Countless Branches

Bill Fay - Countless Branches
Critic Score
Based on 12 reviews
2020 Ratings: #100 / 871
User Score
Based on 183 ratings
2020 Rank: #607
Liked by 5 people
January 17, 2020 / Release Date
LP / Format
Dead Oceans / Label
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CRITIC REVIEWS

90
AllMusic

Countless Branches, perhaps due to its profound yet intimate vision as well as its craft, just may be Fay's masterpiece.

85
The Line of Best Fit

It's hard to believe these songs were culled from demos recorded over a number of years, such is the sense of unity and thematic cohesion.

85
Spectrum Culture

Thank you, Bill Fay, for offering up such a richly rewarding, calming center in the eye of the shitstorm that is our current existence.

80
musicOMH

Fay’s tremulous voice imbues it all with touching emotion. It’s simple, but utterly heartbreaking – the album in microcosm.

80
PopMatters

One of Britain's most underrated singer-songwriters is going from strength to strength in his 70s. As ever, Bill Fay focuses on the search for meaning and substance in everyday life.

80
Under the Radar

Bill Fay's brand of straight-forward and yet heavy-hitting popular folk deserves a place in every discerning listener's library.

80
Uncut

Its more minimalist style is a welcome return to the sound of some of the finest moments from Life Is People.

78
Pitchfork

The singer-songwriter’s third album since returning from his decades-long obscurity is his sparest and most tender.

73
Paste

Listening to it feels like sitting down and soaking in the stories of someone who has seen it all, written in a direct, uncomplicated and emotionally resonant way.

zachthesnack
75

For those of you who don’t know, Bill Fay is a folk singer from the 70s whose career was lost in the endless ocean of lost vinyl and forgotten records. That is, until bands like Wilco, Current 93, Okkervil River and The War On Drugs started heavily covering his music at their live shows. These covers became a live staple for many of the bands and intrigue into Bills music began to grow. Along with the sudden rush in popularity, Bill was signed to Dead Oceans records, ending a nearly 40 ... read more

laz456
75

It's impossible to hate this. It's a heart-felt, dreamy, excellent singer-songwriter album.

JeremiahMurphy
83

Yeah.... This might just be the best songwritten record of the year. Bill Fays story has always been crazy to me. The fact that Wilco started covering his songs to the point where there fans started streaming his music to get him back into the industry is amazing. His most recent material was dropped a while ago as well but his songwriting and sorrofwul production come in full throttle in this album. Its beautiful. The lyrics are thought provoking the vibe is great and the cover matches the ... read more

holsgr
30

questionable (★★☆☆☆)

ThomYorke2
NR

★★★★1/2
Love this one

manicure
63

Bill Fay is always great at delivering fragile, bittersweet ballads that suit an aged singer-songwriter. His music is simple but heartfelt, with stripped-down arrangements that make his music feel even more sincere and intimate. Honestly, I was not particularly blown away by it, the songs being a little repetitive and forgettable, but it’s always a good album to taste every once in a while.

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Added on: November 13, 2019