Will Oldham has a reputation for opting out of music
industry promotional activities. He just
doesn’t do the promotional circuit for each release, with the obligatory
interviews, television appearances, etc etc.
That’s why it was a bit of a shock to discover this title.
Alan Licht (a friend and sometimes collaborator) sat down
with Oldham for a series of interviews over the course of a week. This book is the result of those interview
sessions. It reads less like a typical
industry hagiography or personality profile, and more like rambling
conversations between friends. That’s
why it works.
Yes, the sort of information fans crave is in here: recording session information, discussion of
song lyrics, influences, etc etc. But
much of the fascinating material is the discussion that emerges at the
margins: Oldham’s idiosyncratic views on
the music industry, art, film, and how to balance the demands of the commercial
and the artistic.
This is probably not for the uninitiated. No effort is made to bring readers up to
speed. There are no references to
reviews or any attempts to contextualize Oldham’s recording history. However, for those familiar with his catalog,
it provides a fascinating glimpse into this idiosyncratic artist.
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