Portland’s Blitzen Trapper conjures the past
Blitzen Trapper: Destroyer of the Void
Release Date: June 8, 2010
Length: 45:56
Genre: Alternative/Folk Rock
Label: Sub Pop Records
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
If you played this album for me without telling me who it was, I’d ask you why you were playing me a record you swiped from your dad’s old vinyl collection. I mean that in a positive sense, but truthfully, that’s the main thing this album has going for it.
When I listen to Blitzen Trapper, I don’t hear a band from Portland; I hear a band from Oregon that happens to reside in Portland. The album put me in mind of Oregon’s countryside. Our state’s various landscapes are automatic destinations for the imagination based on the folk and sometimes country sounds on this album.
Stylistically, the best way to describe Blitzen Trapper’s latest album is Simon & Garfunkel meets Tom Petty with a smidge of Bob Dylan thrown in for good measure.
Growing up, there were records I was fond of by association through my dad. Whether I was helping him with a project in his shop or if he had an album playing in the car while running errands, there are some albums I love because they are associated with memories — albums such as Paul Simon’s “Rhythm of the Saints” or The Oak Ridge Boys’ “Y’all Come Back Saloon.” “Destroyer of the Void” put me in mind of albums like these.
Both “Destroyer of the Void” and its predecessor – 2008’s “Furr” – have a classic rock vibe. But “Furr” had a pop-based accessible sound whereas “Destroyer of the Void” has more of a folk-based progressive feel. At times, elements of the album almost put you in mind of Pink Floyd. But regardless of the differences, both albums make this band feel like they hopped a time machine straight from the late 60s or early 70s.
The album’s opener is also its title track. The stylistic and progressive differences between this album and “Furr” are thrown at you right from the start with this song. There are three distinct parts to this six-minute-plus track that gives it sort of a folk-rock opera feel. It’s probably the best example on the whole album of how little to no effects or processing are used on any of the instruments. Not only is this a fresh approach with regard to the current state of music making, but it also helps feed into the overall folk vibe the entire album strives for.
“Below the Hurricane” begs to be put on the soundtrack to a film – perhaps a film about a road trip. The smooth yet complex picking pattern on the guitar is what makes this song memorable. But around the 2:30 mark it begins to build, and drum beat and bass parts are introduced. This is the point where the song begins to lose its sentimental feel and adopts a more contemplative/ominous vibe. The guitar chords are more minor-based and open-ended. But this is no bad thing as it also means a well-placed harmonica.
The rhythmic strumming of the guitar, paired with frequent use of harmonica, makes “The Man Who Would Speak True” sound like it was taken directly from Bruce Springsteen’s album “Nebraska.” It tells the story of a man who falls in love with a girl named Grace and in a drunken rage ends up killing her. We then follow this man on a short journey that comes full circle where he meets his own demise.
The simplicity of the song “Heaven and Earth” and its piano-ballad feel really help it stand out from the rest of the tracks on this album. There is nothing complex here, just a simple chord progression with guitar interlaced here and there. But what really makes this song special is the use of strings. These elements, coupled with singer Eric Earley’s Tom Petty-esque vocals, are what push this song from good to great.
As a whole this album didn’t make me swoon by any means. My enjoyment of it mostly came from a place of nostalgia. Originality vs. simply resurrecting the past is something to consider here. In terms of the current state of music, yes, they bring a fresh and unique perspective. But in terms of music history, this has been done before.
It’s exciting to see a band play their hometown. If you’re eager to see how these songs translate to the stage, Blitzen Trapper is playing the Crystal Ballroom in Portland on Friday, July 23.
For more on the band, click here.
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