Customer Reviews

Pride

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Whenever I really enjoy an artist I get a bit defensive when they are continuously likened to another (even if I enjoy both!). That said, a certain Palace Brother will not be mentioned in this review and it's because of one striking difference between the two that should wholly separate them: Mr. Houck truly appreciates melody.

Listening to this album is like eating chicken soup: I feel just shy of healthy and about to be healed. It's so refreshing when instrumentation can remain minimalistic to make room for melody. It is a very difficult task to master, but Mr. Houck does it effortlessly. Other musicians I've spoke to about Pride believe the songs are sometimes too simple, but paradoxically the simplicity is what grants Pride repeated listens. You don't need to unearth new elements each time because you've already found them. Reflection then seems to be the only path left and any music that makes you reflect should be praised, as nobody does this enough.

The third full-length release from Alabama's Matthew Houck, who relocated to Athens, GA by way of Brooklyn. While Will Oldham is an obvious touchstone here, Houck orchestrates this backwoods church of Southern gothic with wide-eyed, wistful and harrowing hues of his very own. "A Picture Of Our Torn Up Praise" and "The Waves At Night" take this listener past Oldham straight back to Galaxie 500 and Dean Wareham's gawky adolescent yelps. Contrast that with the rich vocal choir that dominates "Waves," "Be Dark Night" and the closing title track -- I've honestly not heard anything this literally harrowing/hallowing since Lou Reed's Berlin. The ukelele-driven neurosis of "Wolves" would give even Freud's most notorious patient a run for his money. "At Death, A Proclamation" has a bit of Peter Gabriel / TV on the Radio rhythm track behind it. "My Dove, My Lamb" finds Houck at his perhaps most Oldham-esque and forms the emotional centerpiece of the disc. "Waves" also wins the best lyric award: "where will we finally trade our teeth for rays of wheat to lay and sleep underneath."

I am not a music reviewer but listening to this has driven me to become one. Sometimes my tastes can run shamedly mainstream, or at least what I think mainstream is .I just bought it four days ago and I am completely obsessed with how good it is. At first the melodies seem different and overwhelming until you realize that this is what music is really all about. Ranks up there with the great artists of our time. Glad I got to discover this music.

I saw Phosphorescent open last night for one of the most (over)hyped bands out of SXSW, Bon Iver. The concert could have ended after Phosphorescent and I would have gotten my money's worth.

Me sitting in my cube listening to this band after a quick and cheap download from amazon is the culmination of the internet. I'm shedding tears of pure joy right now. I had never heard of this band before yesterday. And today, I'm adding Matthew Houck and his lovely troupe to my top 5 bands of the year. Its only March, too.

Aside from putting on a helluva show, the music captures the spirit of the live music. Often times when I buy the album after a great live concert, I'm disappointed by it losing the "live" feel. However, the production and sound of this album Pride is so spot on, that its been on repeat for the last 8 hours. I wish I could hear the 12 minute rendition of wolves again, but now I understand the inspiration of it in its 6 minute cd version.

To those of you who have never ventured out of your comfort zone to buy a cd you may or may not like, please take a plunge with this band. They have a lot to live up too as I'm looking to fill the void of Jason Lytle of Grandaddy refusing to put out another album. You can listen to the words or use it as background music to impress your date. Its driving music, thinking music, and listening music. This album is a success. I don't normally buy an album without more research and when I do I normally regret it. Not this time. For once, my gamble has paid off.

I wish I could be more specific about the album, but I only know that I haven't been this excited about a band in a long long time. Another review describes the simplicity of the album. I can agree. Its as if the animal collective, after a long night on LSD, decided to take special k to come down. And somewhere in that long trip down, Phosphorescent showed up.

Another great album by Matthew... It is is sad and beautiful and hopeful. It sounds absolutely fantastic on vinyl.