I reckon it's his best yet.

wouldn't agree that it's his best. 'i see a darkness' and 'master and commander' would be better IMO. still good enough though.

seeing as we're on a will oldham thread, where does everyone stand with the palace stuff vs the later stuff... apart from 'i see a darkness' (which will always be king), i'd take any palace album over any BPB album i think... i'm quite fond of 'master and everyone' but it doesn't do it for me anything like as much as 'viva last blues' or 'days in the wake'... ...anyway, haven't heard 'the letting go' yet... really looking forward to it

by the way, whatever about 'the letting go' (which i still haven't listened to), the 'little lost blues' cd that accompanied early copies is absolutely amaaaaaaaazing!... gathers together bonny billy tracks that are slightly harder to find... the man is a genius

I love the way on this new album that he has changed his voice,i think its a great album, not as good as i see a darkness, thats a great album. but my favourite album is "there is no one what will take care of you"

what album is New Partner on?

It's the first track on 'Sings Greatest Palace Music'.

cool, must get that. The only version I have is a Frames cover on the Headlong EP

no, no, no....halt! new partner is on viva last blues which is probably the best of all palace music albums... avoid greatest palace hits - it is a soft country reworking (just to be perverse)... it has some merits but should only be approached once you have been elsewhere

are you saying the version of new partner on viva isn't that hot? its, by far, the best take of that song. amazingly played and sang. some great bits on that lp. some bad bits too.

with dera on all of the above... which bits don't do it for you, dudley? one of my favourite moments of this year was being at his gig with harem scarem in the tiny scottish village of glenuig.. half the audience were travelling fans and the other half were locals who knew nothing of him and he walks out on stage on his own and launches straight into... "if i could f**k a mountain..." the "what have we let ourselves in for here" look on some faces was pretty special una, if you don't have 'i see a darkness', buy that too...

i don't remember actually, haven't listend in years. didn;t like ease down the road, so backed off him a bit. then that covers record totally put me off. new album is drawing me back in though, tis VG

Tough to top I see a darkness, must be a daunting task. The Letting Go is on the right path though......raging I misssed the recent appearances. Saw him twice before, in Vicar St both times, would have loved to see him in Whelans, ach well next time!!!

Been listening to 'I See A Darkness' alot this week, and while it is a superb album I still think that 'The Letting Go' is better.

Strong words........right better start listening to it again, sitting in work all day so what better time to test-drive the Billy!!!

jaysus!... strong words indeed, gar... i want you to be right... ...but i know you're not

I see the big man is down to play two gigs in London at the end of January, anybody know if there are any intentions to play here???