“Exploding Trees and Airplane Screams” is Patterson Hood’s first solo record in 12 years.
If you’re reading this review, I’m going to skip right ahead and assume you know what he does for a living—thus breaking the golden rule of never assuming knowledge. But we’re all friends here, right?
Which leaves the burning question: why now? The answer is surely because he has so much to say.
The metronomic piano of “Exploding Trees” hints at something ominous, and the lyrics (as always, sensational) further explore that. There’s an evocative beauty in the words, “Driving into town as the sun is going down, sitting in the darkness in the freezing cold.”
But there’s a welcoming sound, too. When this album was first announced, it was heralded with the single “Werewolf and a Girl,” a duet with Lydia Loveless featuring some dark saxophone. The lyrics are harrowing, and if you think about it, this is exactly what solo records are for. This wouldn’t fit the “proper job” in any way.
There’s another guest on “The Forks of Cypress”—Waxahatchee provides some gorgeous harmonies.
This album was produced by Chris Funk, with whom Hood has developed “a musical connection.” Funk’s more lo-fi background accounts for the sparse feel of “Mrs. Coldiron’s Oldsmobile.” Meanwhile, the string-laden “The Pool House” is an odd thing, and the album’s diverse sounds reflect the variety of people Hood is working with here—musicians from The Decemberists, Los Lobos, and The Hold Steady all contribute.
Wednesday appears on “The Van Pelt Parties,” adding a touch of rock ‘n’ roll to the mix, while the superb storytelling of “Last Hope” begins with one of the great lines: “Put your pants on, Leroy, you’re coming round to get us.” The tale it unfolds is no fun, though.
There are some odd sounds throughout, as the instrumentation pushes boundaries. Yet, as on “Safe Distance,” it all works so well.
The second half of the title, “Airplane Screams,” is another magnificent slice of something that proudly exists in the margins—not fitting in, not attempting to, and all the better for it.
“Pinocchio” leans more toward the singer-songwriter style you might expect from this record. Here, Hood sings, “I’m searching for the line that could save my soul”—and maybe that’s all songwriters. He also reckons that “heaven is a slow news day,” and we can all agree with that right now, right?
And above, I said “sings.” Because apart from having one of the most recognizable voices around, there’s little to connect “Exploding Trees and Airplane Screams” to what Patterson Hood is famous for—except, perhaps, his consummate class.
That’s part of everything he does. And it’s certainly present on his best and most varied solo record.
Rating: 9/10
REVIEW: PATTERSON HOOD – EXPLODING TREES AND AIRPLANE SCREAMS (2025)
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