Albums You Should Buy: Blitzen Trapper & Horse Feathers

Horse Feathers - House With No Home

A lot of times the mellow singer-songwriter fare can bore the crap out of me. Unless the lyrics are especially notable or the singer has a fantastic voice, I'll usually give a listen and then move on. However ever once in a while I'll find something that hits the mark on all points and just feels like home. Mark Kozelek's Sun Kil Moon and Justin Vernon's Bon Iver are two such musicians and now add Justin Ringle's Horse Feathers to that list. Justin's voice is soft and understated while partner Peter Broderick is the real mastermind here layout out gentle melodies which come together perfectly. With it just now getting cold, I would recommend picking this up soon, because it's perfect music for the Fall.


Blitzen Trapper - Furr

Fellow Portlanders (Horse Feather's hail from there as well) Blitzen Trapper have been on our radar for a while. Their last album Wild Mountain Nation was pretty hit or miss with the hit's being some of the best stuff of the year. The title track in particular may be one of the best songs of last year. On Furr, their first album on Sub Pop, the decided proceeded to leave out any misses and put out a consistently great album. Once again the title track may be the best song of this year so far. This is another album that reminds me of many things (particularly early AM-era Wilco) but still sounds like no one else. If you like your indie rock on the Americana side, this is your album. You can catch Blitzen Trapper when they open for Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks at Liberty Hall in Lawrence on November 5th.


Blitzen Trapper Myspace
Horse Feathers Myspace

-Matt