Lazy But I Like It: A Rusty, Rowdy Ride Through Folk Rock Bliss
Alright, buckle up. This ain’t your grandma’s country album—well, unless she was into banjos shredding like electric guitars and harmonicas that sound like they’ve been dragged through the dust of a hundred backroads. Lazy But I Like It by Moston & Moore is one heck of a hootenanny, blending folk rock grit with pop sensibilities and just enough twang to keep things interesting. If you’re looking for something polished and perfect, go stream some soulless robot playlist. But if you want raw charm and heart-on-your-sleeve storytelling, this Cycle Records release has got your name written all over it.
Let’s cut to the chase: two tracks stand out so hard they’ll slap you upside the head. First off, there’s “I’m Satisfied To Be Your Friend.” Yeah, yeah, the title sounds like something you’d see embroidered on a pillow at a thrift store, but don’t let that fool ya. This tune sneaks up on you with its laid-back groove and Rusty Moore’s vocals dripping with sincerity. The interplay between Joe Moston’s twelve-string guitar and Tomas Valenti’s fiddle? Pure magic. It’s not trying too hard—it’s just being itself, and somehow, that makes it unforgettable. You’ll catch yourself humming it while stuck in traffic or waiting in line at the DMV. Trust me, it sticks.
Then there’s “Battle Of New Orleans,” which feels like what would happen if Johnny Cash decided to crash a hoedown. Banjo? Check. Harmonica wailing like a banshee? Double check. Brent Moorehead laying down lead guitar riffs sharp enough to cut glass? Oh, absolutely. This track doesn’t mess around—it grabs you by the collar and demands attention. By the time those drums kick in (shoutout to Dee de Santos and Todd Geeting), you’re ready to grab a musket and charge into battle yourself. Or maybe just grab another beer. Either way, it works.
What really ties this whole thing together is how loose yet intentional it feels. Producer Rusty Moore clearly didn’t sweat the small stuff here; he let the musicians breathe, and man, does it show. Allen Dresser’s basslines are steady as a heartbeat, Dave Childers’ clarinet adds an unexpected layer of weirdness, and Tomas Valenti proves he can do more than saw away on a fiddle—he can blow a mean harp too. These guys aren’t chasing perfection; they’re chasing vibe, and they nail it.
So, reflection time. Listening to Lazy But I Like It, I kept thinking about how music used to feel before algorithms started telling us what we should listen to next. This album reminds me of sitting on a porch somewhere, sipping cheap whiskey, and letting the world spin without worrying about Instagram likes or Spotify streams. And honestly? That’s rare these days. Hell, even the title says it all: lazy, sure—but damn, I like it.
Now, go buy this thing. Or stream it. Whatever. Just don’t sleep on it, because life’s too short for boring music.
