''Hope'' is an EP by Palace Songs. It was released in 1994 through

Drag City Records Drag City is an American independent record label An independent record label (or indie label) is a record label that operates without the funding or distribution of major record labels; they are a type of small- to medium-sized enterprise, ...

. The title "Agnes, Queen of Sorrow" is a reference to the short story "Jane Sinclair; or, the Fawn of Springvale" by 19th century author

William Carleton William Carleton (4 March 1794, Prolusk (often spelt as Prillisk as on his gravestone), Clogher, County Tyrone – 30 January 1869, Sandford Road, Ranelagh, Dublin) was an Irish writer and novelist. He is best known for his ''Traits and Sto ...

Critical reception

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

wrote that "given a rich, reliable musical backing on ''Hope'', Oldham is free to wander without hindering the songs." ''

Trouser Press ''Trouser Press'' was a rock and roll magazine started in New York in 1974 as a mimeographed fanzine by editor/publisher Ira Robbins, fellow fan of the Who Dave Schulps and Karen Rose under the name "Trans-Oceanic Trouser Press" (a reference to ...

'' wrote that "the fuller tone of these songs, colored to a great degree by Liam Hayes’ Hammond organ, is reminiscent of Dylan’s initial Nashville forays — particularly the hypnotic 'Agnes, Queen of Sorrow.'" The ''

Spin Alternative Record Guide The ''Spin Alternative Record Guide'' is a music reference book compiled by the American music magazine '' Spin'' and published in 1995 by Vintage Books. It was edited by rock critic Eric Weisbard and Craig Marks, who was the magazine's editor-i ...

'' wrote that Oldham "hones the edge between uncertainty and beauty."

Track listing

#"Agnes, Queen of Sorrow" – 4:05 #"Untitled" – 2:23 #"Winter Lady" (

Leonard Cohen Leonard Norman Cohen (September 21, 1934November 7, 2016) was a Canadian singer-songwriter, poet and novelist. His work explored religion, politics, isolation, depression, sexuality, loss, death, and romantic relationships. He was inducted in ...

) – 2:42 #"Christmastime in the Mountains" – 1:38 #"All Gone, All Gone" – 4:52 #"Werner's Last Blues to Blokbuster" – 4:41

Personnel

*Push (

Will Oldham Joseph Will Oldham (born January 15, 1970) is an American singer-songwriter and actor. From 1993 to 1997, he performed and recorded in collaboration with dozens of other musicians under variations of Palace (Palace, Palace Flophouse, Palace Br ...

) – vocals, guitar, bass *

Liam Hayes Liam Hayes, professionally known as Plush since 1992, is an American songwriter and performer, originally from Chicago, Illinois, United States. His discography includes three critically acclaimed records: '' More You Becomes You'' (1998), '' F ...

– piano, organ, electric guitar *

Rian Murphy Rian Murphy is a drummer and producer for the Chicago record label Drag City, and also acts as the company's sales director.Wappler, Margaret (2011)Nothing dims Bill Callahan's red-white-and-blue view, ''Los Angeles Times'', June 16, 2011, retrieve ...

– drums, harmonies *

Sean O'Hagan Sean O'Hagan (born 1959) is an Irish singer, songwriter, and arranger who leads the avant-pop band the High Llamas, which he founded in 1992. He is also known for being one half of the songwriting duo (with Cathal Coughlan) in Microdisney and f ...

– piano, harmonies *Rob Allum – drums *

Briana Corrigan Briana Corrigan (born 30 May 1965) is a Northern Irish singer. She was the female singer for The Beautiful South from 1988 to 1992. Early life Corrigan was born in Northern Ireland. When she was 11 years old, her family moved from Belfast to Po ...

– harmonies

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hope (Ep) 1994 EPs Will Oldham albums Drag City (record label) EPs Domino Recording Company EPs