Trampoline

About

<i>Trampoline</i> is Joe Henry's <i>Sgt. Pepper's</i>. Before this release, Henry garnered critical attention for a couple of terrific alt-country albums. But nothing prepared fans for the perfectly executed experimentation of <i>Trampoline</i>. Certainly nothing prepared them for his enlistment of Helmet guitarist Page Hamilton for power and grit. Or for "Flower Girl," a stark and spare novella of imagery against a backdrop of pump organ, shuddering strings, an opera singer (as instrument, not vocalist), and chunky drums. Throughout the album Henry sings as if he's telling you secrets in a dark bar frequented by carnival performers. By placing these songs within these innovative arrangements, Henry reveals how good his writing really is. More accessible than Tom Waits's <i>Swordfishtrombones</i>, this album mines similarly dark thematic caverns and comes up with solid gold.

via Apple Music