Blitzen Trapper is back with 10th album Holy Smokes Future Jokes (Yep Roc). And while its title might elicit a grin, the LP is no laughing matter. It focuses on Tibetan Buddhism’s belief in the “bardo,” a state of existence between death and rebirth. While many of us might be a little leery of getting too existential these days while living through a stressful, uncertain and seemingly endless global pandemic, Holy Smokes Future Jokes is far from a downer. Quite the opposite, in fact. Eric Earley and Co.’s experimental Americana brings with it plenty of good, melodic vibes, man, and the album will take you to a better place if you let it. Logic sometimes gets cosmic, you know.
