Red House Painters/Sun Kil Moon leader Mark Kozelek, Calexico, Iron & Wine, the Impossible Shapes, Scout Niblett, Jolie Holland, Pinetop Seven and the Court and Spark are among the acts contributing tracks to the Will Oldham tribute album “I Am a Cold Rock, I Am Dull Grass.”
The 17-track set is due next month via the Indiana-based label Tract Records, which previously issued some of these tracks as part of a highly limited double-disc collection in August 2004. That edition is now out of print.
Kozelek renders “New Partner” (from Palace’s classic 1995 album “Viva Last Blues”) in his familiar solo acoustic style, while Calexico drapes violin and desert rock ambience over “I Send My Love to You.” Elsewhere, Iron & Wine’s bare-bones cover of “We All, Us Three, Will Ride” demonstrates the influence Oldham’s music has had on a decade’s worth of singer/songwriters.
Having just released the live album “Summer in the Southeast” via his Bonnie “Prince” Billy alter-ego, Oldham has begun lining up shows for 2006, including a five-date tour of Scotland that begins April 10 in Aberdeen.
As previously reported, Oldham also teams with Chicago instrumental rock act Tortoise for the collaborative covers album, “The Brave and the Bold,” due Jan. 24 via Overcoat.
Here is the track list for “I Am a Cold Rock, I Am Dull Grass”:
“New Partner,” Mark Kozelek
“Disorder,” Moyra McBride and Maxon Blewitt
“Riding,” the Strugglers
“A Sucker’s Evening,” Boy Omega
“I Was Drunk at the Pulpit,” Jolie Holland
“Rider,” Impossible Shapes
“I Send My Love to You,” Calexico
“A Minor Place,” Pinetop Seven
“Ohio River Boat Song,” Elephant Micah
“Southside of the World,” Sodastream
“May It Always Be,” Pink Nasty
“The Sun Highlights the Lack in Each,” the Court and Spark
“We All, Us Three, Will Ride,” Iron & Wine
“Careless Love,” Racingpaperplanes
“When They Song Flows Through Me,” Viking Moses
“You Will Miss Me When I Burn,” Rivulets
“For the Mekons, Et Al,” Unbunny
“Trudy Dies,” Scout Niblett
