Music Arcades: Will Oldham: Joya

I was indifferent to this album until now. It put me off getting each new Bonnie 'Prince' Billy album as they came up. I got it from Polar Bear on Ecclesall Road in Sheffield in March 2001. But when I put it on, it just seemed to drift by. None of the songs go out of their way to meet you on your ground. But last Saturday morning (while rocking the Boy in his bouncer with my foot) I put on the CD in the living room and, for the first time, took out the lyric booklet and read along with the songs. When was the last time you did that? Twenty five, thirty years ago, I did that with all my albums at some point (at least, all of them that had lyrics): it was part of the process of getting to know the songs. Even if you don't pore closely over what they mean, the lyric sheet gives you a quick visual representation of the verse/chorus/bridge structure of the song, and helps you find your way to its heart.

And, boy, some of those lyrics… Have a listen to Apocalypse, No! on this cheeky video, and if you click through to the YouTube page, the lyrics are written out under 'more info'.

Anyway, I got to get to know the album all over again, and I liked it. Maybe time to get some of those Bonnie 'Prince' Billy albums after all. Then Lucy popped in and said, "I really like this." A lightbulb comes on: two birds, one stone. It's her birthday next month. Fortunately she won't read this, so it'll still be a surprise when she gets it.