The Wonder Show of the World

The Wonder Show of the World is a collaborative studio album by Bonnie "Prince" Billy & The Cairo Gang.[8] It was released on Drag City in 2010.[9]

The Wonder Show of the World
Studio album by
Released2010 (2010)
GenreAmericana, alternative country
Length47:46
LabelDrag City[1]
Bonnie "Prince" Billy chronology
Beware
(2009)
The Wonder Show of the World
(2010)
Wolfroy Goes to Town
(2011)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
The A.V. ClubA−[3]
Consequence of SoundC[4]
Drowned in Sound8/10[5]
NME[6]
Pitchfork7.4/10[7]

Production edit

Will Oldham wrote the lyrics for the album, while Emmett Kelly wrote the music.[10]

Critical reception edit

American Songwriter wrote that the album "is polished with smooth blues-guitar wanderings, sparse yet catchy percussion arrangements, and a wealth of reverberating ‘60’s psychedelic choral harmonies."[11] The Guardian wrote that Oldham's "intensity forces our concentration, though, unlike Neil Young, he never extends empathy, only demands it."[12]

Track listing edit

No.TitleLength
1."Troublesome Houses"4:24
2."Teach Me to Bear You"5:44
3."With Cornstalks or Among Them"3:07
4."The Sounds Are Always Begging"4:58
5."Go Folks, Go"5:53
6."That's What Our Love Is"7:23
7."Merciless and Great"5:31
8."Where Wind Blows"4:15
9."Someone Coming Through"3:46
10."Kids"2:45

Personnel edit

Credits adapted from liner notes.

  • Bonnie "Prince" Billy – music
  • The Cairo Gang – music
  • Shahzad Ismaily – bass guitar, percussion, vocals
  • Phil Elverum – vocals (5, 10)
  • Tusi – recording
  • Paul Oldham – mastering
  • Chris Kelly – artwork
  • Joanne Oldham – artwork
  • Dan Osborn – layout

Charts edit

Chart Peak
position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[13] 71
French Albums (SNEP)[14] 176
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[15] 32
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[16] 16

References edit

  1. ^ "Bonnie 'Prince' Billy & The Cairo Gang - The Wonder Show of the World | Drag City". www.dragcity.com.
  2. ^ Bush, John. "The Wonder Show of the World - Bonnie "Prince" Billy, Cairo Gang". AllMusic. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  3. ^ "Bonnie "Prince" Billy & The Cairo Gang: The Wonder Show Of The World". Music.
  4. ^ "Album Review: Bonnie "Prince" Billy and the Cairo Gang - The Wonder Show of the World". April 5, 2010.
  5. ^ "Album Review: Bonnie Prince Billy and The Cairo Gang - The Wonder Show of the World". DrownedInSound.
  6. ^ "Album Review: Bonnie 'Prince' Billy & The Cairo Gang - 'The Wonder Show Of The World' (Domino) | NME". April 16, 2010.
  7. ^ "Bonnie "Prince" Billy / The Cairo Gang: The Wonder Show of the World". Pitchfork.
  8. ^ "Cairo Gang | Biography & History". AllMusic.
  9. ^ "Bonnie 'Prince' Billy & The Cairo Gang The Wonder Show of the World". exclaim.ca.
  10. ^ Pareles, Jon (December 9, 2010). "How Much Instability Is Too Much? (Published 2010)" – via NYTimes.com.
  11. ^ "BONNIE 'PRINCE' BILLY AND THE CAIRO GANG > The Wonder Show of the World « American Songwriter". American Songwriter. April 1, 2010.
  12. ^ Spencer, Neil (March 21, 2010). "Bonnie Prince Billy: The Wonder Show of the World | CD review" – via www.theguardian.com.
  13. ^ "Ultratop.be – Bonnie+%27Prince%27+Billy+%26+The+Cairo+Gang – The Wonder Show Of The World" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  14. ^ "Lescharts.com – Bonnie+%27Prince%27+Billy+%26+The+Cairo+Gang – The Wonder Show Of The World". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  15. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Bonnie+%27Prince%27+Billy+%26+The+Cairo+Gang – The Wonder Show Of The World". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  16. ^ "bonnie-prince-billy-the-cairo-gange Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved February 15, 2019.

External links edit