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

Blitzen Trapper - News from Team Trapp - NYC show Oct 11, 2009

FRIDAY 25, SEPTEMBER 2009

Black River Killer VINYL Pre-Order

Hopefully you all realize that BT released a new EP called Black River Killer, featuring the title track plus 6 other new songs that were previously only available on kinda hard-to-find tour CD-Rs. This EP is currently available in both digital and CD formats (here are theiTunes and Amazon links for you), but has yet to be released in the vinyl format we know so many of you prefer. This will all change on October 6th, when the good people of Sub Pop will release the Black River Killer EP... ON VINYL. And starting now, you can pre-order said vinyl right here. BOOM!

US Tour Starts Tonight!

Hello all, and welcome to another installment of Trapper News. Let's get right down to it: the Trappers are at this very moment heading out a big old tour of the USA, starting TONIGHT in Eugene, Oregon (click here for tix). The guys are fresh off an awesome Euro tour opening for old friends Fleet Foxes and new friends Wilco (check the sidebar for video proof), so they're definitely in fine shape and in fighting form. Full dates are at the bottom of this email. Hope to see you all at the shows!

Trapper Down Under!

This November the mighty Trapper will descend on the even mightier Australia for the FIRST TIME EVER. This is super exciting news. BT will be playing shows in Melbourne, Syndney, and Brisbane, and they're definitely super pumped to finally meet some Aussie Trapperheads. Details below!

Tour Dates

Without further ado, here are all the upcoming BT tour dates. Almost all of these shows are with Wye Oak (who are awesome, and you should totally check out).

Friday, September 25, 2009
CD World, Eugene OR
in-store @ 6PM

Friday, September 25 2009
McDonald Theatre, Eugene OR [buy tix]

Sunday, September 27, 2009
Independent, San Francisco CA [buy tix]

Monday, September 28 2009
El Rey Theater, Los Angeles CA [buy tix]

Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Glass House, Pomona CA [buy tix]

Thursday, October 1, 2009
Emo's, Austin TX [buy tix]
w/ The Walkmen, Wye Oak

Friday, October 2, 2009
Austin City Limits, Austin TX [buy tix]

Sunday, October 4, 2009
One Eyed Jacks, New Orleans LA [buy tix]
w/ Wye Oak, Leo Dejesus

Monday, October 5, 2009
Club Downunder, Tallahassee FL

Tuesday, October 6, 2009
The Social, Orlando FL [buy tix]
All Ages

Thursday, October 8, 2009
The Earl, Atlanta GA [buy tix]

Friday, October 9, 2009
Cats Cradle, Carrboro NC [buy tix]
All Ages

Saturday, October 10, 2009
Ottobar, Baltimore MD [buy tix]
All Ages

Sunday, October 11, 2009
Bowery Ballroom, New York City NY [buy tix]
18+

Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Skullys, Columbus OH [buy tix]
18+

Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Southgate House, Newport KY [buy tix]
All Ages

Thursday, October 15, 2009
The Bluebird, Bloomington IN [buy tix]

Friday, October 16, 2009
Canopy Club, Urbana IL [buy tix]
18+

Saturday, October 17, 2009
Waiting Room, Omaha NE [buy tix]
All Ages

Sunday, October 18, 2009
Jackpot Saloon, Lawrence KS [buy tix]
18+

Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Fox Theater, Boulder CO [buy tix]
All Ages

Wednesday, October 21, 2009
In The Venue, Salt Lake City UT [buy tix]
w/ Norfolk & Western,Wye Oak, & Mirah
All Ages

Friday, October 23, 2009
Doug Fir Lounge, Portland OR [buy tix]
w/ Y La Bamba

Saturday, October 24, 2009
Doug Fir Lounge, Portland OR [buy tix]

Sunday, October 25, 2009
Neumos, Seattle WA [buy tix]

Sunday, October 31, 2009
Hallowbaloo Music + Arts Festival, Honolulu HI

Wednesday, November 11
The Hi Fi, Melbourne, Australia [buy tix]

Thursday, November 12
Metro, Sydney, Australia [buy tix]

Friday, November 13
The Hi Fi, Brisbane, Australia [buy tix]

...and that's it for now!

lots o' love,
Team Trapp

Blitzen Trapper & Plants and Animals - Bowery Ballroom - Feb 27 2009

Blitzen Trapper brought down the house at the Bowery Ballroom in NYC. The band played a tight set opened up by Plants and Animals. It was a great show. The best moments came when the crown actually shut the fuck up long enough for us to hear the band. Note to self. No more 18 and under shows.