PHOSPHORESCENT - THE WEIGHT OF FLIGHT

If it weren\'t for the song \"When We Fall\", I would have passed Phosphorescent\'s six-song EP, The Weight Of Flight, to someone else. But, goddamnit... that song is so catchy.
\"When We Fall\" is a fun sing-along, peppered with horns and handclaps (which I\'m a sucker for), and features a room full of singers. At its core, its a fun musical experience. But after a few listens, it becomes more apparent what this song truly is: a bunch of friends sitting around, having a good time, and making music while they do it.
The problem with Phosphorescent is singer/songwriter Matthew Houck. Unfortunately, Phosphorescent is Matthew Houck. Now, slightly nasally or whiney voices I can handle; but Houck\'s voice kills a lot of the music. The songwriting is fine, the instruments tight. But Houck\'s voice is so thin and cutting, it even hurts a cover of Willie Nelson\'s \"My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys\" for me.
I\'ve always said that musicians shouldn\'t feel obligated to add lyrics to their songs because it\'s not always necessary. This EP is a good example of that. But if whiney voices are your thing, try it.