Beards and Homos
Bonnie Prince Billy, not looking his best.
As some of you know, I've been doing a bit of freelance writing for a NYC magazine called Skyscraper since Cityview closed 21 months ago. (Has it really been that long? I guess so, cause The Paper came and went and now we're left with this.) Skyscraper is a good quarterly music mag, available at your usual chain bookstores. But, I've had an itch to communicate with the outside world a bit more frequently than quarterly as of late, hence this brand-spankin' new blog. From time to time, I'll be posting some reviews I've contributed to Skyscraper on here, as well as plenty of new musings (I hesitate to call it "exclusive"...ha!). But, I digress. Back to beards and homos...
Many of you probably had the chance to catch Bonnie Prince Billy on his recent tour. Sadly, I was out of town when he played Chambana. So, not only did I miss Sir Oldham, but I also missed his opening act, Joanna Newsom (more on her some other day). I assume he was touring in support of his new LP, Bonnie Prince Billy Sings Greatest Palace Music. I haven't read any reviews of this tour, so I have no clue as to whether Oldham was performing live as a "country" band. But, that's precisely what his new album is...at least on the exterior.
About this new record...ambitious comes to mind. So does crazy. But neither adjective hits the nail squarely on the head when discussing Oldham’s new “greatest hits” record. For this album, Oldham—whose mystique has always been one of his everyday traits—decided to let his fans cast an online vote for which songs to include. I suppose that’s a gesture that Oldham wouldn’t have extended ten years ago…but then again, ten years ago you also couldn’t post a testimonial on Will’s friendster.com page (see: "Bonnie Prince Billy"). So, welcome to the new—dare I say improved?—Will Oldham. Audience participation appreciated?
Due to the bizarre nature of the song selection process, any fan of Palace will find plenty to bitch about as far as the track list is concerned. While it pulls heavily from Palace’s early material, there’s surprisingly nothing from the 1993 debut There Is No-One What Will Take Care of You. Meanwhile, Days in the Wake and Viva Last Blues boast a combined seven “greatest hits”. Both sides of 1994’s “West Palm Beach/Gulf Shores” single are included, as is the old benchmark “Ohio River Boat Song”.
As curious as the song selection is, it’s equally odd that Oldham chose to re-record the songs instead of simply reissuing the originals per standard. And, of course, why simply re-record them when you can re-envision the songs, breathing new life into each tune with the help of a cast of Nashville session musicians? So, Will enlisted an army of hired guns including drummer Eddie Bayers (Tanya Tucker, George Strait), fiddler Stuart Duncan (Rhett Akins), Mark Fain (The Chieftans), and elder statesman and legendary pianist Hargus “Pig” Robbins (George Jones, Patsy Cline, Bob Dylan). If you’re wondering whether these new interpretations sound like Palace gone Nashville country, the answer is a resounding “Yes!”. Female background vocals, fleshed out arrangements, the occasional saxophone—it’s all here.
I gotta say, it takes guts to do what Oldham—or rather Mr. Billy, who has so graciously decided to sing Palace Music—has done here. Guts aside, brains would tell you that Oldham is flirtin’ with disaster. But, there’s several things I’ve learned from following Oldham’s decade-long journey through countless monikers. For starters, he has no fear of facial hair. For seconds, his wry sense of humor is as self-effacing as it gets. For thirds, he’s turned plenty of doubters into red-faced fools with his mastery of musical spells both lyrical and melodic. And finally, if there’s anyone that can transform “I am a Cinematographer” into a bootstompin’ boogie, it’s this mischievous troll we’ve come to know as Bonnie “Prince” Billy.
Now, about those homos.
In case the Queer Eye for the Straight Guy comp didn’t quell your musical thirst, some kind soul has decided to dust off the master tapes and reissue of The Homosexuals’ debut (and lone release), The Homosexuals’ LP. It has come with as little fanfare as the album’s original, posthumous 1984 release. Despite 2003 being the year of the queer, no one knows who these Homosexuals are, and judging by the relative lack of press coverage, no one cares, either. But, you really should. It’s time for The Homosexuals to at least rule your CD player if they sadly can’t rule in America’s courts.
Here’s what you need to know about their history in cliff notes format. The trio formed in 1977 in the same British squats that birthed This Heat and Dire Straits, and began recording their debut seven inch at the Nigel Gray-owned Surrey Sound in 1978. Their gigs were irregular both in frequency and performance, as all three swapped instruments as they played. By 1980, the group was fragmenting into solo projects which, by 1981, had all but killed interest in the group.
As for The Homosexuals' music, it’s kinetic art-punk with a sense of humor and a nod toward the dance floor not unlike Magazine or Alternative TV. Unlike any of those bands, however, The Homosexuals preferred to shatter the glass ceiling of traditional pop convention at every opportune moment. (What would you expect from a group whose founders met while rioting at a National Front march?) Hence, the end result sounds like early XTC mobbed by crusty punks launching teargas canisters at anything that moves. Or, in other words, angular pop-punk performed by malcontents who really don’t give a fuck about conforming to NME standards of decency. The Homosexuals dabbled in amateur dub, jittery post-punk, and bizarre sound collages, but ultimately belonged to the same school of pop-rock thought as Nick Lowe. Beneath all their tongue-in-cheek humor and abrasive attitude is a pop band that just wants you to Orgasm. And, in that sense, The Homosexuals remind me of a young, naive Red Hot Chili Peppers. For better and usually not for worse.
You'll have to order this one (Parasol can get it). Or, see the responsible label Morphius for more info. They've subsequently released a career-spanning 3-disc set called Astral Glamour, which is probably a bit much for those seeking to get their feet wet.
It's kind of hard to suggest new music to you, but I'm wondering if you have heard that album by The Arcade Fire? I highly suggest checking them out if you haven't yet.
By 
, at 10:21 PM
Yes, I have heard that record and I plan to write about it shortly. It's a great record, I agree! Thanks for the tip.
By 
thenoiseboy, at 8:25 AM
10:21 PMIt's kind of hard to suggest new music to you, but I'm wondering if you have heard that album by The Arcade Fire? I highly suggest checking them out if you haven't yet.
8:25 AM
Yes, I have heard that record and I plan to write about it shortly. It's a great record, I agree! Thanks for the tip.