The Trapps - Cheap Seats (Independent) Melodic and laid back, Cheap Seats seems at times like the album that The Jayhawks never released. New Yorkers The Trapps should take that as a huge compliment. Their second release is a real grower, one that gets stronger with every listen. It is as subtle as the cover art on the album sleeve, a photo from the inside of an empty train carriage heading into the middle of nowhere. Opener “Bitter Pill” instantly raises the bar high. It is gentle without ever becoming boring, Sean Schenker’s vocals are almost hushed. Fortunately for The Trapps, the eleven songs that follow are equally good. “Say My Name” is an epic anthem full of raw emotion while the title track is a poignant centrepiece with its sincere and heartfelt lyrics. The Trapps definitely deserve to be heading somewhere. And not on the cheap seats either. www.myspace.com/thetrapps Michael B. Next