The Phosphorescent Blues

Upon finishing watching Inception several years ago, my wife promptly shouted, “Son of a bitch!” This is pretty much the reaction you can expect to have while listening to The Phosphorescent Blues, the stellar new record from the Punch Brothers. It defies description how this quintet makes such intricate, difficult songs seem like they are easy to play, but that is how this record feels. The bold classical-meets-Americana opener, “Familiarity”—with its 10-minute running time, three movements, dazzling mandolin work from Chris Thile, and the first example of this record's outstanding vocal harmonizing—is a spine-tingling experience. “Boll Weevil” shows off the band's humorous side, mixing lively bluegrass and country stylings as a talking boll weevil gives a farmer what for. And Thile again steals the show on the group's cover of the exquisite Debussy number “Passepied.” “Magnet” is sexy, animated folk pop that features incredibly clever word play, “I Blew It Off” is acoustic pop at its best, and “Forgotten” is so tender and powerful in its subdued exploration of the fear of loneliness that it cuts to the bone. The Phosphorescent Blues is an early candidate for album of the year.