Saddle Up to Ride
Blitzen Trapper - Wild Mountain Nation.
Everyone had a lackadaisical attitude at first -- there's a small arson fire in Griffith Park, nothing to worry about. Everything is fine. I think this is because folks mildly cried wolf a few weeks ago when the fire was on the backside of the Hollywood Hills by Burbank. Turns out this one was for real though. That picture was taken by my roommate from our apartment. It was hairy for a minute, watching the mountains burn. Lucky for us, the scenic Los Angeles River was between us and any immediate danger.
What does any of this have to do with Blitzen Trapper?
Nothing. Absolutely nothing. But I've been meaning to post this song for ages, and maybe it felt like the Wild Mountain Nation was on the rise last night.
This is one of those songs that sounds absolutely effortless to write. Like this band was born to sing it. It came out of their mouths like a yawn, out of their fingers like scratching an itch, out of their minds like crossing the street or lying in the grass. There is no posing or irony involved. No "we can't take publicity photos until our beards are just right" shit. It's just some dudes jamming on a tune, with perfect harmonies echoed by some plump guitar lines.
I've listened to this song a dozen times and I still have no idea what it's about. Maybe it's about building a home with someone you love. Maybe it's about living in the Pacific Northwest and embracing its frontier spirit. Maybe it's about watching your neighborhood burn down. Who knows. The important thing is that has the best elements of the Grateful Dead without being hippies or idiots. No one needs a miracle, here. If you strip away the artifice -- the tie dye, the dancing bears, the caravans of people, the sheer experience of it all -- you're left with good old fashioned american music rooted in folk and blues and beauty. There is nothing wrong with this, and I'm glad someone is making this music -- or at least bringing it to the indie world where I will welcome it with open arms.
At any rate, this is off their new CD Wild Mountain Nation is excellent and highly recommended.