Aquatic Hitchhiker

Leftover Salmon (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 22, 2012)
• Original Release Date: 2012
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Los Records
• ASIN: B007R3B2UU
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #44,410 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Picking up right where they left off 8 years ago May 29, 2012

By Nobody important VINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD

It has been 8 years since the last album from the progenitors of polyethnic cajun slamgrass-- a unique hybrid of basically every type of American music. In the meantime, Vince Herman has occupied himself with Great American Taxi-- a Little Feat-meets-Flying Burrito Brothers mix of country, rock and Southern R&B. Drew Emmitt has been doing solo stuff closer to New Grass Revival, and teaming up with String Cheese Incident guitarist Bill Nershi for a slightly more traditional bluegrass project. So, has the sound of the band been affected by the band members' other projects? Nope. The only thing that really distinguishes the sound of Aquatic Hitchhiker from the good old days is the hole left by the passing of banjo player Mark Vann. Noam Pikelny, who had taken the banjo spot for a while, is busy these days hanging around with Chris Thile and becoming a solo star on the bluegrass scene, so stepping in for him is Andy Thorn, who plays banjo with the Emmitt-Nershi Band. He is a fine player, and he fits in well with the rest of the band. No doubt the experience playing with Drew has given him some level of comfort with Leftover Salmon's genre-hopping ways. Vann's unique touch with the electrified banjo just can't be duplicated, though. Big shoes to fill, and all that. Thorn is worthy to play with these guys, though.

If you are already a Leftover Salmon fan, then you know what to expect. The "aquatic hitchhiker" meanders through southern music with stops in Cajun country, the Blueridge Mountains, Atlanta, Mississippi, and of course, a trip outside the South to Telluride. They play with energy, skill and fun, as they always have. If there is a real flaw to the album, it is that they have done this before. When Leftover Salmon first hit the scene, they were so radically different from every other band around that everything sounded like a revelation. In the eight years since their last album, though, despite a variety of different projects, they came together again and slipped back into their old sound like relaxing in your old favorite chair. I'm happy to have another Leftover Salmon album. It would have been interesting if they had pushed things beyond the sound that they established 20 years ago, but let's face it-- they have a great sound, and nobody else can do it.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Much more Salmon February 17, 2013

By Jared J

Format:Audio CD

Leftover Salmon the self-described masters of Polyethnic Cajun Slamgrass jump back into the mix in 2012 with the fantastic release Aquatic Hitchhiker. Aquatic Hitchhiker sees the band slowing down a little into a solid Rock N Roll and country tinged Jam band. Leftover Salmon are definitely at their peak and are having fun, and it shines through in the music. Sadly after losing Mark Vann to cancer in 2002, Drew Emmitt and Vince Herman continue on and wave the psychedelic jam band flag in spectacular fashion. Even so Mark Vann was a vital part of the band, and a prominent songwriter, with the loss of Mark Vann we also see a loss of much of the Cajun influence. This is not necessarily bad, as Drew Emmitt is an amazing musician and the Drew Emitt-Vince Herman partnership is still running with full steam and writing great songs. Its just without Mark Vann Leftover Salmon is a little bit different, just a little slower, with minimal cajun elements and a more forward rock, and country influence jam band sound... No matter for old listeners and new jump in for the ride! Aquatic Hitchhiker is a truly fun album, from a band having fun and at the peak of their playing and songwriting abilities. Jam on.

4.0 out of 5 stars Not sure about this one, will have to listen to it a few more times. April 12, 2013

By john

Format:MP3 Music|Amazon Verified Purchase

I really like a few of the songs, others not so much. That's true with most albums. These guys are excellent pickers but sound a lot more like they are from Louisana than Colorado, I'm not complaining mind you.