I See a Darkness
| I See a Darkness | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by Bonnie "Prince" Billy | ||||
| Released | 19 January 1999 | |||
| Genre | Indie rock, folk | |||
| Length | 37:56 | |||
| Label | Palace, Domino | |||
| Bonnie "Prince" Billy chronology | ||||
| ||||
I See a Darkness is an album by American musician Will Oldham, released under his moniker Bonnie "Prince" Billy. Released in 1999 on Palace Records, I See a Darkness is Oldham's sixth album, and the first released under the Bonnie "Prince" Billy moniker. The album features appearances from Bob Arellano, Colin Gagon, Paul Oldham, David Pajo, and Peter Townsend.
Johnny Cash recorded the title track on his 2000 album American III: Solitary Man, with Oldham providing background vocals for Cash's version.[1] Steve Adey also covered the title track on his 2006 LP All Things Real.[2]
Critical reception
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [3] |
| The Austin Chronicle |  [4] |
| Clash | 9/10[5] |
| Drowned in Sound | 8/10[6] |
| NME | 7/10[7] |
| Pitchfork Media | 10/10[8] |
| Q | [9] |
| Sputnikmusic | 3.5/5[10] |
| Uncut | 10/10[11] |
I See a Darkness received mostly positive reviews from music critics. Samir Khan of Pitchfork Media awarded the album a rare perfect score and described it as Oldham's "consummate offering" and the "type of record that demands solitary reverence",[8] and Gregg Rounds of AllMusic characterized it as an "emotional and pleasurable listening experience".[3] The A.V. Club's Stephen Thompson remarked that I See a Darkness was the "most appropriate synthesis yet of Oldham's vocals and backing band".[12] Matt Lemay of Stylus Magazine wrote that "by addressing concepts so grand with such sincerity and skill, the album is incredibly powerful under even the most mundane of circumstances".[13]
Simon Williams of NME was more reserved in his praise of I See a Darkness, which he described as "grim" and "perversely cheery", advising listeners that "patience is a virtue" but nonetheless praising the album as a "delicate, intelligent record".[7] Sputnikmusic's Alex Robertson noted the grim subject matter and stated that "when Oldham steers away from his own formula of sadness and strumming [...] is when the album works best".[10] Reviewing the 2012 reissue of the album, Aaron Lavery of Drowned in Sound felt that I See a Darkness was Oldham's "finest achievement thus far" and the "essential release" in his discography.[6]
Accolades
The album has been listed in several "best of" lists.
- #336 - Acclaimed Music: All-Time Top 3000 Albums [14]
- #171 - Stylus: Top Favourite 101-200 Albums Ever[15]
- #20 - Mojo: The 100 Greatest Albums of Our Lifetime[16]
- #9 - Pitchfork Media: Top 100 Albums of the 1990s,[17] and notably received a rare 10.0/10 rating from Pitchfork[18]
- The album was also included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.[19]
Track listing
All music composed by Will Oldham.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "A Minor Place" | 3:43 |
| 2. | "Nomadic Revery (All Around)" | 3:58 |
| 3. | "I See a Darkness" | 4:49 |
| 4. | "Another Day Full of Dread" | 3:10 |
| 5. | "Death to Everyone" | 4:31 |
| 6. | "Knockturne" | 2:17 |
| 7. | "Madeleine-Mary" | 2:31 |
| 8. | "Song for the New Breed" | 3:24 |
| 9. | "Today I Was an Evil One" | 3:52 |
| 10. | "Black" | 3:46 |
| 11. | "Raining in Darling" | 1:54 |
References
- ↑ Beckett, Colin (September 1, 2003). "Johnny Cash – American IV: The Man Comes Around". Stylus Magazine. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
- ↑ Mathers, Ian (July 6, 2006). "Steve Adey – All Things Real". Stylus Magazine. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
- 1 2 Rounds, Gregg. "I See a Darkness – Bonnie "Prince" Billy". AllMusic. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
- ↑ Mellen, Kim (February 5, 1999). "Bonnie "Prince" Billy: I See a Darkness (Palace Records)". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved October 18, 2015.
- ↑ James, Gareth (July 23, 2012). "Bonnie 'Prince' Billy – I See A Darkness". Clash (76). Retrieved April 7, 2013.
- 1 2 Lavery, Aaron (July 27, 2012). "Album Review: Bonnie 'Prince' Billy – Arise Therefore; Joya; I See A Darkness (reissued)". Drowned in Sound. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
- 1 2 Williams, Simon (January 25, 1999). "Bonnie Prince Billy – I See A Darkness". NME. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
- 1 2 Khan, Samir (September 30, 1999). "Bonnie "Prince" Billy: I See a Darkness". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
- ↑ "I See a Darkness, Bonnie 'Prince' Billy". Fishpond.com.au. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
- 1 2 Robertson, Alex (January 17, 2010). "Review: Bonnie 'Prince' Billy – I See a Darkness". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
- ↑ Young, Rob (July 9, 2012). "Bonnie 'Prince' Billy – reissues". Uncut. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
- ↑ Thompson, Stephen (January 19, 1999). "Bonnie 'Prince' Billy: I See A Darkness". The A.V. Club. Retrieved May 16, 2015.
- ↑ Lemay, Matt (September 2, 2002). "Stranded: I See a Darkness". Stylus Magazine. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
- ↑ Acclaimed Music
- ↑ Top 101-200 Favourite Albums Ever : The Stylus Magazine List - Article - Stylus Magazine
- ↑ Acclaimed Music Forum
- ↑ http://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/5923-top-100-albums-of-the-1990s/10/ Top 100 Albums of the 1990s
- ↑ http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/699-i-see-a-darkness/
- ↑ Robert Dimery; Michael Lydon (23 March 2010). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die: Revised and Updated Edition. Universe. ISBN 978-0-7893-2074-2.