Search - Tortoise, Bonnie Prince Billy :: Brave & The Bold

Quality stuff

Travis Dubya McGee Bickle | Texas Quail Hunting Camp | 02/01/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I got this because it was cheap at my local used disc store (Second Spin, in Costa Mesa) and I've generally followed Will Oldham...pretty wacky nutjob he is, too, but he's produced a lot of great, moving and well-written songs. Tortoise, I've also enjoyed...but, I didn't have very high expectations for this. I thought it would be way too out there, too experimental, and that it would drain everything good out of some songs I really loved...Well, I needn't have worried. The songs are treated with reverence, even if, in some cases, they're pretty much unrecognizable...the heart and soul are still there...



Great cover, too."

Excellent

Alexander Weaver | newport news, va | 01/30/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The problem with reviewing cover albums is relying on comparing the new song with the actual classic. Yet, when Will Oldham collaborates for the first time with the band, Tortoise, creating covers of classics, the songs they produce are exciting and new on their own. From Elton John to Milton Nascimento, the selections of The Brave and the Bold are interesting and the two artists combine their musical styles to form a bold collection that usually works.



When mixing both artists together, Oldham and Tortoise keep their signature sounds in tact as Oldham's dry voice moans his typical range in "Daniel" and Tortoise show off their normal rock stylings in "Love Is Love" (Lungfish) Yet, when listening to the album, it becomes obvious that Tortoise has the upper hand as their intricate instrumental ability far outshine Oldham's sometimes bored vocals that sometimes lack the range to match his background. For example, "(Some Say) I Got Devil" (Melanie) is lackluster in vocal performance but haunting in its instrumental.



The two sides do, however, work well together on songs such as "Pancho" (Don Williams) which Oldham loses his typical melancholy moans in exchange for optimistic vocals and Tortoise lends a more upbeat sound. "It's Expected I'm Gone" is orginally done by Minutemen and Oldham and Tortoise create a lingering, complexly beautiful song intertwined with a stoic guitar line. Furthermore, both sides show their ability to shift genres as they cover the Latin "Cravo E Canela" in an exciting mix of Oldham's subdued vocals, group singing and vibrant guitars. The highlight of the album is "Cavalry Cross" (Richard Thompson) which perfectly utizlizes Oldham's nuanced voice, supporting vocals and a hypnotic instrumental line.



After listening to this electic mix of covers, it's difficult to put your finger on exactly what the two artists were attempting to accomplish with this album. Eventually, you realize that this album has little agenda except to create an enjoyable album which Tortoise and Oldham successfully accomplish.



Tortoise's Grade : A (95)

Oldham's Grade : B- (82)

Overall : B+ (88)



Download :

Tortoise & Bonnie Prince Billy - Cravo E Canela, Tortoise & Bonnie Prince Billy - Cavalry Cross, Tortoise & Bonnie Prince Billy - It's Expected I'm Gone, Tortoise & Bonnie Prince Billy - Love Is Love



Skip It : Tortoise & Bonnie Prince Billy - Daniel, Tortoise & Bonnie Prince Billy - (Some Say) I Got Devil"

Great Cover Album

allismile0 | Washington, DC | 03/28/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I have to say that what I expected and what I got from this album are two fairly different things. It sounds neither like a Tortoise album or any of Will Oldham's alter-egos. What it does sound like is a new band from where two bands met each other half way. Another words, proving that these musicians are still open to new avenues dispite the success they have already formulated for themselves.

Tortoise and Bonnie Prince Billy (W.Oldham) took a bunch of cover songs and totally made them their own. I am familiar with the original versions of about half of the songs and they definitely molded them into something new and exciting.

For instance Bruce Springsteen's Thunder Road almost sounds like a 70's prog song (a la Genesis)- it's an excellent version. I also love Cravo é Canela, Calvery Cross and It's Expected I'm Gone. Really, there isn't a bad song on here and overall it doesn't feel like an album of cover songs.

I hope they do it again- maybe next time with some originals mixed in. Definitely check this out if you are a Tortoise fan or a Will Oldham fan."