Blitzen Trapper “Wild and Reckless”
Not content to stick to a genre, Blitzen Trapper has landed somewhere between alt. country and roots rock on its latest LP. Lead singer Eric Earley is part Dylan, part Neil Young with a touch of Springsteen and Tom Petty. Opening with “Rebel” it sets up a story of roadside Americana about a young couple, running from the law and other things. The title track sets the grand theme with a terrific guitar riff in the chorus and it has richly layered instrumentation.
With “Forever Pt. 1” it sets up an epic with lush piano, strings, and beautiful harmonies – but it then settles into the dusty folk narrative “Joanna” and the bouncy “No Man’s Land.” It always seems to tease us into another genre only to tread similar ground. The music is here fairly predictable if you know the band, but you get occasional brilliance on the energetic “Dance With Me,” and the anthemic finale “Wind Don’t Always Blow.”
Dave Caruso “Buddha Pesto Manifesto”
On the opener, “Listen to This,” it actually describes his music “getting stuck in your head.” Caruso then teases you on “Go Ahead (Don’t Listen)” an Elvis Costello-like rocker, and it then draws you into his world with his soft and inviting vocal. What follows is the brilliant pop narrative “Boomer, Jenna & Lennie” a nostalgic story that recalls Andrew Gold mixed with Brian Wilson styled vocals. The easy-going gems “The Girl Who Checks All The Boxes” and “Hanging With You” have enough Beatle-isms to keep it compelling along with its bright catchy melodies.
Each track is a wonderful surprise from the hymn-like harpsichord pop of “God’s Green Acre” to the 80’s style power pop of “Getting Involved” and “Allendale.” There is plenty of humorous wordplay with the “Punctuating Shatner,” and the heartbreaking “I Get To Make Her Laugh” will make you think about all those class clowns who are crying on the inside. Not a wasted note here and Highly Recommended.
