3.10.2023: Lonnie Holley is an American experimental musician and visual artist who has released his fourth studio album, Oh Me Oh My, on March 10, 2023. The album is a collection of songs that reflect Holley’s personal and political experiences, as well as his creative vision. The album was produced by Jacknife Lee, who helped Holley craft his freewheeling narratives and recollections into concise yet atmospheric songs. The album also features collaborations with various artists, such as Michael Stipe, Moor Mother, Jeff Parker, and Rokia Koné.

The album covers a wide range of topics and emotions, from Holley’s traumatic childhood in Alabama to his cosmic perspective on life and death. The songs are often improvised and spontaneous, capturing Holley’s raw and expressive voice. The album also showcases Holley’s musical diversity, incorporating elements of R&B, ambient pop, breakbeat, 2-step, free jazz, and psychedelic rock. The album has received positive reviews from critics, who praised Holley’s originality and courage as an artist.

One of the highlights of the album is the title track, “Oh Me Oh My”, which features R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe as a guest vocalist. The song is a stunning track that pairs Holley’s narratives with Stipe’s mournful croon. Holley sings about his mother, who gave birth to “baby after baby after baby after baby,” and how he was sent to a brutal juvenile correctional facility where he was abused and tortured. Stipe sings the chorus, which expresses a sense of hopelessness and despair: “Oh me, oh my/What have I done?/Oh me, oh my/What have I become?” 1

Another standout track is the fifth track, “Earth Will Be Here”, which is a psychedelic and optimistic song that celebrates Holley’s resilience and rebirth. He sings over a lush and layered production that features strings, piano, harp, and drums. He compares himself to a seed that grows into a tree, a symbol of transformation and wisdom in many cultures. He sings: “I’m a seed in the ground/I’m a seed in the earth/I’m a tree in the sky/I’m a tree in your eye”