*** Blitzen Trapper
*** Hi-Dive
*** 04.14.08

Portland’s Blitzen Trapper caught my attention when I found out that they were hand picked by Stephen Malkmus to open up for a Jicks show out West last December. Their album has been praised by nearly everybody and if you haven’t picked up their album, I highly suggest doing so. The group’s ability to straddle the fine line between twang, country, swamp rock, and folk is something that I’m quite fond of, due to my affinity for twangy swamp rock. I know this is considered heresy in some parts of the South where they preach Stars and Bars, but during the groups more swampier moments, they outshined Skynrd. You can’t peg this group into any particular musical category and they don’t mind it at all. Well, maybe if there was one titled brilliant, they would be ok with that…. More photos here.

Blitzen Trapper-Wild Mountain Nation [mp3]