Bonnie “Prince” Billy: Now Here’s My Plan (Drag City, 7/24/12)
Under the Palace name or his popular moniker Bonnie “Prince” Billy, Will Oldham — rarely letting a year pass without releasing a record — has been a monumental voice in folk music for nearly two decades. His staggering repertoire fuses a punk-esque aesthetic and classic Americana style with authenticity that is as thoughtful and honest as it is off-beat.
In conjunction with his new book, Will Oldham on Bonnie “Prince” Billy, Oldham will release an EP of six revamped renditions of some of his beloved oldies on July 24. In the video for “I See a Darkness” off the upcoming EP, Oldham weaves a toe-tapping tale of camaraderie and despair that in the end feels purely optimistic. Set on the dreary streets of Glascow, the video, starring a jovial Oldham, Oldham’s facial hair, and a collection of strangers and friends, is mutually heartbreaking and uplifting in the way that all great folk music should be (but rarely is).