Track listing: Leave, Unstable Kingdoms, Amends, Defense | Offense, Noise Cancelling, Iterations, Change
I receive a lot of requests to write music reviews, articles, and conduct interviews--almost too many to look at, but definitely too many to respond to individually. So when a new request appears in my Inbox, it's got about 5 seconds to make an impression*. So one day in late January I received an email with the Subject: Trademarks - a thoughtful folk album reflecting on the Luka Dončić trade...
Enter Luke Brawner's Trademarks. I'll preface the rest of my review with Brawner's own words:
The songs...were written, one per day, from April 22-28, 2025...as a means of processing and excavating the disorienting sense of loss and grief that accompanied, much to my surprise, the Dallas Mavericks trading their young superstar, Luka Dončić, to the Los Angeles Lakers. They are not songs about basketball. They are songs about loss, change, identity, and the meaning we tend to assign to impermanent things. - Luke Brawner
My first thought as I sat down with Trademarks? Honestly, they were: "This could be reeeally bad." I mean, who's that passionate about both Folk music and the NBA? And this wasn't even a team winning a title. Yes the Dončić trade made huge waves in the sports world--it's up there amongst the worst trades ever, alongside Kareem to the Lakers and Wilt the Stilt to Philadelphia. Arguably worse. But how is that fuel for a Folk record? And even then, who's going to listen to this sucker?
You guessed it: lukebrawner.bandcamp.com/album/trademarks was already loading in my browser. Was it a joke? Was it a jock who learned just enough chords to write a love song to his favorite athletic Slovenian?
The opening track "Leave" begins. After a lead-in "Let's Go Mavericks clap clap clapclapclap" guitar sounder, well, it's gorgeous from that moment on. Brawner is channeling Croce's voice, vulnerable and expressive. And it's not about basketball. Yes, you can glean the concept from the lyrics, but it's more about humanity, loss, hope, and a lack thereof. The chorus is cinema worthy--could be Stitched right into where Springsteen's "Secret Garden" fades in in Jerry Maguire. This record is actually for real!
My wistful feelings transition into track 2, "Unstable Kingdoms." Religious and corporate hierarchy. Riots in Haiti leading to its coup d'état. Power-hungry leaders. All of this, set against a pleasing chord progression with a church-choir-worthy call and response. There are bigger mechanisms at work here than a distraught sports fan.
"Amends" is a lush interlude with "Defense/Offense" picking up the pace. "Noise Cancelling" focuses in on what's most important, setting aside all interference. And the record ends on the note of "Change"--Brawner singing "change is the only constant" and that "it'll never feel the same without you here."
"You" are Luka Dončić. "You" is everyone you know. And "You" is you. As life's circumstances shift, trends come and go, kingdoms rise and fall...there will be sorrow and joy, with each loss a reclamation. And through it all, you can put on this compelling Folk record inspired by an NBA trade. You wouldn't think it'd be an effective salve to heal your emotional wounds, but as with all first impressions you might just be mistaken.
* Note To Artists: I am not unique in vetting incoming messages this way; such is the case with most people you'll encounter in the realm of musical services (booking, promoting, managing, PR, etc.). Keep that in mind, make your message unique!