Arise, Therefore

While Oldham's hiccuppy blues tendencies have led critics to brand his Palace music somehow Appalachian, the Louisville-based former actor probably doesn't know enough about song forms to imitate them effectively. But his strained voice and low-fi folk approach to what's essentially indie rock do create the illusion that he's fronting a rustic mountain jug band. Still, Oldham's delicate poetry reveals lyrical sophistication. You know there's something a little more postmodern going on. --Roni Sarig