Singer/songwriter Trapper Schoepp’s last album Run, Engine, Run has been on heavy rotation on my iPod (yes I still have one of those) so to say I’m looking forward to Trapper’s next album is an understatement. He finally announced that his new album Rangers & Valentines will be released on April 1st via Xtra Mile Recordings! Can’t wait to hear some new tunes!

…The album finds the teller of tales (both tall and true) handling vocals, guitar and harmonica. On the recording, Schoepp is aided by an array of estimable musicians including his brother, songwriting partner and musical-foil-since-birth Tanner Schoepp (providing bass guitar and vocal harmonies), Steve Selvidge (The Hold Steady), John Davis (Superdrag), the McCrary Sisters, and even comedian and WTF podcaster Marc Maron chips in on background vocals and lead guitar. Watch the music video for the album’s first single, “Ballad of Olof Johnson,” an enjoyable animated clip inspired by the wildly popular 1970’s computer game The Oregon Trail

On the new album, Schoepp defies the limitations of the standard-issue Americana platter by hopping genres – you’ll hear lots of brass, backing singers and B-3 – as the songs build to delirious musical highs. His narratives, meanwhile, find subjects in the narrow margins of society, the strange twists (literal and metaphorical) in the weather, and the vagaries of a troubadour’s transient life – with lyrics that flash a lacerating wit and humanist streak that’s at the core of his craft.

Through his work, he shines up the well-worn clichés of singer-songwriterdom and renders them anew. Evoking a series of vivid protagonists and settings (fittingly, each track will have its own accompanying video, solidifying the cinematic quality of this set) his work variously recalls prime Prine (John, that is), the nuances of Newman (Randy, of course), the boozy bonhomie of The Replacements, and the unflinching language of someone well-versed in the Zevonian dialect.

I’d imagine this song will be on the new album, although since this video from Before The Concert is practically 3 years ago, the title of the song has changed and probably some verses:

You can pre-order his new album now on iTunes (global) or Xtra Mile Recordings website.

Rangers & Valentines track-listing:
01. Mono Pt. II
02. Tornado Alley
03. Ogallala
04. Ballad of Olof Johnson
05. Talking Girlfriend Blues
06. Settlin’ or Sleepin’ Around
07. Lost Cowboy
08. For Jonny
09. Don’t Go
10. Dream

If you’re in the UK or Europe, you’ll be able to see Trapper open for Jesse Malin starting next month:

Feb 18
02 Institute 3
w/ Jesse Malin
Birmingham, United Kingdom

Feb 19
Belgrave Music Hall
w/ Jesse Malin
Leeds, United Kingdom

Feb 20
Electric Circus
w/ Jesse Malin
Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Feb 22
King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut
w/ Jesse Malin
Glasgow, United Kingdom

Feb 23
Sound Control
w/ Jesse Malin
Manchester, United Kingdom

Feb 24
Dingwalls
w/ Jesse Malin
London, United Kingdom

Feb 25
Green Door Store
w/ Jesse Malin
Brighton, United Kingdom

Feb 27
De Zwerver
w/ Jesse Malin
Middelkerke, Belgium

Feb 28
Sugar Factory
w/ Jesse Malin
Amsterdam, Netherlands

Feb 29
Pumpehuset
w/ Jesse Malin
Copenhagen West, Denmark

Mar 01
John Dee
w/ Jesse Malin
Oslo, Norway

Mar 02
Debaser Hornstulls Strand Bar Brooklyn och Calexico’s
w/ Jesse Malin
Stockholm, Sweden

Mar 04
Molotow
w/ Jesse Malin
Hamburg, Germany

Mar 05
AUSTER CLUB
w/ Jesse Malin
Berlin, Germany

Mar 06
Orangehouse
w/ Jesse Malin
Munich, Germany

Mar 07
All’una e Trentacinque
w/ Jesse Malin
Cantu, Italy

Mar 08
LATTERIA MOLLOY
w/ Jesse Malin
Brescia, Italy

Mar 10
Wurlitzer Ballroom
w/ Jesse Malin
Madrid, Spain

Mar 11
LA2
w/ Jesse Malin
Barcelona, Spain

Mar 12
Loco Club
w/ Jesse Malin
Valencia, Spain