Viva Last Blues

Spin - 8 - Very Good - "...Oldham's tunes are lovely and thorny, a bible-belt punk response to PJ Harvey's brimstone tangos....purer and wilder than any previous Palace outing....Palace leaves lo-fi country the way Elizabeth Taylor leaves husbands--proving one way to do something new is to hunker down and become weirdly, deeply more of what you already are." NME - 8 (out of 10) - "...[Will Oldham] has expanded his sound--previously shaky, fragmented meta-country--to a richer mix of strafed and plucked guitars, jagged pianos and humming synths....his trademark croaking voice has strengthened....surreal, allusive and crookedly beautiful..." Melody Maker - Ranked #30 on Melody Maker's list of 1995's `Albums Of The Year.' Melody Maker - Recommended - "...the purest country I've heard since the Cowboy Junkies, but as spare as that band were ornate....Albini's production is pivotal...lending their unassuming strummings a powerful presence without requiring them to resort to the risible, c**try-rock, fiddly f***ery of `Comes A Time'..." NME - Ranked #50 in NME's `Top 50 Albums Of The Year' for 1995. Q - 3 Stars - Good - "...Oldham is sometimes artfully artless, there's coherence to this reworking of the restless spirit of country blues..." Uncut - 5 stars out of 5 -- "1995's magnificent VIVA LAST BLUES is simply recommended to all. Its medium for the most part a warm and even Stonesy folk-rock..."

This incarnation of Palace, one of its more impressive, sees frontman Will Oldham turning out some of the strongest bleak country-rock in his career and taking the music in a few intriguing and even upbeat directions. With a great supporting cast that includes, among others, Sebadoh's Jason Loewenstein on drums and Oldham's brother Ned on bass, the group busts out laid-back twangy tunes that can really rock when the opportunity comes up. Most notably, tracks like "Work Hard/Play Hard" and the opening "More Brother Rides" are brimming with energy that may not overwhelm, but certainly provides a hefty backbone. Alternately, slower brooding tracks like the longing "New Partner" see the band proving their chops in a more refined setting. Oldham's cracking backcountry voice may be a bit of an acquired taste, but it's worth the time, as his inflections are capable of powerful feelings and certain honesty. The Palace team has put out many a record, but as far as accessible and slightly upbeat musical ruminations go, Viva Last Blues certainly sees the players near the top of their game. Things are a little thicker and dirtier than on the more laid-back acoustic records this prolific artist has put out, but the rock approach adds worlds to the delivery and creates a powerful palette for the equally important lyrics. Oldham is a truly underrated American talent, and this is among his best work, so take the time to find it. ~ Peter J. D'Angelo|