Hope (Palace Songs EP)

Hope is an EP by Palace Songs.^[9] It was released in 1994 through Drag City Records.^[10] 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.

Hope
EP by Palace Songs
Released	1994
Recorded	Chicago, IL, London, England
Genre	Folk rock
Length	20:21
Label	Drag City DC57 (US, miniLP, CD)[1] Domino WIG LP18 (UK, miniLP) WIG CD18 (UK, CD)
Producer	Sean O'Hagan[2] Will Oldham[3]
Palace Songs chronology
An Arrow Through the Bitch (1994) Hope (1994) The Mountain (1994)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[4]
Robert Christgau	[5]
Drowned in Sound	7/10[6]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide	[3]
New Musical Express	6/10[7]
Spin Alternative Record Guide	8/10[8]

Critical reception

AllMusic wrote that "given a rich, reliable musical backing on Hope, Oldham is free to wander without hindering the songs."^[4] Trouser Press 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.'"^[11] The Spin Alternative Record Guide wrote that Oldham "hones the edge between uncertainty and beauty."^[8]

Track listing

1. "Agnes, Queen of Sorrow" – 4:05
2. "Untitled" – 2:23
3. "Winter Lady" (Leonard Cohen) – 2:42
4. "Christmastime in the Mountains" – 1:38
5. "All Gone, All Gone" – 4:52
6. "Werner's Last Blues to Blokbuster" – 4:41

Personnel

• Push (Will Oldham) – vocals, guitar, bass
• Liam Hayes – piano, organ, electric guitar
• Rian Murphy – drums, harmonies
• Sean O'Hagan – piano, harmonies
• Rob Allum – drums
• Briana Corrigan – harmonies