After the dead-Okie solo ballads of the previous full length release, Will Oldham (Mr. Palace himself) got an under-rehearsed band together and set them loose in the studio. Steve Albini"s bare bones production is in plain view as drums scrape into the guitars with all the finesse of a basement tape. "More Brother Rides, " "Viva Ultra," "The Brute Choir," and "Work Hard/Play Hard" are the most rhythmic tracks Oldham"s ever attempted and the improvisatory nature of the songs allow for some unexpected surprises (Liam Hayes" piano is a loose canon likely to veer off into another song while Bryan Rich"s lead work is curiously incompetent at best). --Rob O"Connor