Palace Songs, Hope — ****

This is another fine offering from Palace Songs, also known as the Palace

Brothers. Hope comes out on the heels of last year’s “Horses” single

and an eponymously titled full-length disc, each release as fine as the

last.

Will Oldham’s voice is a haunting mountain tenor, an extremely expressive

instrument by itself. He has the ability to say more in one line than most

songwriters can in a whole album. On the second track, which is untitled,

he creates a poignant statement about life from a metaphor of a cake,

singing, “I have baked a cake like that in my own home once or twice/ None

of it was wonderful/ Much morely okay.”

Musically, Palace mixes simple guitar strumming with mandolin, banjo and

piano. The band’s concert at the Mercury Theatre last Fall showed another

side to their sound. The band performed its songs in a more rhythmic,

electric style. This turned off some of the fans, who were prepared to hear

the usual eerie Palace acoustic sound.

This latest CD EP strikes a balance between the ultra-acoustic and

ultra-rhythmic. A standard four-piece band backs Oldham on songs like

“Christmastime in the Mountains.”

The highlight of this short set of songs is definitely “All Gone, All

Gone.” It’s the ultimate parting song, cinematic and final. Oldham sings,

almost in apology, “If you think I should go/ I really will go.”

Palace offers a rich new texture to the non-mainstream music world, proudly

showing its roots and penning powerful songs that should make the band much

more than a passing item.

The Chieftains, The Long Black Veil— ****

Ireland’s best musicians have released a new album, featuring

collaborations with a variety of performers from around the world. Every

track here is rich in texture and depth. The Chieftains pull incredible

performances from their guests

The album opens with the traditional “Mo Ghile Mear (Our Hero),” with

vocals by Sting. The tune brings to mind the green hills of Ireland, which

is odd since I’ve never been there.

Mick Jagger joins them on the oft-recorded “Long Black Veil.” Nick Cave’s

version is still my favorite, but Jagger more than does the song justice.

He carries off the tune with a much more American feel, though he’s British

and the band is Irish. Go figure.

Sinad O’Conner sings beautifully on two tracks, “The Foggy Dew” and “He

Moved Through the Fair.” O’Conner’s voice is as full and robust as ever,

and she shines on these traditionals.

Van Morrison performs his classic “Have I Told You Lately That I Love You,”

with The Chieftains adding low-key back up to Morrison’s vocal stylings.

It’s admirable when a group knows when to hold back and when to rev it

up.

The Chieftains go it alone for a version of “Changing Your Demeanour,” and

they are joined by Mark Knopfler (“Lily of the West”) and Ry Cooder (“Coast

of Malabar” and “Dunsmore Lassies”) on some fine tunes. Marianne Faithfull

sings a soulful “Love Is Teasin’.”

The standout track, for its pop culture significance alone, has Tom Jones

singing “Tennessee Waltz/ Tennessee Mazurka.” This mixes the American

standard with an Irish mazurka penned by Paddy Moloney. The CD’s liner note

for this song says that it was recorded at Frank Zappa’s home studio “under

the bemused and watchful eye of Frank himself.” Now there’s a scene to

imagine.