Phosphorescent Harvest is the third full-length offering from the Chris Robinson Brotherhood. It is an attempt at more formal songwriting and lets its freak fly in exploring vintage psych-era California, with some twists. The set was produced, engineered, and mixed by Thom Monahan. Keyboards (by Adam MacDougall) are far more intrinsic to this date. Go no further than opener and first single "Shore Power." It simultaneously combines cheesy '80s synths and Canned Heat-style boogie. "Meanwhile in the Gods.." commences with a riff that suggests the Grateful Dead's "Truckin'" and spirals off. The artifice actually works on "Badlands Here We Come," a country rocker steeped in the drama and space of Ennio Morricone's scores for spaghetti westerns. It contains nice electric piano touches and stinging lead guitar from Neal Casal. Though "Clear Blue Sky & the Good Doctor" commences with whompy keyboards, it charges ahead toward country rock before gently transforming itself into a drifting, summery instrumental. Closer "Humboldt Windchimes" is a compelling instrumental. It uses elements of the Dead's "Weather Report Suite" before becoming nasty, funky, jazz-rock in the bridge, sending the set off on a high note. ~ Thom Jurek
- Format: Vinyl
- Genre: Pop
