Album Review: Trampled By Turtles - Stars and Satellites

Trampled By Turtles

Stars and Satellites

***and1/2 out of *****

More then just a talented bunch of pickers, Trampled By Turtles newest release Stars and Satellites shows off this groups nuanced dynamics and songwriting skills.  That textured touch is evident from the first song "Midnight on the Interstate" which paints a vivid lyrical picture of traveling hearts and minds over a building acoustic network of strings both thick and thin.

"Widowers Heart" also shows growth, with a formulaic folk progression but elevated lyrics that talk about the disintegration of a relationship with a raw openness.  The ease and grace with which "Keys To Paradise" flows out both lyrically and musical is also a highpoint.    

The constant tour-hounds from Duluth, MN still love to cut loose and let the acoustic fur fly as evident on the bluegrass flavored instrumentals "Don't Look Down" and "Risk" however they also combine faced paced musicianship with song writing on the excellent "Walt Whitman".  Acting as the bands first single "Walt Whitman" poetically describes vexing love over motoring acoustic phrasing instantly ringing awesome in the ear.

The band gives its most countrified tune to close the disk with the pleasantly meandering "The Calm and the Crying Wind" to wrap up on a relaxed note.  Cliches abound in "Beautiful" and "Sorry" and some tracks like "Alone" drag, showing the band can still grow, but the bulk of Stars and Satellites is an engaging deep listen that will reward with repeated listens around summer campfires.  

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Trampled By Turtles are a very talented acoustic band out of Duluth, MN, you can grab this album here.  below are a few samples of these tracks, but make sure to support the artist, and definitely catch them live. 

"Midnight on the Interstate"


"Risk"