So if you’ve read this blog over the last few days you know one of the albums that I’ve been listening to lately is Greg Trooper’s new release Incident on Willow Street. Personally, I think that the album is one of this finest works. The opening song “All the Way to Amsterdam” with its images of a young girl dealing with an alcoholic, abusive father by dreaming about skating away on the canals of the Netherlands is as poignant and heartfelt song as I’ve ever heard!! From there the album just keeps getting better and better, as he follows with “Goodbye Heart”, “Mary of the Scots in Queens” and “Steel Deck Heart”. (not in that order, that’s just the way they came to me) and I could go on and on about the other eight tracks on the album but check it out for yourself!! So how about I tell you what some of his contemporaries say about Greg:
“Greg Trooper writes great songs, including one of my very favorite songs in the world, Little Sister. On top of all that, there’s his voice – an instrument I have coveted for 15 years.” – Steve Earle
“Greg Trooper has got to be on our list of our finest contemporary songwriters.” – Billy Bragg
“Greg Trooper is a songwriter and performer who deserves about 12 times the attention he’s received. He knows how to play rock against country and folk and position the pressures of adulthood against the longing for adolescent freedom.” – Dave Marsh
Here’s some lunchtime music from the album. One of my favorites “Steel Deck Heart”