Blitzen Trapper - American Goldwing available September 13, 2011 on Sub Pop.

Here's a review of Blitzen Trapper's "American Goldwing" written by Dylan Hume. Band photo by Tyler Kohlhoff.

I want to put it all on the table. I really like Blitzen Trapper. I really like their albums, and I really like their live performances. So it shouldn't be surprising when I tell you that I really like their newest album, "American Goldwing." But I'm also supposed to be thinking critically about music, right? I mean, right. This is a review. So let me be clear: "American Goldwing" is not Blitzen Trapper's best album. Not even close. It may not even be top three.

Does that mean I don't like it? No. Certainly not. But for a band that has put out four records in five years on a big indie label, their musical evolution seems to be, and I want to be careful about how I use this word here, stagnating.

The album starts strong, and is spotty throughout. Some of the uptempo rockers give you that tingling feeling, like the one you got when you heard "Destroyer of the Void" for the first time. Some of the slower, folkier tunes are pleasantly reminiscent of "Furr." In fact, there wasn't really a moment on the record when I wasn't reminded of one of their old records, which, given how good their older records are, isn't really a condemnation of the band. But it does speak to some nebulous flaw, some missing creative enzyme. I wanted something a little bit (just a little bit) new.

Blitzen Trapper's seemingly effortless blend of several distinct tropes from country, rock and folk music suggest that the band is comprised of individuals who are careful listeners and dedicated fans of those artists who first recognized the potential that lay within blurring the lines of genre. I hate to say "You know who I'm talking about," but if you don't know who I'm talking about, you probably shouldn't be listening to Blitzen Trapper in the first place. It is great music if you like other, older great music.

Luckily for me, I love great music, and Blitzen Trapper makes great music. The album is full of great songwriting, period. Lyrically, it's as good as it's ever been, maybe even better than "Furr," which I regard as a high point of lyricism for the entirety of 2008, and not just for Blitzen Trapper.

The album is also full of great musicianship and production. Everything sounds crisp, the band sounds tight. The cuts sound live, more or less, with the exception of a few moments of studio indulgence by the band. These guys are purists. They wouldn't be making these kinds of records if they weren't, and I respect them for it.

But I can't forgive the album for its inconsistencies. These guys are really comfortable making this kind of music. And they've made a lot of it in recent years, and I can't ever see myself telling them to stop. I just happen to think artists should be more comfortable with doing something different. I know I'm probably in the minority here.  I'm going to go listen to the album again, all the while hoping that I'm wrong. - DH

American Goldwing Tracks:

Might Find It Cheap Fletcher Love the Way You Walk Away Your Crying Eyes My Home Town Girl In a Coat American Goldwing Astronaut Taking It Easy Too Long Street Fighting Sun Stranger In a Strange Land

Tour:

Friday, September 9, 2011  Crystal Ballroom, Portland OR Music Fest North West

Monday, September 12, 2011  Music Millennium, Portland OR in-store @ 8PM!

Tuesday, September 13, 2011  Easy Street (Queen Anne), Seattle WA in-store 7PM!!

Friday, October 7, 2011  Mystic Theater, Petaluma CA w/ Dawes & Smoke Fairies

Saturday, October 8, 2011  Soho Restaurant & Music Club, Santa Barbara CA w/ Dawes & Smoke Fairies

Sunday, October 9, 2011  Belly Up, Solana Beach CA w/ Dawes & Smoke Fairies

Monday, October 10, 2011  Crescent Ballroom, Phoenix AZ w/ Dawes & Smoke Fairies

Tuesday, October 11, 2011  Sol Santa Fe, Santa Fe NM w/Smoke Fairies & Dawes

Thursday, October 13, 2011  Club Dada, Dallas TX w/ Dawes & Smoke Fairies

Friday, October 14, 2011  UTOPIAfest, Utopia TX

Saturday, October 15, 2011  Manship Theatre, Baton Rouge LA w/ Dawes & Smoke Fairies

Sunday, October 16, 2011  Bottle Tree, Birmingham AL w/ Smoke Fairies

Tuesday, October 18, 2011  Variety Playhouse, Atlanta GA w/ Dawes & Smoke Fairies

Wednesday, October 19, 2011  Mercy Lounge, Nashville TN w/ Dawes & Smoke Fairies

Thursday, October 20, 2011  Headliner's Music Hall, Louisville KY w/ Dawes & Smoke Fairies

Friday, October 21, 2011  Orange Peel, Asheville NC w/ Dawes & Smoke Fairies

Saturday, October 22, 2011  Cats Cradle, Carrboro NC w/ Dawes & Smoke Fairies

Monday, October 24, 2011  Black Cat, Washington DC w/ Smoke Fairies & Dawes

Wednesday, October 26, 2011  Webster Hall, New York City NY w/ Dawes & Smoke Fairies

Thursday, October 27, 2011  Theatre of Living Arts, Philadelphia PA w/ Dawes & Smoke Fairies

Friday, October 28, 2011  Royale (MA), Boston MA w/ Dawes & Belle Brigade

Saturday, October 29, 2011  Mohawk Place, Buffalo NY w/ The Belle Brigade All Ages!

Sunday, October 30, 2011  Opera House (ON), Toronto Ontario w/ Dawes & Belle Brigade

Tuesday, November 1, 2011  Beachland Ballroom, Cleveland OH w/ Dawes & Belle Brigade

Wednesday, November 2, 2011  Calvin College Fine Arts Center, Grand Rapids MI w/ Dawes & Belle Brigade

Thursday, November 3, 2011  Metro, Chicago IL w/ Dawes & Belle Brigade

Thursday, November 3, 2011  Reckless Records (Broadway), Chicago IL In-Store! @ 6PM

Friday, November 4, 2011  First Avenue, Minneapolis MN w/ Dawes

Saturday, November 5, 2011  Turner Hall, Milwaukee WI w/ Dawes & Belle Brigade

Monday, November 7, 2011  Fox Theater (CO), Boulder CO w/ Dawes & Belle Brigade

Thursday, November 10, 2011  Rickshaw Theater (BC), Vancouver Canada w/ Dawes & Belle Brigade

Friday, November 11, 2011  Neptune Theatre, Seattle WA w/ Dawes & Belle Brigade

Sunday, November 13, 2011  McDonald Theatre, Eugene OR w/ Dawes & Belle Brigade

Tuesday, November 15, 2011  Fillmore, The (SF), San Francisco CA w/ Dawes & Belle Brigade

www.blitzentrapper.net www.facebook.com/blitzentrapper http://twitter.com/blitzentrapper