Search - Blitzen Trapper :: Wild Mountain Nation

Pavement + Sergio Leone + early Beck = Blitzen

Fritz Gerlich | admin@audioetc.info | 06/30/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This record is a fun mixing of styles. There is hard rock, dance, alt-country, dance, and more. This mixed bag works on almost every track, each being engaging and unpredictable. If you like unpredictable indie-rock then this record is for you. Kudos to the band.



A note on the mastering: Like virtually all new rock records, this one is mastered way too loud. It is still listenable however. The damage done by the audio engineer is not excessive, it's tolerable. I wish bands would insist on proper mastering. it would benefit them as a properly mastered record is more likely to produce an emotional reaction in the listener. And thats how you get loyal fans, by touching people on an emotional level."

5 Star Album, 5 Star Band...

S. ODonnell | West Chester, PA | 01/06/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Blitzen Trapper gives me my hope back for rock music. Plus those of us who have seen and heard much less of it in the last decade. Here in PA, they don't play too many bands with talent, much less Indie Rock bands from Oregon unfortunately. Anyway, getting back to B.T's sound here, they sorta remind me in waves of what the Grateful Dead's best jam music sounds like, but wait, there's more, mixed with this at times the sonic spacey sounds of the Doves, and then add in a little Strokes megaphone effects for the singer occasionally, and lastly, blend in a touch of alternative country/folkly twang, and there you have it for their style. Not exactly what most bands could pull off with this much bravado-and bravo to them for achieving it wonderfully time and again. This is a band which deserves a huge following, and this album is my favorite of theirs. It's a must own for Indie-heads, or anyone who appreciates something fresh and new to the music scene."

Bringing Back Originality

R. Mahieu | Seattle, WA | 07/04/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Blitzen Trapper is one of those bands that at first listen, you're wondering who they are. I heard them being played at the local record store in Seattle (they're from Portland) and thought they had changed albums about halfway through. Apparently, their style is very different from song to song. This is a good thing, veering from monotony into unique blends of rock, folk, pop, and country.



The album begins with "Devil's a Go-Go", a straight up rocker with some nice changes throughout. This one leans more towards the straight up garage rock. Track 2 is the title track and is the most obvious single, with some nice country-tinged guitars and Led Zeppelinish vocals. This is a nice throwback and sounds amazing and surprising to be released in 2007. Maybe there is hope for rock (and roll). "Futures and Folly" dramatically changes gears, sounding like Paul McCartney/Beatles on I'll Follow the Sun or I'm Looking Thru You. "Miss Spiritual Tramp" again brings in the guitar fuzz, sounding like a Pavement/Zeppelin hybrid in my opinion. Not much melody but the guitar works nicely with the start/stop vocals. "Woof & Warp..." could've been pulled directly off of Piper at the Gates of Dawn by Pink Floyd, and is a nice tripped out instrumental.



"Sci-Fi Kid" gets back into the true musical form, with a great start and upbeat vocal/guitar/drum, with some nice lead throughout. This is a standout track, and is wholly Blitzen Trapper's style. Try to pin down the inspirations and so many come to mind that it must be something new and refreshing. "Wild Mountain Jam" is a 1:05 country intermission jingle and is a nice place marker for the album.



"Hot Tip/Tough Club" again shifts genres/gears and is a bonafide piece of psychedelia, complete with effected vocals, synths plodding along in the background, drums blaring, guitars distorting. Songs like this make it very hard to identify this band. This is the song that made me think the store put on a different record. Truly amazing for a band to have so many different styles and creativity within them, and are virtually unknown. "The Green King Sings" starts with some Pavement/Guided By Voices-ish/early Flaming Lips jamming, although I may not be familiar enough with GBV to make that claim. Not my favorite track. "Summer Town" is a straight up pop ballad, with smooth crooning vocals. Reminds of me of David Gilmour's early works with Pink Floyd, but it truly is its own song.



"Murder Babe" comes in and sounds like what I think Blitzen Trapper are at their core. Nice guitar work, recalling the first 2 tracks on the album. Make sure you listen to this track all the way thru because the best is in the last 30 seconds. "Country Caravan" returns to the smooth, country/indie/pop blend and is beautifully constructed throughout. Songs like these last 2 make me think that there's much more going on here that I am aware of. This warrants repeated listens. I'm hearing Wilco/Yankee Hotel Foxtrot here. "Badger's Black Brigade" closes the album with some slowly pounding drums, slide guitar, & harmonica.



At the end of Wild Mountain Nation you're left wondering who these people are and how did they pull this off. It's kind of like a Flaming Lips album, where you can't believe that someone actually made and produced the eclectic sounds you've just heard, but unlike the Lips in style, drawing on many other inspirations and decades, a true ode to rock, country, and this thing we love called music. A must have album for me."