MILTON MAPES - The Blacklight Trap

Sometimes it's hard to write about music, especially when matters of the heart collide head-on with critical reason, with the need to recount a record's experience impartially. This is true in the case of Milton Mapes, who draw on one of the most fashionable sounds of the past Nineties, that sort of alternative roots — punk gone into retirement, some would say — brought into vogue by major acts such as Jayhawks, Uncle Tupelo, and Volebeats. Hard to judge, we were saying, because these guys bring passion and dedication and turn out a few notable songs, but nothing in terms of evolving the original model — if anything, quite the opposite.

How can you not be moved, though, in the presence of "Waiting For Love To Fall", a classic big country-folk ballad that revives the slightly anachronistic imagery of small-town, rural, plain-spoken America, amid everyday dramas and love's torments, faith in God and sinful temptations. And then there's the gorgeous "Thunderbird" again, an electric weave with passionate vocals dedicated to a hypothetical Gretchen; and I dare any girl not to be moved at having verses of this caliber dedicated to her: "…So high above the trees and mountains streams/ Rivers winding endless through your dreams/ Remember how you made it rain/ When everybody knew your name/ Now your days will always be the same/ But It's never gonna be the same".

All in all, the record is, in the end, an easy enough listen, between flashes of aggression and moments of bitter, disillusioned reflection, with "The Blacklight Trap" showing just how great an influence Robbie Robertson and the Band still exert on the new generation of American musicians. There's no point describing every track, no point spinning stories or beating around the bush; by now you'll have understood that Milton Mapes could either touch the most intimate chords of your soul or bore you to death — it all depends on what you're looking for in music.

Ride the wave of great music

Add OndaRock to your favorite sources on Google Discover. Don't miss our reviews, milestones and latest news straight in your feed.

Follow on Google

30/04/2026