Phil Lee: The Fall and Further Decline of the Mighty King of Love

Phil Lee
The Fall and Further Decline of the Mighty King of Love
Palookaville

Phil Lee is a Nashville-based singer and guitarist who feels that humor has its place in the blues—preferably front and center. On tunes like the jaunty “Blues In Reverse” or the vicious “Every Time”, he uses his vocals to presumed comic effect; album opener “I Hated to See You Go” opens with the lines “When you left, I said at last / And gave you twenty bucks for gas”. If you’re fond of such Dylan-esque posturing, you’re likely to enjoy the record a whole bunch. Even if you don’t, and even if Lee isn’t quite as funny as he seems to believe, well, at least the guitar playing’s pretty tasty. As is the musicianship in general: there’s plenty of energy to these songs, and Lee is capably backed by a crew that includes George Bradfute on guitar, fiddle, banjo and organ. Fans of Dylan, Townes van Zandt, or guitar blues in general might want to give a listen.

RATING 6 / 10