Superwolves. Matt Sweeney & Bonnie 'Prince' Billy

Will Oldham, aka Bonnie 'Prince' Billy and Palace (Music), does not need a lot of introduction on this blog. Matt Sweeney is best know from his stint as guitarist in Billy Corgan's post Smashing Pumpkins band Zwan and the duo album 'Superwolf' with Bonnie 'Prince' Billy from 2005. In 2021 the duo returns. Sweeney taking care of the music and Oldham of the lyrics and singing.

'Superwolf' was a great album but, for me, harder to listen to for some reason. That is not the case with Superwolves. The songs are instantly likeable, in their own warped way that is of course. This album is no easy listening session for unpractised ears. Dark and gloomy and paths less trodden on? You can find all that and more on Superwolves.

What strikes me most, is how Sweeney presents himself as a guitarist. He's the master of playing on the square centimetre. Many of his notes seem so small and confined. Of course this only takes place in my mind, but this is how some of the songs come across to me. Intricately woven note patterns that all together leave only the tiniest of spaces for them to mingle to a whole. Other instruments can be present but not as a necessity. The layers of guitars make a song as well. Where other artists would have thrown in the rest of the band, because there is one or because it's the standard. Not the two superwolves.

Will Oldham sings his lyrics over the intricate melodies. To be honest, it's been a few years since his work attracted me, some Bonnie 'Prince' Billy fatigue did set in. That has all gone with Superwolves. His lyrics and vocal melodies get to me immediately. Whether more personal in the sense of relationships or as angst visions that need to be exorcised, both shout for attention. At times multiple Oldhams sing to me, at other instances it is delicate, frail and bare.

What I also like is the way the single 'Hall Of Death' jumps out to me in all its weirdness. It is as jumpy and nervous as it is jubilant. An electric bluegrass as if The Hackensaw Boys decided to plug in and dive off the deep end. The energy in 'Hall Of Death' is so similar, and fun. The contrast with some of the small songs could not be much larger. Both grace the album in their own way.

I can imagine that for the fans of the original Bonnie 'Prince' Billy music, the addition of Matt Sweeney's music may be a hard thing to swallow. What I hear is the way this music challenged Will Oldham to bring out the best in himself. And it did. Superwolves truly is best of multiple worlds.

Wout de Natris

You can listen to and order Superwolves here:

https://mattsweeneybonnieprincebilly.bandcamp.com/album/superwolves

or listen to our Spotify Playlist to find out what we are writing about:

https://open.spotify.com/user/glazu53/playlist/6R9FgPd2btrMuMaIrYeCh6?si=KI6LzLaAS5K-wsez5oSO2g