Viva Last Blues

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
After the dead-Okie solo ballads of the previous full length release, Will Oldham (Mr. Palace himself) got an under-rehearsed band together and set them loose in the studio. Steve Albini's bare bones production is in plain view as drums scrape into the guitars with all the finesse of a basement tape. "More Brother Rides, " "Viva Ultra," "The Brute Choir," and "Work Hard/Play Hard" are the most rhythmic tracks Oldham's ever attempted and the improvisatory nature of the songs allow for some unexpected surprises (Liam Hayes' piano is a loose canon likely to veer off into another song while Bryan Rich's lead work is curiously incompetent at best). --Rob O'Connor --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Viva Last Blues
Average customer rating:
Viva Last Blues

Manufacturer: Drag City Records/Revolver
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

I See a Darkness

Ease Down the Road

The Letting Go

Rumble! The Best of Link Wray

ASIN: B00007LL2S
Release Date: 1995-08-21

Viva Last Blues
Average customer rating:

if i could a mountain, then i would (bleep) a mountain

we all, us listeners, will ride

The best american rock and roll album ever recorded

What the bedongwong is that on the front cover?

i like it

Viva Last Blues
Palace Music
Manufacturer: Drag City
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
Alt-Country & Americana | Country | Styles | Music
General | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Alt-Country & Americana | Country | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

I See a Darkness

Arise, Therefore

Joya

Lost Blues & Other Songs

The Letting Go

ASIN: B0000019RK
Release Date: 1995-08-21

Tracks:

More Brother Rides
Viva Ultra
The Brute Choir
The Mountain Low
Tonight's Decision (And Hereafter)
Work Hard/Play Hard
New Partner
Cat's Blues
We All, Us Three, Will Ride
Old Jerusalem

Amazon.com

After the dead-Okie solo ballads of the previous full length release, Will Oldham (Mr. Palace himself) got an under-rehearsed band together and set them loose in the studio. Steve Albini's bare bones production is in plain view as drums scrape into the guitars with all the finesse of a basement tape. "More Brother Rides, " "Viva Ultra," "The Brute Choir," and "Work Hard/Play Hard" are the most rhythmic tracks Oldham's ever attempted and the improvisatory nature of the songs allow for some unexpected surprises (Liam Hayes' piano is a loose canon likely to veer off into another song while Bryan Rich's lead work is curiously incompetent at best). --Rob O'Connor

Customer Reviews:

if i could a mountain, then i would (bleep) a mountain.......2004-09-07

Recorded by Steve Albini, and featuring Jason Lowenstein. This album came out during the height of indie rock, when the indie labels could do no wrong. This album still holds up to this day, and is just phenomenal. In my opinion it keeps getting better with time. The sound, is soft, but jagged and often hurtful. The voice is deep, and resonates much like Neil Young. I'd highly recommend this album to anyone with any interest in the music of Will Oldham.

we all, us listeners, will ride.......2002-11-07

i'm a relative newcomer to Will Oldham. i was blown away by Johnny Cash's cover of 'I See A Darkness', and had to hear the original.

well, here i am now, just having picked up my sixth oldham album; and let me say, Viva Last Blues is rocking my world. compared to every other oldham album i've heard, this one really rocks. its as strange and disturbing as the rest, but the quality and intensity of the music sets it apart. i would highly recommend this, along with I See A Darkness, as excellent introductory albums to the music of Will Oldham.

The best american rock and roll album ever recorded.......2002-10-01

OK, now, you must remember that Neil Young is Canadian to accept the claim made in my review title. But if you ever wondered what Exile on Main Street would've sounded like if the Rolling Stones were from Kentucky, and made almost no money, then this may be the album. It has more truly moving songs than VU/Nico w/o the filler. If this album doesn't make you think that to care is to be human, then you're probably already dead.

What the bedongwong is that on the front cover?.......2001-04-30

How could you not like Will Oldham. Here is this relatively obscure man from the hills of Kentucky, who's voice cracks as he sings wonderful tunes, not for a crowd of people, but like he was sitting on his back porch, playing for squirrels. I have eight Will cds, and the thing that stands out the most on this one is the production. Produced by Steve Albini (see 1000 Hurts), it is at just the right level to enjoy the music, without overpowering Willy's wonderful voice. As much as I love Will's lo-fi pieces, I can't help but enjoy the rockers on this album just as much.

i like it.......2001-02-24

i just got this album in on vinyl the other day and its one of those albums you can just love instantly. id call it country, or at least shows traces of country music in it which im not a big fan of, but others would not call it country so i dont know. you will have to decide that for yourself. either way the lyrics can crack you up for a second and than make you kinda zone out the next and the music is just great. so check it out if you want, id recommend it, but who am i? and if you dont like this review, than you probably wont like the album so dont waste your time. thanks for readin and peace.