Beware

Fifteen albums into his career (this is his tenth as Bonnie "Prince" Billy, including collaborations), Will Oldham has quite possibly already recorded the songs he'll be best remembered for. At this point, a singer-songwriter usually has two choices: he can actively screw with audience expectations (see: Neil Young), or he can wander into irrelevance (see: Bob Dylan between Infidels and "Things Have Changed"). Happily, Oldham has so far steered clear of both pitfalls: Beware might not be the landmark that I See A Darkness was, but it features substantial, rock-solid songwriting that encompasses a variety of styles. The countrypolitan waltz "I Don't Belong To Anyone" cries out to be covered by some old-school Nashville star of the George Jones school; that it's followed by the almost Jandek-like minimalist bleakness of "There Is Something I Have To Say" is evidence of Oldham's comfort in moving between well-crafted pop and more experimental sounds. The album's rich, varied arrangements feature Oldham's live band augmented by guest spots from Chicago jazz singer Dee Alexander, members of the avant-jazz ensemble Exploding Star Orchestra, the Mekons' Jon Langford and others, and Oldham's voice has grown into a subtle, beautifully expressive instrument.