Cheap Seats

Before I get carried too far a field by my own penchant for hyperbole, let's cut to the chase and open those closed ear canals and jaded rock 'n roll hearts and make way for one of the great indie discoveries of this or any other year.

Driven by the fully formed and finely honed songwriting of guitarist/vocalist Sean Schenker and the glorious old school roots rock of his brothers-in-arms -- lead guitarist Warren Gold, bassist Jason Sarubi, and drummer Seth Moutal—Cheap Seats is not only a defining follow-up to their '06 debut Good Luck or Goodbye, it is a distinctive (in spades) confirmation of all that first disc offered.

You won't find pandering homage to any particular musical brand here. The Trapps are too intelligent for that and too determined to mark their own territory, which is why the Middle Eastern flavor of Chasing Bees feels as normal to the heart and soul of this disc as any of the brilliant Band-like songs that precede it. In a better world where song once ruled out over celebrity, the jammy, anthemic Hope; and the soaring Everything Good Is Gone would be playing far and wide, loud and clear over the majestic Shawangunk Mountain Range that the band calls home. As a matter of fact, all these songs deserve their moments, as one everyday truth after evocative truth (Too Late To Play Games, Cheap Seats, Never Quit) comes into play.

As my closing argument to how natural The Trapps sound next to the classics, I offer this. The other day while driving, I had Blood On The Tracks cued up to play after Cheap Seats and it felt like I had been listening to these two grand discs all my life.

Track List:

Edited by: David N. Pyles
(dnpyles@acousticmusic.com)