Whilst perusing the internet reading various critical reactions to Lie down in the Light, I was struck by a prevalent sentiment that the album will regarded as a minor work in Will Oldham’s vast catalogue of excellence. While I agree that the album is a departure from his past preference for simplicity (and thus is more commercially accessible), I don’t agree with the consensus that this is a bad thing.
On Lie Down in the Light Oldham moves away from the low-fi folk style he has employed for the past decade in favor of a fuller, better produced, sound reminiscent of 2006’s The Letting Go.. Although the album is slightly tinged with an ever-present melancholy, the inevitable confrontation with mortality that comes with aging, the overall tone of the album is ultimately triumphant.
Thematically, the album exudes a pervasive appreciation of life. American life. A life rooted both lyrically and musically in a biblical understanding of existence. Sacrifice coupled with joy, folk insight consolidated with modernity.
Oldham’s more refined sound and the more thorough production of the record is not, like many artists, a subsequent result of signing to a large commercial label. Oldham is neither selling out, nor turning the page on a tradition of folk ballads. Rather, his attention to musical detail and the complexity of arrangement are beginning to reflect the full gamut of human emotion discussed in his lyrics. The songs take on epic and biblical proportions. They are fully scored for multiple instruments including woodwinds, piano, banjo and violin. The arrangements are the best of his career.
Ultimately, the album epitomizes sincerity. Oldham’s appreciation of not only American values, but human experience shines through on tracks like “You want that Picture” and “Missing One.” While his reverence for traditional Appalachian folk is exemplified on tracks like “I’ll be Glad” and “You remind me of Something (The Glory Goes).” Oldham lyrically tackles powerful themes while simultaneously retaining a simplicity and candor in his music. He is one of the best (living) American songwriters. His musical career deserves all the appreciation and envy he has slowly garnered and this album should (and will be) on Oldham fans’ playlists for the next 40 years.
