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BLITZEN TRAPPER
self-titled (self-released)
Reviewed by Erick Mertz
Listening to Portland's Blitzen Trapper (formerly known as Garmonbozia, for long time fans of their self-described "unusual hits") makes me want to convert my basement into a pirate radio station, a place for my own transmission and communication. The songs on their self-titled, self-released album are one part tweed wearing, heel tapping country, and another Pixies rock, and I imagine some of the callers to my show would find them eccentric. They'd wonder whose voice that is, breaking into falsetto over lyrics about fake fur coats and all girl teams; what anonymous vagabond strums that bass (and isn't that a stand-up?) with a fool's simplicity and a renegade's pomp.
And I wouldn't answer, at least not with any literal affirmation.
In part, I'd help retain their anonymity because of the personal nature with which I'd surely build my clandestine station. More though, I'd leave the names and identities clean from Blitzen Trapper because I think we all get too caught up in the "how" and "why" pertaining to bands of their ilk. Every freebie tabloid in town slathers at the thought of picking apart even the least wry and witty of our popular artists and what they'd do with these pale faced, knee slapping hombres might not be pretty. The "why" behind some of this might be better silenced.
I'd avoid testimony too, because the album may be good enough to speak for itself.
Once on a stony winter drive through the Willamette Valley, the bass player for this outfit (now see, I do know who they are) described the sound of his new project as Neil Young meets Pink Floyd. As much as I'd like to undermine his precocious description of this improbable marriage, I find it is an apt one. The wonderful "Trigga Finga" feels like a refugee from the joint session when Meddle and After The Gold Rush were born. If I'd had this album and the song "Texaco" at my disposal the last time cross country, I might have swung through Texas rather than Minnesota. One time all the way through, and the feelings of private ownership this album inspires become unshakeable.
This is a credible rock and country stomp corporation, who deserve an increasing amount of esteem, for the sole purpose of their ability to write, yes, unusual hits.