Phosphorescent – To Willie LP NEW W- MP3 Sale

Phosphorescent – To Willie LP 

NEW. SEALED.

Includes mp3 download of album.

Dead Ocean Records

Saying Phosphorescent s tribute album to Willie Nelson is redolent of history is an understatement — besides the subject of the album itself, the title acts as a specific reference to Nelson s own 1975 tribute to Lefty Frizzell, To Lefty from Willie. There s a danger of well-meaning overkill and clinging associations at work as a result, which the album has to struggle through. Still, it s also an interesting sign of just how much certain goal posts in the world of indie rock have changed over time — the fascination with older, more real country has been present since the days of X and the Blasters, to name two bands out of many, and Nelson s own well-established outsider outlaw image is a perfect one to hang one s hat on. Mathew Houck aka Phosphorescent and a crew of backing musicians aim to do just that on To Willie and if by default it can t fully capture the killer resonance of Nelson s immediately recognizable vocals and twang, Houck s singing is far more hushed in comparison, though to his credit he doesn t specifically aim to sound like Nelson in terms of out-and-out mimicry — the whole is still a game enough effort, if nothing else showing Houck s excellent taste in song choices. (A collection of the Nelson performances of each track would make one heck of a mix disc.) Kicking off with a double-tip of the hat — Reasons to Quit, written by Merle Haggard rather than by Nelson but a standard for both men — To Willie generally maintains a steady, softly woozy late-night singalong feeling throughout its length, with some performances giving Houck and his band a real chance to shine instrumentally. Walkin features the most musicians on a track — seven total, with some lovely pedal steel work by Ricky Ray Jackson — while Hank Cochran s Can I Sleep in Your Arms is a full one-man-band effort. Another winner is It s Not Supposed to Be That Way, with Houck and Angel Deradoorian sharing vocals over music that uses a spartan yet lovely guitar bass arrangement.