something beautiful and joyous, but yet makes it sound strangely appealing. We’re imbibed with the understanding that the end of something good isn’t necessarily bad. So if you go around opening doors, be thankful for the people like Will Oldham who follow behind you, silently shutting them. Because some people start things, but by God Will Oldham finishes them.

Order Beware from Amazon