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- Summary: Will Oldham's tribute album to Merle Haggard features contributions from Van Campbell, Mary Feiock, Emmett Kelly, Nuala Kennedy, Danny Kiley, Drew Miller, Cheyenne Mize, A.J. Roach, Chris Rodahoffer, and Matt Sweeney.
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- Record Label: Drag City
- Genre(s): Pop/Rock
- More Details and Credits »
Score distribution:
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Positive: 12 out of 15
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Mixed: 3 out of 15
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Negative: 0 out of 15
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May 3, 2017Though it might seem strange that Oldham recorded the first major tribute to Haggard, the careful and well-thought-out working through of the master's themes makes deliberate sense.
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May 16, 2017While a covers album can be a pedestrian thing, often about what the artist can do to make their mark on a song or set of songs, Bonnie Prince Billy’s homage to Haggard is so much more than that--it’s reaching out to a ghost, pulling the uninitiated to a plane where it’s possible for Haggard to be renewed and revitalised while all the time being revered and respected.
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May 3, 2017It’s a heartfelt, human and inspired way of celebrating Haggard’s work.
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The WireAug 8, 2017Best Troubador is a joyous reclamation of song, gentle and true to Oldham’s personal, more delicate style. [Jun 2017, p.60]
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May 9, 2017With Best Troubador, Oldham reflects the format’s most expressive tendencies—to filter an artist’s work through the lens of your fandom. Through these songs, Oldham’s appreciation for Haggard seems to stem less from his innovation within the genre than for his patient evolution and longevity.
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MagnetJun 27, 2017With two exceptions, he avoids the obvious hits, choosing to shine a light on Haggard's often downhearted love songs with arrangements that avoid country-music conventions. [No. 143, p.55]
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May 3, 2017Much of the album remains true (or close enough) to the original arrangements, and you get a real sense that Oldham's singing these songs simply because he loves them and thinks other people should too. While that doesn't make for essential listening, it undoubtedly makes for an enjoyable and almost comforting experience.
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