As far as being “hip” is concerned, it is pretty hard to “out-hip” Will Oldham. Personifying the epitome of college coffeehouse music and one of the overlooked geniuses of the past decade, Oldham deserves a lot more credit than he gets.

Oldham has been incredibly prolific over the years, recording under a plethora of monikers including “Palace,” “Palace Brothers,” “Palace Music” and “Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy,” as well as his given name, Will Oldham. However, as of late, Oldham has primarily used the pseudonym “Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy.”

“The Letting Go” was recorded in Iceland, and as Oldham escaped to Iceland to record the album, the feel of the album invites the listener to get lost in its lush arrangements.

“Love Comes to Me,” which begins the album, is one of Billy’s most elegantly arranged songs, with strings of equal dramatic pull accompanying the muted guitar and singing.

Never straying too far from his acoustic roots, “The Letting Go” is an acoustic album with Elliot Smith-type singing. “Lay and Love” is as romantic as Billy has ever been, and sounds excellent to boot. With lyrical accompaniment by Dawn McCarthy throughout, it is as if Joni Mitchell is backing Billy on every track.

At a tad under six minutes, “I Called You Back” is as epic as Billy has ever been. It is followed by an untitled track that is just as powerful as the preceding 12 songs.

Nick Drake and Elliot Smith are two people “Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy” can be compared to; however, he is completely unique at the same time.

While some listeners may not have the patience or ear for the slow-building, lullaby-esque singing that Billy employs, “The Letting Go” is further testament to his songwriting capabilities and deserves a close listen at least once by anyone who cares about music.

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