Crabmeat Thompson’s newest album, “Birthday Trampoline”, follows in the traditions of his earlier releases, “Glory” and “South of the Moon”, by delivering a solid set of toe-tapping, whistle-inducing melodies.  It’s the kind of album that feels like a live recording, while at the same time showing the polish available only from a studio.  My Generation makes a reprise as a newly rerecorded track on this album, and manages to retain its charm as the definitive Crabmeat Thompson genesis story.  Timmy lays out a meandering baseline that evokes a finger-snapping beat poet perched on a stool in a smoke-filled café.  Thompson slips into a Caribbean groove with Workin’ Man, and pulls a few lighthearted punches at El Presidente without getting too heavy.  And of course, Thompson would be remiss if he didn’t include at least one utterly silly track on an album, and Fly Toward The Light satisfies with a comical ode to chickens.  Two of my favorite tracks, however, are the title track, Birthday Trampoline, and Youth.  Thompson’s skill at telling a heartfelt tale over a simple guitar harmony is exemplified in these two songs, and the lyrics might be just as powerful if read as prose.  My only fault with the album, and it is a selfish one at that, is that I wish it were a little longer, so that it lasted my entire commute to work.
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