Rating: 7.8
Eric Woodruff’s (of Bellhingham’s spacerock strongarm Delay) new project, Prosser, aims for a more autumnal and intimate sound this time around. Armed with a cast of Seattle-area musicians, and occasionally a cellist, Eric has been canvassing the area by playing at the Tractor, High Dive and the Comet Tavern, among others. Eric Woodruff‘s not fucking around with getting the word out- and his new self-titled album, Prosser makes you understand why.
Roots-riddled, yet berthed out of Bedhead fuzz and GBV honesty, Prosser is as engaging and polished as it is raggedly stripped-down. Lazy “A Worthy Seed” starts off Prosser on a woe-is-me southern (though they’re Washingtonians) bent, lamenting for that illusion of life, love and the pursuit of family. Their fleshy acoustic sound channels the Jayhawks at their least accessible, but with an added darkness and cagey approach.
“Summer Song 3” breezes in on hollow acoustic guitar and haunting vocals. Bright snares kick it up a notch on “I Met A Girl”, easing in with spotless surfer riffs. Reminiscent of pleasing as punch Archer Prewitt, “The Time Has Come” is clean and irresistible pop, claiming your respect instantaneously.
The pace of Prosser creeps into a quasi-swell and then lets you gently down again. This kind of music isn’t for the indie lo-fi junkie looking for a quick fix. At its best through good headphones or live in the crusty dark of a dive bar, Prosser’s impact is only realized during a fully sensational experience. It’s the way that this music makes you feel that’s the dinger. That’s what makes “Prosser” good- the atmosphere that it creates.
Spare guitars and smooth moaning organs lay the perfect ground for Eric Woodruff’s burnished vocals and earnest songwriting. He’s enigmatically touching and his delivery is smooth as butter. Part Bill Callahan (Smog), part Edward Droste (Grizzly Bear) and part David Berman (Silver Jews), Eric Woodruff surprises here with such a veteran performance. Prosser crafts an undeniably good, and American in the Neil Young way, debut album. I’ll be watching this band to see what they do next, on the off chance that it could possibly be any better than this solid set of 14 songs.
– Shrie Bradford