Palace Songs

Following the bare acoustic settings of Days in the Wake (Palace Brothers), Will Oldham enlisted a full band to record his strongest group of songs yet. Anyone who thought the narrator of Days had been drawing on personal experience might have been amused, frightened, and somewhat concerned for his well-being. The album sounded like it was recorded in isolation. The fragile quality of Oldham's voice, which continually cracks and wavers around notes, only added to these impressions.

In comparison, Hope (which combines four Oldham originals and two covers) feels like a bid for a more human connection. All of the material is lovingly arranged, recorded, and sung. New elements of piano and organ are added, and Sean O'Hagan (the High Llamas) and Briana Corrigan (then of the Beautiful South) contribute harmony vocals. Given a rich, reliable musical backing on Hope, Oldham is free to wander without hindering the songs. On "Untitled," he even proves to be a rather strong (albeit unconventional) singer.

The songs find Oldham asserting himself as more than the cracked, backwoods country singer of his debut (There Is No-One What Will Take Care of You). Here, he reaches a more personal sound that he would continually expand upon in the years to come. Hope provides the direct link to the full-length Viva Last Blues which followed a year later. ~ Nathan Bush, All Music Guide