When Alabama-born/-raised Matthew Houck packed up and moved to Brooklyn, by no means was he surrendering his past and roots to start anew, as 2007's Pride was soaked in Southern Gothic tradition. Houck's forsaken voice (often compared to Will Oldham) would shout and holler hallelujahs, creating an atmosphere full of both grace and tragedy that left the listener wanting more from this one-man choir. Now, in further honour of his upbringing, his Phosphorescent project presents To Willie, 11 carefully reinvented covers from Willie Nelson's 1970s catalogue. All of the songs are sung with soul and conviction, full of laidback, down-home arrangements (listen to the choral contributions to "Can I Sleep In Your Arms", and the warm, solemn sway of the pedal steel on "Walkin'"). With songs like "I Gotta Get Drunk", Houck shows that he can not only write (or interpret) hauntingly beautiful songs, but also knows how to start a damn good party.