Prosser 2

Prosser is the work of basically one man named Eric Woodruff. But he certainly can do a lot on his own. This record is steeped in timeless Americana, composed of songs that are in no hurry to get anywhere but are just as enjoyable for their world-weary quality. The album kicks off with a roots-riddled "A Worthy Seed" that is more in line with the roots rock repertoire of the Jayhawks than perhaps Wilco. Prosser also shines on the tunes that seem slow and somewhat somber but a tad more pop oriented, like "Summer Song 3" and the up-tempo "I Met a Girl" that recalls Graham Coxon. Woodruff can also churn out some very sweet, sugar-coated pop gems à la Crowded House with the finely tuned "The Time Has Come" that also resembles something from Peter Bjorn and John. Another nugget comes right afterwards with the slow but stellar "Today." Although three of the numbers have "Summer Song" in them, each is quite different, with "Summer Song 1" being a creepy, haunting and somewhat heady affair that hypnotizes the listener. The weakest of the three is "Summer Song 2" which concludes the album, but not on a high note. Neither as effective is the mournful dirge "State I'm In," which is good but drags the album down. Perhaps the highlight on Prosser is the slow dance groove that guides the bittersweet instrumental "The Path to a Field with a View of the City" ever so gently and delicately. A close second is the tender folksy ballad "Someday Soon."