Joya (album)

Last updated
Joya
Willoldhamjoya.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedOctober 27, 1997 (1997-10-27)
Genre
Length40:29
Label Drag City
Producer
Will Oldham chronology
Arise Therefore
(1996)
Joya
(1997)
I See a Darkness
(1999)

Joya is the fifth studio album by American musician Will Oldham. It was released on Drag City in 1997 as the first album billed to his name, rather than the Palace or Bonnie "Prince" Billy monikers. It also features Bob Arellano, Colin Gagon, and David Pajo.

Contents

In 2007, when the album became available for download through iTunes, the artist credit was changed to Bonnie "Prince" Billy, with altered artwork reflecting the change.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Entertainment Weekly B+ [2]
NME 7/10 [3]
Uncut 9/10 [4]
The Village Voice C+ [5]

Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic gave the album 4 out of 5 stars, saying, "it's a promising, ultimately unfulfilling record that doesn't quite prove whether Oldham is a songwriter of pretense or genuine talent." [1] Rob O'Connor of Entertainment Weekly gave the album a B+ grade, calling it "hypnotic and sublimely bizarre." [2]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Will Oldham.

No.TitleLength
1."O Let It Be"3:43
2."Antagonism"5:18
3."New Gypsy"3:13
4."Under What Was Oppression"3:05
5."The Gator"2:26
6."Open Your Heart"3:27
7."Rider"1:31
8."Be Still and Know God (Don't Be Shy)"3:10
9."Apocolypse, No!"3:44
10."I Am Still What I Meant to Be"3:51
11."Bolden Boke Boy"3:48
12."Idea and Deed"3:13
Limited edition bonus disc: Little Joya
No.TitleLength
1."Prologue"1:35
2."Joya"4:57
3."Exit Music (for a Dick)"1:12

Personnel

Credits adapted from liner notes.

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References

  1. 1 2 Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Joya – Will Oldham". AllMusic . Retrieved June 17, 2016.
  2. 1 2 O'Connor, Rob (December 19, 1997). "Joya". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved June 15, 2017.
  3. Bailie, Stuart (October 25, 1997). "Will Oldham – Joya". NME . Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
  4. Young, Rob (July 9, 2012). "Bonnie 'Prince' Billy – reissues". Uncut . Archived from the original on July 11, 2015. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
  5. Christgau, Robert (December 2, 1997). "Consumer Guide: Turkey Shoot". The Village Voice . Retrieved June 15, 2017.