Those who were disenfranchised by Will Oldham's decision to countrfy his Palace back catalog last year with Greatest Palace Music, will be pleased to know that it looks like that was just a one-shot deal. Oldham, still working under his Bonnie "Prince" Billy alias, is back to basics with Superwolf, a collaboration with former Skunk and Chavez frontman and Zwan guitarist Matt Sweeney. It's strange that Sweeney would be given equal billing here, because this is a Bonnie "Prince" Billy album if there ever was one. Except for lead vocals on "What Are You?" and some heavy guitar riffs on "My Home Is The Sea" and the superior "Goat and Ram," Sweeney is basically relegated to backing vocals for most of Superwolf.

For whatever reason though, just having Sweeney around seems to bring out the best in Oldham. "Beast for Thee" may just be the greatest Bonnie "Prince" Billy song ever, and I don't think that it would have been possible without Sweeney's delicate backing. Also not to be outdone is the rousing "Lift Us Up." Similar to something that might have been featured on Sufjan Steven's Seven Swans album, "Lift Us Up" (and about half of this album to be honest) has Christian undertones that are inspiring and uplifting without beating you over the head with a religious message. Hopefully Sweeney will be around for more outings like Superwolf in the future, because this is Bonnie "Prince" Billy's most consistently solid work since I See A Darkness and Ease Down the Road.