Anxiety Blanket Records
PRE-ORDER: the lentils - “takin it easy the hard way” Cassette Tape
PRE-ORDER: the lentils - “takin it easy the hard way” Cassette Tape
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Long running Los Angeles-based band the lentils are releasing their new album "takin' it easy the hard way" Friday, November 7th, 2025.
the lentils are a problem for Luke Csehak, the songwriter and only consistent member for the band's 11 year run. Of their 11 albums, only two were not recorded in Luke's bedroom. He freely admits that this is likely a symptom of an undiagnosed disorder, and laments his stubbornness and cheapness in insisting on recording the bulk of the material himself. The band's live sets have included around 60 talented members of the Los Angeles and New England DIY scenes, and only a handful have made their way onto the recordings.
"The Lentils have largely been an exercise in self-sabotage," Csehak admits, almost smugly. "I had another band at the time that was starting to get some attention and for some reason I thought I would start a new band from scratch. I guess I have a soft spot for obscurity."
"takin' it easy the hard way" is a bit of a busted wheel moment in the lentils archive. Their 11th album, it marks a turn away from the more maximal material of past releases. It's a sort of sister album to 2020's "ixnay on the entilslay," in that they're both stripped-down, hard stares straight into the slipperiness of the heart. Marked by more personal material, there is a sense of closeness to the recordings. They could be happening right behind you. It's not exactly a "fun" record, but you could get away with playing it at a poker game, if you're playing against dogs, and the dogs are painted in the style of Alex Grey. You should probably avoid playing it in the company of children and definitely not on a first date.
The cruelty of memory gets a few shout-outs. At times the memories act as landlords, at others, as empty beer cans. Pain makes a few appearances too, but as a clue. To what, your guess is as good as mine. But the mood can be surprisingly light at times and the sobering insights are couched in plenty of absurd chuckles to carry you through. There is a self-awareness in the humor that takes the edge off the sometimes brutal critiques of the human heart. Sure a break-up song is a pretty cringe endeavor, but aren't the best things in life a little cringe?
