New Music: Phosphorescent - Here's To Taking It Easy

As the end of the summer fast approaches I'm a bit disappointed about the fact that I only discovered the newest Phosphorescent album until now. Every year when it gets hot, I instinctively start listening to a lot more country and Americana stuff. It's inevitable that Gram Parsons and American Beauty will both find themselves in my hot car for the better part of the summer. Phosphorescent's fifth LP Here's To Taking It Easy would fit nicely alongside the music that I turn to when it's warm out.

Although this album came out this past May, it's too damn good to not mention a few months late. My previous exposure to Phosphorescent was the mostly mellow third album Pride. It's nice to hear a full band join him singer/songwriter Matthew Houck on the new album. You can tell that Houck brought a lot of influence with him from the recording of his last album, To Willie, a tribute to Willie Nelson.

From the opening track 'It's Hard To Be Humble (When You're From Alabama)' you can tell something is different from previous albums. Songs like the 'Heaven, Sittin' Down', 'Tell Me Baby (Have You Had Enough)' and the aforementioned title track could rival the best country & western tunes I've heard in the past few years.

I read someone compare a recently released album (I can't recall what album) to what Uncle Tupelo would sound like today if Tweedy and Farrar had never went their separate ways. That quote might not have been describing Here's To Taking It Easy, but it certainly could. If that intrigues you I suggest picking the record up.

Here's the video for 'It's Hard To Be Humble (When You're From Alabama)':

-Matt