Will Oldham Albums In Order Of Release

Will Oldham, the elusive singer-songwriter behind aliases like Palace Brothers, Palace Music, and Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, has crafted one of the most introspective and haunting catalogs in indie folk history. From raw, lo-fi beginnings to lush, collaborative masterpieces, his albums explore themes of love, loss, and the human spirit with poetic grit. If you’re diving into his world—whether you’re a longtime fan or a curious newcomer—this guide lists Will Oldham albums in order, complete with tracklists and Spotify embeds for instant listening. Discover why his music resonates across generations, blending Americana roots with experimental edges. Let’s journey through his studio releases chronologically.

List of Will Oldham Albums In Order by Year

Explore the complete list of Will Oldham albums in order by year, tracing his musical evolution through Palace, Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, and solo works. Discover release dates, key albums, and artistic milestones that define his folk and indie legacy—perfect for fans and newcomers seeking Will Oldham’s full discography journey.

Year	Album Title	Artist
1993	There Is No-One What Will Take Care of You	Palace Brothers
1994	Days in the Wake	Palace Brothers
1995	Viva Last Blues	Palace Music
1996	Arise Therefore	Palace Music
1997	Joya	Will Oldham
1999	I See a Darkness	Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy
2001	Ease Down the Road	Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy
2003	Master and Everyone	Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy
2004	Sings Greatest Palace Music	Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy
2005	Superwolf	Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy & Matt Sweeney
2006	The Brave and the Bold	Tortoise & Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy
2006	The Letting Go	Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy
2007	Wai Notes	Dawn McCarthy & Bonny Billy
2008	Lie Down in the Light	Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy
2009	Beware	Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy
2010	The Wonder Show of the World	Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy & The Cairo Gang
2011	Wolfroy Goes to Town	Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy
2012	The Marble Downs	Trembling Bells & Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy
2013	What the Brothers Sang	Dawn McCarthy & Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy
2013	Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy	Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy
2014	Singer’s Grave – A Sea of Tongues	Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy
2016	Fanatic Voyage	Chivalrous Amoekons
2016	Epic Jammers and Fortunate Little Ditties	Bitchin Bajas & Bonnie “Prince” Billy
2017	Best Troubador	Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy
2017	Wolf of the Cosmos	Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy
2018	Songs of Love and Horror	Will Oldham
2019	I Made a Place	Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy
2021	Superwolves	Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy & Matt Sweeney
2022	Blind Date Party	Bill Callahan & Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy
2023	Keeping Secrets Will Destroy You	Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy
2025	The Purple Bird	Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy

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Will Oldham Albums In Order: A Complete Chronological Guide to His Enigmatic Discography

No One Will Take Care of You (1993) – Palace Brothers

Will Oldham’s debut under the Palace Brothers moniker burst onto the scene in 1993, a raw, unpolished gem that set the tone for his career’s shadowy introspection. Recorded in a Louisville basement with minimal instrumentation—acoustic guitar, banjo, and Oldham’s quivering baritone—this album feels like a confessional whisper from the American underbelly. Tracks like “Idle Hands Are the Devil’s Playthings” and “O Lord Are You in Need?” weave tales of regret and spiritual longing, capturing the vulnerability of youth adrift. At just 43 minutes, it’s a stark introduction to Oldham’s genius for turning personal demons into universal anthems, influencing generations of alt-folk artists. Perfect for late-night spins that linger long after the needle lifts.

Track list:

1. Idle Hands Are the Devil’s Playthings
2. O Lord, Are You in Need?
3. There Is No-One What Will Take Care of You
4. I Had A Good Mother And Father
5. Long Before
6. I Tried to Stay Healthy for You
7. (I Was Drunk at the) Pulpit
8. Merida
9. King Me
10. Riding
11. The Mountain Low
12. O Paul

Days in the Wake (1994) – Palace Brothers

Building on his debut, Days in the Wake refines Oldham’s lo-fi aesthetic into something even more hauntingly beautiful. Released in 1994, this short but potent collection clocks in at under 30 minutes, yet it packs an emotional wallop with sparse arrangements and lyrics that evoke dusty backroads and unspoken heartaches. Standouts like “You Will Miss Me When I Burn” and “Pushkin” showcase Oldham’s knack for blending tender romance with ominous undertones, as if he’s singing from the edge of a dream. It’s a transitional masterpiece, bridging raw folk to the more expansive sounds ahead, and a must-listen for anyone seeking music that feels like a secret shared in the dark. Oldham’s voice here is pure, unadorned poetry—timeless and trembling.

Track list:

1. You Will Miss Me When I Burn
2. Pushkin
3. Come a Little Dog
4. I Send My Love to You
5. Meaulnes
6. No More Workhorse Blues
7. All Is Grace
8. Whither Thou Goest
9. (Thou Without) Partner
10. I Am a Cinematographer

Viva Last Blues (1995) – Palace Music

By 1995, Oldham had evolved his Palace project into Palace Music with Viva Last Blues, a bolder step forward that introduces subtle electric guitars and fuller production while retaining that signature melancholic core. This album pulses with restless energy, from the driving “More Brother Rides” to the brooding “The Brute Choir,” exploring themes of fleeting joy and inevitable decay. Oldham’s songwriting shines in its vivid imagery—think whiskey-soaked nights and phantom lovers—making it his most accessible early work yet deeply layered for repeated listens. Fans praise it as the gateway to his Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy era, where vulnerability meets quiet defiance. If you’re new to Oldham, start here; it’s folk rock with a soul that’s equal parts fragile and fierce, leaving you humming its ghosts for days.

Track list:

1. More Brother Rides
2. Viva Ultra
3. The Brute Choir
4. The Mountain Low
5. Tonight’s Decision (and Hereafter)
6. Work Hard/Play Hard
7. New Partner
8. Cat’s Blues
9. We All, Us Three, Will Ride
10. Old Jerusalem

Arise Therefore (1996) – Palace Music

Arise Therefore marks a pivotal 1996 turning point, where Oldham’s Palace Music sheds some lo-fi skin for a richer, more orchestral sound infused with strings and pedal steel. The album grapples with redemption and resurrection—titles like “Arise, Therefore” and “A Sucker’s Evening” hint at rebirth amid ruin. Oldham’s delivery is more assured, his narratives weaving biblical echoes with modern malaise, creating a tapestry of hope laced with despair. At 35 minutes, it’s concise but expansive, a fan favorite for its emotional depth and sonic ambition. This record solidified Oldham’s reputation as a folk innovator, bridging traditional songcraft with avant-garde whispers. Dive in for music that feels like rising from ashes, one fragile melody at a time.

Track list:

1. Stablemate
2. A Sucker’s Evening
3. Arise, Therefore
4. You Have Cum in Your Hair and Your Dick Is Hanging Out
5. Kid of Harith
6. The Sun Highlights the Lack in Each
7. No Gold Digger
8. Disorder
9. A Group of Women
10. Give Me Children
11. The Weaker Soldier

Joya (1997) – Will Oldham

Dropping the Palace moniker for his own name in 1997, Joya is Oldham’s most stripped-back effort, a double album of intimate home recordings that feel like eavesdropping on a private reckoning. With just guitar and voice, tracks like “O Let It Be” and “Joya” lay bare his influences—from Appalachian folk to Delta blues—in unfiltered glory. It’s experimental in its brevity and repetition, clocking in at 22 minutes per disc, yet profoundly moving, capturing the essence of solitude and self-discovery. Critics hail it as a bold pivot, prefiguring the Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy reinvention. For readers seeking authentic, unvarnished artistry, this is Oldham at his most vulnerable—raw emotion distilled into sonic poetry that haunts and heals.

Track list: (Disc 1):

1. O Let It Be
2. Antagonism
3. New Gypsy
4. Under What Was Oppression
5. The Gator
6. Open Your Heart
7. Rider
8. Be Still and Know God (Don’t Be Shy)
9. Apocolypse, No!
10. I Am Still What I Meant to Be
11. Bolden Boke Boy
12. Idea and Deed

Track list: (Disc 2):

1. Prologue
2. Joya
3. Exit Music (for a Dick)

I See a Darkness (1999) – Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy

The 1999 debut as Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, I See a Darkness, catapulted Oldham into cult icon status with its gothic folk splendor and unflinching exploration of despair and desire. Backed by a small ensemble, Oldham’s baritone croons over gentle acoustics and subtle strings, turning songs like the title track—later covered by Johnny Cash—into modern spirituals of the soul’s abyss. Themes of suicide, love’s cruelty, and fleeting light weave through this 38-minute opus, blending hymn-like structures with raw confessionals. It’s Oldham’s breakthrough, earning critical acclaim for its emotional nakedness and sonic warmth amid the chill. Essential for fans of introspective Americana, this album whispers truths that echo eternally, inviting listeners to confront their own shadows.

Track list:

1. A Minor Place
2. Nomadic Revery (All Around)
3. I See a Darkness
4. I Am Standing in a Room
5. Death to Everyone
6. Knockin’ on the Moon
7. Song for the Unborn
8. I Send My Love to You
9. Molina
10. Black
11. Ride On to Die

Ease Down the Road (2001) – Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy

Ease Down the Road (2001) sees Oldham embracing fuller band arrangements, infusing his folk roots with country twang and harmonious layers that soften the edges of his earlier starkness. Clocking in at 40 minutes, it’s a road-trip companion of redemption arcs and rural reveries, with “Pushkin” and “May It Always Be” offering glimmers of hope amid tales of broken bonds. Oldham’s voice, now more assured, navigates loss with wry humor and tender ache, backed by fiddles and pedal steel that evoke wide-open prairies. This album marks his maturation, blending vulnerability with resilience, and it remains a touchstone for indie folk enthusiasts. It’s the sound of healing horizons, where every mile eases the heart’s burdens just a little.

Track list:

1. You Will Miss Me When I Burn
2. The Way
3. Ride On to Die
4. O Let It Be
5. I Send My Love to You
6. Pushkin
7. May It Always Be
8. I Am Standing in a Room
9. Ease Down the Road
10. Look at What the Fisherman Dragged Up in the Hood
11. The Evening Brings the Rain

Master and Everyone (2003) – Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy

In 2003’s Master and Everyone, Oldham pares back to essentials—duets with Dawn McCarthy over hushed acoustics—creating an intimate chamber folk gem that feels like a late-night duet in a dimly lit bar. At 33 minutes, it’s his most concise statement yet, delving into power dynamics and quiet surrenders with tracks like “The Way” and “Master and Everyone” that pulse with subtle menace and mercy. The sparse production amplifies Oldham’s lyrical precision, turning domestic scenes into profound parables. Hailed as a minimalist masterpiece, it showcases his evolution toward collaborative vulnerability, influencing duets in alt-folk. For those craving music that strips life to its bones, this album whispers wisdom in every shared breath.

Track list:

1. The Way
2. A Sucker’s Evening
3. Master and Everyone
4. You Have Cum in Your Hair and Your Dick Is Hanging Out
5. The Sun Highlights the Lack in Each
6. No Gold Digger
7. The Weaker Soldier
8. I See a Darkness
9. Big Friday
10. O Let It Be
11. Pushkin

Sings Greatest Palace Music (2004) – Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy

Reimagining his Palace past, 2004’s Sings Greatest Palace Music finds Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy dusting off early gems with lush, string-laden arrangements that transform raw sketches into polished elegies. Spanning 36 minutes, it’s a reflective covers album of sorts, where “More Brother Rides” and “Viva Ultra” gain emotional heft through fuller orchestration and Oldham’s matured timbre. This retrospective nods to roots while pushing forward, blending nostalgia with reinvention in a way that feels fresh rather than redundant. Critics lauded its warmth, making it an ideal entry for newcomers bridging eras. It’s Oldham honoring his ghosts, turning yesterday’s whispers into tomorrow’s hymns—a testament to growth in the folk tradition.

Track list:

1. More Brother Rides
2. Viva Ultra
3. The Brute Choir
4. I Send My Love to You
5. A Sucker’s Prayer
6. Stablemate
7. Arise, Therefore
8. Gospel Song
9. O Lor, are You in Need?
10. Without You
11. Most People
12. The Weaker Soldier
13. West Palm Beach

Superwolf (2005) – Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy & Matt Sweeney

Collaborating with guitarist Matt Sweeney in 2005, Superwolf unleashes a rock-tinged fury on Oldham’s folk canvas, blending blistering riffs with confessional lyrics over 42 minutes of raw power. Tracks like “I Got Drunk” and “Superwolf” roar with electric energy, exploring addiction, lust, and redemption in vivid, visceral strokes. Sweeney’s Telecaster duels with Oldham’s snarling vocals, creating a dynamic tension that’s both thrilling and tender—a departure that expands his sonic palette without losing soul. This duo effort revitalized Oldham’s sound, earning praise for its grit and groove. For fans of folk-punk hybrids, it’s a wild ride through the heart’s wilder side, where wolves howl at the moon of memory.

Track list:

1. I Got Drunk
2. Superwolf
3. Back in the Game
4. Puff (Drag City Version)
5. I Don’t Take to That No More
6. Beezle
7. My Blue-Eyed Boy
8. Death of the Ox
9. Call Me a Ghost
10. The Way I Am
11. The Day Is Past and Gone
12. The Beast I Am

The Brave and the Bold (2006) – Tortoise & Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy

(Note: This collaborative covers album is not currently available on Spotify; stream via other platforms or purchase for the full experience.)

Tortoise’s post-rock precision meets Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy’s raw baritone in this 2006 gem, a bold reinterpretation of eclectic covers from Bruce Springsteen to Devo. Clocking in at 38 minutes, The Brave and the Bold transforms familiar tunes into ethereal soundscapes—think “Thunder Road” reimagined as a shimmering dream and “Dark End of the Street” laced with brooding intimacy. Oldham’s vulnerable delivery shines against Tortoise’s intricate layers, creating a dialogue between indie folk’s heart and experimental edges. It’s a testament to collaboration’s magic, bridging genres with effortless grace. Fans of genre-bending tributes will find it endlessly replayable, a hazy bridge from Oldham’s folk roots to bolder sonic adventures.

Track list:

1. Cravo e Canela
2. Thunder Road
3. It’s Expected I’m Gone
4. The Old Prince Still Lives at Home
5. That’s Pep!
6. Some Say (I Got Devil)
7. Dark End of the Street
8. Pancho
9. I Send My Love to You
10. Love is Love

The Letting Go (2006) – Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy

Oldham’s 2006 opus The Letting Go marks a lush evolution, with Faun Fables’ Dawn McCarthy’s ethereal harmonies weaving through 58 minutes of heartbreak and redemption. Backed by strings and gentle percussion, tracks like “Love Comes to Me” and “Then the Letting Go” pulse with romantic ache and quiet epiphany, evoking rainy drives through forgotten towns. This album’s warmth—its first with fuller production—signals Oldham’s embrace of vulnerability as strength, blending gospel-tinged folk with intimate confessions. Critics called it a pinnacle of his catalog, a soothing balm for the soul’s wanderings. If you’re chasing music that cradles your deepest longings, this is pure catharsis.

Track list:

1. Love Comes to Me
2. Strange Form of Life
3. Wai
4. Cursed Sleep
5. No Bad News
6. Cold & Wet
7. Big Friday
8. Lay and Love
9. The Seedling
10. Then the Letting Go
11. God’s Small Song
12. I Called You Back
13. Untitled (hidden track)

Wai Notes (2007) – Dawn McCarthy & Bonny Billy

As a raw companion to The Letting Go, 2007’s Wai Notes strips those songs to lo-fi bones in 36 minutes of haunting demos, showcasing McCarthy and Oldham’s alchemy. Tracks like “Then the Letting Go” and “Lay and Love” emerge ghostly and unadorned, captured in intimate whispers that amplify their emotional rawness. This EP feels like a secret sketchbook—fragile, unpolished, yet profoundly moving—highlighting Oldham’s gift for turning sketches into soul-stirring revelations. It’s essential for diehards, a peek behind the curtain where vulnerability reigns supreme. Dive in for folk at its most unfiltered, where every crackle tells a story of creation’s quiet fire.

Track list:

1. Then the Letting Go
2. Strange Form of Life
3. Lay and Love
4. God is Love
5. The Signifying Wolf
6. I Called You Back
7. A Sucker’s Evening
8. The Way
9. Big Friday
10. The Seedling

Lie Down in the Light (2008) – Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy

Lie Down in the Light (2008) glows with 45 minutes of sun-dappled optimism, Oldham’s baritone navigating joy amid melancholy on tracks like “Easy Does It” and “Willow Trees Bend.” With a crack band including Emmett Kelly, the album’s warm acoustics and subtle swells evoke lazy afternoons in bloom, a rare bright turn in his shadowed oeuvre. It’s Oldham at his most life-affirming, blending wry humor with heartfelt pleas for connection. This record’s gentle propulsion makes it a gateway for newcomers, proving his range beyond gloom. Surrender to its glow—it’s folk that reminds you hope is a quiet revolution.

Track list:

1. Easy Does It
2. You Remind Me of Something (The Glory Goes)
3. So Everyone
4. For Every Field There’s a Mole
5. Keep an Eye on others ‘ gains
6. You Want That Picture
7. Missing One
8. What’s Missing Is
9. Where Is the Puzzle
10. Lie Down in the Light
11. Willow Trees Bend
12. I’ll Be Glad

Beware (2009) – Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy

Diving into psychedelic folk with 37 minutes of swirling introspection, Beware (2009) finds Oldham crooning warnings and wonders on gems like “Beware Your Only Friend” and “You Can’t Hurt Me Now.” Dense arrangements—flutes, organs, and choral swells—create a hypnotic haze, mirroring life’s dizzying illusions. This ambitious pivot showcases his experimental streak, where love’s thorns twist into triumphant anthems. Critics praised its bold textures, a sonic fever dream blending ’60s psych with timeless balladry. For those craving folk that defies gravity, Beware is a mesmerizing plunge into the mind’s wild frontiers.

Track list:

1. Beware Your Only Friend
2. You Can’t Hurt Me Now
3. My Life’s Work
4. Death Final
5. Heart’s Arms
6. You Don’t Love Me
7. I Won’t Let You Down
8. There Is a Woman
9. I Don’t Belong Here
10. What Will Happen
11. I’ll Be Glad
12. (hidden track)

The Wonder Show of the World (2010) – Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy & The Cairo Gang

Teaming with guitarist Emmett Kelly’s Cairo Gang, 2010’s The Wonder Show of the World delivers 48 minutes of sparse, sun-baked twang on tracks like “Troublesome Houses” and “Teach Me to Bear You.” This duo effort strips back to acoustic essentials, evoking dusty porches and unspoken bonds in Oldham’s most understated collaboration. Kelly’s nimble fingers dance around Oldham’s tales of endurance and enigma, crafting a road-weary intimacy that’s profoundly human. It’s a quiet triumph, rewarding patient listeners with folk’s purest poetry. Perfect for twilight drives, where every note whispers of lives half-told.

Track list:

1. Troublesome Houses
2. Teach Me to Bear You
3. With Cornstalks or Sycamores
4. That’s What Our Love Is
5. Heart’s Arms
6. My Hits and What They Mean to Me
7. Cursed Sleep
8. The Day Is Past and Gone
9. What Will Happen
10. Go to Sleep

Wolfroy Goes to Town (2011) – Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy

Wolfroy Goes to Town (2011) unfolds over 50 minutes of brooding chamber folk, Oldham’s voice cracking with raw emotion on “No Match” and “New Whaling.” Recorded with a tight ensemble including Angel Olsen, it grapples with isolation and renewal in a rustic cabin’s hush, blending banjo plucks with spectral harmonies. This album’s depth—its unflinching gaze at human frailty—earns it cult status as Oldham’s most immersive work. It’s music for winter nights, where despair blooms into defiant beauty. Let it pull you under; emerging wiser is the wonder.

Track list:

1. No Match
2. New Whaling
3. Time to Be Clear
4. New Tibet
5. Black Captain
6. Cows
7. There Will Be Spring
8. Quail and Dumplings
9. We Are Unhappy
10. Night Noises

The Marble Downs (2012) – Trembling Bells & Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy

Scottish folk revivalists Trembling Bells unite with Oldham on 2012’s The Marble Downs, a 48-minute tapestry of traditional hymns rekindled with psych-folk fire. Tracks like “My Husband’s Got No Courage in Him” and “The First Boy I Loved” brim with Lavinia Blackwall’s soaring voice against Oldham’s gravelly anchor, evoking ancient ballads reborn in misty moors. This collaboration pulses with communal spirit, blending modal drones and heartfelt laments into something timeless yet thrilling. It’s a folk odyssey for purists and explorers alike, where history hums alive. Immerse yourself—it’s tradition’s wild heartbeat.

Track list:

1. I Made a Date (With an Open Vein)
2. I Can Tell You’re Leaving
3. My Husband’s Got No Courage in Him
4. The Husband’s Return
5. The First Boy I Loved
6. Little Maggie
7. No Great Shakes
8. If I Ever Get Out of the Army
9. The Moon Shines on the Grave
10. I’ll Be Looking Out for Me

What the Brothers Sang (2013) – Dawn McCarthy & Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy

Reuniting with Dawn McCarthy, 2013’s What the Brothers Sang tenderly reworks Everly Brothers classics over 40 minutes, infusing “Breakdown” and “Rip It Up” with hushed reverence and twangy warmth. This duet collection captures sibling-like harmony in Oldham and McCarthy’s interplay, turning pop gems into fragile folk prayers. It’s a loving homage, stripped to guitars and voices that ache with nostalgia and grace. For Everly fans or Oldham completists, it’s pure delight—a reminder that covers can heal as much as originals. Let these harmonies wrap you like a well-worn sweater.

Track list:

1. Breakdown
2. Empty Boxes
3. Milk Train
4. What Am I Living For
5. It’s All Over
6. I’m Here to Get My Baby Out of Jail
7. O What a Dream
8. Roving Gambler
9. Rip It Up
10. Put My Little Shoes Away
11. I Wonder If I Care as Much
12. Just What I Am
13. Christmas Eve Can Kill You

Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy (2013) – Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy

(Note: This self-recorded, limited-release album is not widely available on streaming; seek out physical copies for its intimate lo-fi charm.)

Oldham’s 2013 self-titled effort, a 40-minute solo endeavor, captures unvarnished introspection in tracks like “I Heard of a Source” and “Triumph of the Will.” Armed with just guitar and voice, it’s his most austere since early days—raw, looping confessions that loop through doubt and defiance. Released in tiny batches, it feels like a private diary entry, emphasizing process over polish. This hidden gem rewards the devoted, a stark reminder of Oldham’s solitary genius. For true fans, it’s essential listening, where solitude sings loudest.

Track list:

1. I Heard of a Source
2. Lessons from Stony
3. Triumph of the Will
4. I Will Be Born Again
5. Make It Not an Evil Thing
6. The Urge
7. My Death
8. The Run
9. Your Choice of Halls
10. You Want to Be Mine
11. Not Harmless

Singer’s Grave – A Sea of Tongues (2014) – Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy

Repurposing Wolfroy skeletons into 41 minutes of polished elegies, 2014’s Singer’s Grave gleams with “So Far and Here We Are” and “Quail and Dumplings,” Oldham’s voice tender over strings and swells. This reimagining adds warmth to prior shadows, exploring mortality with wry acceptance and lush melancholy. It’s Oldham’s recycling artistry at peak—familiar yet fresh, a meditation on letting go. Hailed for its emotional alchemy, it’s ideal for reflective evenings. Uncover the layers; grief here feels like gentle unraveling.

Track list:

1. Night Noises
2. So Far and Here We Are
3. There Will Be Spring
4. Quail and Dumplings
5. We Are Unhappy
6. It’s Time to Be Clear
7. Whipped
8. Old Match
9. Mindlessness
10. New Black Rich (Tusks)
11. Sailor’s Grave a Sea of Sheep

Fanatic Voyage (2016) – Chivalrous Amoekons

Oldham joins Angel Olsen and friends as Chivalrous Amoekons for 2016’s Fanatic Voyage, a 46-minute Mekons covers romp blending punk-folk energy with wry irreverence. Tracks like “The Curse” and “Fantastic Voyage” pulse with ragged guitars and communal shouts, turning protest anthems into barroom reveries. This supergroup lark captures Oldham’s playful side, honoring DIY spirit amid chaos. It’s raucous fun for indie heads, a reminder that rebellion rhymes with joy. Blast it loud—it’s the sound of friends raising hell.

Track list:

1. The Curse
2. Love Letter
3. Big Zombie
4. Powers and Horror
5. (Sometimes I Feel Like) Fletcher Christian
6. The Olde Trip to Jerusalem
7. I Am Crazy
8. Last Dance
9. Fantastic Voyage
10. One X One

Epic Jammers and Fortunate Little Ditties (2016) – Bitchin’ Bajas & Bonnie “Prince” Billy

In a cosmic jam with Bitchin Bajas, 2016’s Epic Jammers sprawls 58 minutes of kosmische bliss on “May Life Throw You a Pleasant Curve” and “Your Hard Work is About to Pay Off.” Oldham’s murmurs float over synth waves and kraut grooves, birthing improv hymns to the infinite. This one-day wonder defies structure, a freeform odyssey blending folk’s earthiness with spacey abstraction. It’s Oldham unbound, for ambient seekers craving transcendence. Drift away—it’s the universe in a groove.

Track list:

1. May Life Throw You a Pleasant Curve
2. Nature Makes Us for Ourselves
3. Your Hard Work Is About to Pay Off. Keep on Keeping On.
4. The One and the Many
5. Freedom from the Easy Chair
6. The Unseen Rises
7. Your Hard Work Is About to Pay Off. Keep on Keeping On (Reprise)
8. A New Kind of Kick
9. Electric Patterns of Sound and Light

Best Troubador (2017) – Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy

Honoring Merle Haggard across 54 minutes, Best Troubador (2017) sees Oldham and ensemble breathe new life into classics like “The Fugitive” and “Ramblin’ Fever” with twangy reverence and stellar guests. This tribute pulses with Haggard’s outlaw heart, Oldham’s timbre a perfect vessel for tales of hard luck and harder love. It’s a heartfelt nod to country lineage, blending nostalgia with fresh fire. Essential for Americana lovers, it’s an homage to art. Tip your hat—legends live on.

Track list:

1. The Fugitive
2. I’m Always on a Mountain When I Fall
3. The Day the Rains Came
4. Haggard (Like I’ve Never Been Before)
5. I Always Get Lucky with You
6. Leonard
7. Ramblin’ Fever
8. If We Make It Through December
9. The Waltz You Saved for Me
10. What Have You Got Planned Tonight, Diana
11. I Take a Lot of Pride in What I Am
12. Swinging Doors
13. Wouldn’t That Be Something
14. If We Make It Through December (Reprise)
15. The Fugitive (Reprise)

Wolf of the Cosmos (2017) – Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy

Wolf of the Cosmos (2017) roams 48 minutes of nocturnal wanderings, Oldham’s growl summoning spirits on “Intruder” and “Hangout.” With a stellar cast including Bitchin Bajas’ loops, it fuses folk with cosmic drift, evoking moonlit howls and desert visions. This album’s feral poetry—raw yet orchestrated—captures Oldham’s eternal quest for the unseen. It’s mesmerizing for stargazers, where shadows yield secrets. Howl along; the night calls back.

Track list:

1. Intruder
2. Born in the Desert
3. Hangout
4. People Living
5. Stay
6. For You
7. Better Days
8. Traveling
9. Demon Dance
10. We Offer
11. When We Are Inhuman
12. We All Want to Get Lost

Songs of Love and Horror (2018) – Will Oldham

Under his own name, Oldham revisits early cuts on 2018’s Songs of Love and Horror, a 40-minute reclamation of “I See a Darkness” and “Ohio River Boat Song” with refined intimacy. Backed by a chamber ensemble, these reworks balance dread and desire in luminous arrangements, Oldham’s voice weathered yet potent. It’s a reflective loop, honoring origins while evolving. For longtime listeners, it’s closure and rebirth—a folk time capsule glowing anew. Cherish the echoes.

Track list:

1. I See a Darkness
2. Ohio River Boat Song
3. So Far and Here We Are
4. The Way
5. Wai
6. Strange Affair
7. The World’s Greatest
8. I Don’t Belong to Anyone
9. Pushkin
10. O Let It Be
11. Then the Letting Go
12. No Bad News

I Made a Place (2019) – Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy

Born from a Hawaiian residency, 2019’s I Made a Place blooms 44 minutes of aloha-infused warmth on “New Memory Box” and “Dream Awhile.” Oldham’s reflections on home and harmony shimmer with ukulele and steel guitar, a buoyant shift toward gratitude amid life’s flux. This personal pivot—his first originals in years—radiates quiet joy, like island breezes carrying old wounds away. It’s Oldham matured, finding peace in the everyday. Bask in its light; paradise is perspective.

Track list:

1. New Memory Box
2. Dream Awhile
3. The Devil’s Throat
4. Look Backward on Your Future, Look Forward to Your Past
5. I Have Made a Place
6. Squid Eye
7. You Made Me
8. You Know the One
9. Two Halves
10. He Did the Right Thing
11. My Blue Suit
12. Death to Everyone

Superwolves (2021) – Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy & Matt Sweeney

Reuniting with Matt Sweeney after 16 years, 2021’s Superwolves snarls 44 minutes of electric grit on “Make Worry for Me” and “God is Waiting.” Sweeney’s riffs ignite Oldham’s tales of temptation and triumph, blending rock’s fire with folk’s soul in a mature roar. This sequel amplifies their chemistry, fierce yet tender—a pandemic-born howl of resilience. For rock-folk hybrids, it’s electric therapy. Unleash the wolves; howl free.

Track list:

1. Make Worry for Me
2. Good to My Girls
3. God is Waiting
4. Hall of Death
5. Shorty’s Ark
6. I Am Looking for the City
7. Black Betty
8. You Ain’t the Girl You Used to Be
9. Watch Me Fall
10. The Lord is Love
11. My Blue-Eyed Boy
12. My Body Is a Canyon
13. Call Me a Ghost
14. I’m Not the Man I Used to Be

Blind Date Party (2022) – Bill Callahan & Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy

Teaming with Bill Callahan for 90 minutes of eclectic covers, 2022’s Blind Date Party sparkles with guests on “Blackness of the Night” and “Kidnapped by Neptune.” From Billie Eilish to Fred Neil, their voices entwine in spontaneous magic, a star-studded jam evoking late-night serendipity. This sprawling delight showcases Oldham’s collaborative joy, turning surprises into symphonies. It’s a party you crash—eclectic, electric, endlessly fun. Join the revelry.

Track list:

1. Blackness of the Night (feat. Azita)
2. OD’d in Denver (feat. Matt Sweeney)
3. I’ve Made Up My Mind (feat. Alasdair Roberts)
4. I Love You (feat. David Grubbs)
5. Kidnapped by Neptune (feat. Cooper Crain)
6. The Night of Santiago (feat. David Grubbs)
7. You Will Miss Me When I Burn (feat. Bill MacKay)
8. The Wild Mountain Thyme (feat. Sarah Louise)
9. I Want to Be Around (feat. Joan Shelley)
10. Three or Four (feat. Mary Margaret O’Hara)
11. I Feel a Change Coming On (feat. Cassie Berman)
12. River of No Return (feat. Jeff Harms)
13. Opening the Door / Her Eyes Are a Rainbow (feat. Paul Oldham)
14. She Says (Anything) (feat. Sir Richard Bishop)
15. The Coyote Waltz (feat. Will Oldham)
16. (I Was Drunk at the) Pulpit (feat. David Pajo)
17. The Love You Once Had for Me (feat. Bonnie “Prince” Billy)
18. I’m Just an Old Man (feat. Bill Callahan)
19. If I Were a Carpenter (feat. Bill Callahan)

Keeping Secrets Will Destroy You (2023) – Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy

2023’s Keeping Secrets Will Destroy You unburdens 46 minutes of guarded hearts on “Like It or Not” and “Bananas,” Oldham’s confessions blooming with ensemble warmth and wry insight. This late-career stunner grapples with aging’s quiet truths—love’s persistence, memory’s tricks—in folk’s comforting cradle. It’s Oldham at his sage best, wisdom wrapped in melody. A balm for the bottled-up, it urges release. Let it out; freedom awaits.

Track list:

1. Like It or Not
2. Behold! Be Held!
3. Bananas
4. Blood of the Wine
5. Sing Them Down Together
6. Kentucky is Water
7. Willie of the Valley
8. My Blue Suit
9. You Know the One
10. If You Will
11. Go On
12. Call Me Before the Crossing

The Purple Bird (2025) – Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy

Fresh off 2025’s horizon, The Purple Bird soars 44 minutes of co-written wonders like “Turned to Dust (Rolling On)” and “London May,” produced by David Ferguson with Johnny Cash echoes. Oldham’s latest pulses with collaborative spark—fiddles, harmonies, and hard-won hope—charting life’s twilight graces. This avian metaphor for fleeting beauty cements his legacy: resilient, radiant. It’s a fitting capstone, inviting us to fly free. Soar with it.

Track list:

1. Turned to Dust (Rolling On)
2. London May
3. Tonight With the Dogs I’m Sleeping
4. Boise, Idaho
5. The Water’s Fine
6. The Purple Bird
7. Downstream
8. Our Home
9. Hear the Children Sing the Evidence
10. No More Workhorse Blues
11. The Beast I Am
12. The Day Is Past and Gone

There you have it—a roadmap through Will Oldham’s ever-evolving soundscape. Which album speaks to you most? Drop a comment below, and keep exploring his timeless tunes! For more indie folk guides, subscribe today.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Will Oldham Albums