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Bill Callahan/Smog --- or --- Will Oldham/Bonnie "Prince" Billy ?
So, these two are often mentioned in the same breath (and for some good reasons), but who do people rate more? And if you like one but not the other, why? And are the comparisons fair?
Just inspired by the Will Oldham thread.
Personally I know much more Smog stuff, but I do love what I've heard of W.O. too. Strikes me that Smog is much more straightforward musically, but that lends him a directness that at best means he can be just devastatingly honest / brutal / beautiful. And the voice... try Palimpsest, the first track from A River ain't Too Much to Love - "...like I'm a southern bird / who's stayed north too long"
Will/Bonnie much more textured and very interesting song structures etc - but still right there with the emotion, though perhaps more done through characters / stories etc, whereas Bill sounds like he's always singing about himself.
Dunno what others think? Clearly both lads well worthy of a bit of discussion :)