Blitzen Trapper | Album Review

Story by Dylan Bliss 

| Published Sep 6, 2011

Eric Earley and the rest of Blitzen Trapper seem to harbor an extremely open-ended attitude towards making new music. Between albums “Wild Mountain Nation” and “Furr,” we started to hear softer, country-folk influences arise that prompted listeners to compare Earley to the likes of Bob Dylan and other seasoned story-tellers of the genre. “Destroyer of the Void” broadened the sonic landscape by introducing more electronic foundations and lengthier song structure. Now, with “American Goldwing,” we’re invited back to the “hometown” folk-rock barn party, a familiar setup with a much more polished execution.

The title track, “American Goldwing,” starts the album with a definite indication towards the tone of the rest of the LP. From romancing us with finger-picked stories about recognizing roots and celebrating every aspect of failed relationships, to shredding the electric guitar in two, Earley wisely puts the cosmic message on the back burner to tell us stories we all love to hear. The concept of “Destroyer of the Void” never seemed to congeal into the epic prose that Blitzen Trapper had assumed, and it seems clear they simply went back to jamming alongside one of the most proficient songwriters on the scene.

Blitzen has always wrapped listeners up with the reoccurring song-title-phrase: “You Might Find it Cheap” teaches us a lesson often learned the hard way, and “I Love the Way You Walk Away” is cataloged among many other love songs tinged with regret. The primary themes in “American Goldwing” aren’t new, but the sound and emotions evoked by this seasoned group of rockers remains as fresh and satisfying as ever. If you’ve ever enjoyed Blitzen Trapper, this effort should solidify their presence in your collection.