Review of The Brave and the Bold Album by Bonnie Prince Billy
Artist - Tortoise and Bonnie 'Prince' Billy
Album - The Brave and the Bold
Label - Domino
Cult legends Will Oldham (here in his Bonnie 'Prince' Billy guise) and nouveau rock electronic noise and free jazz band Tortoise collaborate for the first time, much as Iron and Wine and Calexico did last year.
Interestingly, they've chosen to take on a bunch of covers from artists as diverse as Elton John, Devo and Bruce Springsteen. Where it works, this is a great sounding record, as on Lungfish's Love Is Love, where the Kraut-rock drums add great texture, but Elton John's Daniel simply sounds like a rock band trying to make it sound a 'bit dark.' Fascinatingly mediocre, and not up to the best of either party's work.
The sleeve notes talk about this collaboration as fun, vital and groundbreaking. Add in the quality of these artists and you'd have high expectations. Sadly, the disc rarely delivers on any of those promises. Not brave enough or bold enough.
Rating 6/10
Adult Contemporary Essentials
Mike Rea
