Bonnie "Prince" Billy - The Purple Bird (2025)

Even early in the year, it's safe to say Will Oldham has made what will surely be one of the best country records of 2025. Recorded in Nashville, The Purple Bird was produced by David "Ferg" Ferguson (press materials note it's only the second time in his career that Oldham has officially worked with another producer), who engineered Johnny Cash's 2000 cover of Bonnie "Prince" Billy's "I See a Darkness"—and who told Oldham this time around, "I don't wanna do a country record, just do your shit, Will." As it turns out, Oldham's latest shit is country. Co-written with Tommy Prine, "Tonight With the Dogs I'm Sleeping" would've been a hit in another era. Loaded with jug-band mischief—including comedic horns and woozy fiddle—it's as laidback as can be and full of fun wordplay, so it feels almost like a tribute to Tommy's dad, the late Americana icon John Prine: "Sitting at the bar with a drink or two/ Telephone rings and it's you know who/ You know who is gonna get his ass chewed tonight." Heartbreaker ballad "Boise, Idaho" is likewise Prine-esque, simple and unfrilled, with lovely backing vocals from Brit Taylor. Singer-songwriter Adam Chaffins lends his high-lonesome harmony to "The Water's Fine," a loose mountain jangle about the purifying powers of a dip in the ocean or a swimming hole. It's a theme picked up again in "New Water" ("It's the water that can wash your whole life away," Oldham sings, suggesting reverence for the way water can offer rebirth or death), a Leon Russell-ish piano number with great bluegrass fiddle from Stuart Duncan. Country legend John Anderson co-writes the lovely, low-key "Downstream" and also takes a verse—his craggy voice a wonderfully weathered companion to Oldham's mossy timbre. Bluegrass star Tim O'Brien sings along and plays mandolin on "Our Home," which glows with good nature. Oldham delves into gospel with "Turned to Dust (Rolling) On," featuring tent-revival harmonies, and "Is My Living in Vain?" The latter, originally by The Clark Sisters, takes on an almost spectral vibe in Oldham's hands, with steel guitar painting a blurry landscape as the lyrics search for purpose in this world. And "One of These Days (I'm Gonna Spend the Whole Night With You)" is a beautiful, Kristofferson-like ballad that hardly has the leer of a Casanova. After Oldham sings, "Instead of seeing me off/ You might just want to turn on/ In the light of the morning, your worries and cares will be gone," he lets out a tiny, barely audible "whoo!" and it feels humble—like he's allowing in a glimmer of hope.

TRACKLIST

1. Bonnie "Prince" Billy - Turned To Dust (Rolling On)
2. Bonnie "Prince" Billy - London May
3. Bonnie "Prince" Billy - Tonight With The Dogs I'm Sleeping
4. Bonnie "Prince" Billy - Boise, Idaho
5. Bonnie "Prince" Billy - The Water's Fine
6. Bonnie "Prince" Billy - Sometimes It's Hard to Breathe
7. Bonnie "Prince" Billy - New Water
8. Bonnie "Prince" Billy - Guns Are For Cowards
9. Bonnie "Prince" Billy;JOHN ANDERSON - Downstream
10. Bonnie "Prince" Billy - One of These Days (I'm Gonna Spend the Whole Night With You)
11. Bonnie "Prince" Billy - Is My Living in Vain?
12. Bonnie "Prince" Billy;Tim O'Brien - Our Home