Furr

Blitzen Trapper | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 23, 2008)
• Original Release Date: 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sub Pop
• ASIN: B001CVCBBW
• In-Print Editions: Vinyl  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #47,663 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

The fourth record by this Portland, OR sextet is the follow-up to last year's highly acclaimed "Wild Mountain Nation".

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Blitzen Blitzkrieg October 30, 2008

By Huckleberry69

Format:Audio CD

Whereas "Wild Mountain Nation" was erratic and thus all over the place musically, "Furr" is the band at it's most stable. Over 13 tracks the band flies through a perfect blend of 60s and 70s throwbacks while always putting their own unique touch on every track. The main influences seem to be 60s and 70s classic rock, notably CSNY and Neil Young with a touch of the Elephant 6 Collective: melodic, organic and always engaging it is easily one of the best albums of 2008. I've had it for two days and haven't taken it out of the rotation...actually, I just keep hitting repeat, which these days is quite the rare occurence for me.

Highly recommended for any indie fans. Enjoy.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars It's a grower, and it's worth it October 22, 2008

By N. Leitzke

Format:Audio CD

"Wild Mountain Nation" was a great introduction to a potentially great band. If anything brought it down it was the spaces in between highlights. At times they sounded erratic, grasping for a sound and relying more on noise than on foundation, but they created a wonderful work of art. What Blitzen Trapper does on "Furr" is eliminate the erratic in-between moments and stick to what they do best - playing rock that sounds like it came out of the wilderness.

They're the lovechild of the Grateful Dead and the Kinks. My first few listens of "Furr" weren't that impressive, and I was about to give up. Something made me keep listening, and then something just clicked. One of the initial things I noticed about "Furr" was their elimination of the erratic moments from "Wild Mountain Nation" and their increased focus on the strengths, and to an extent that nearly ruined "Furr." It almost felt like a template for success, an equation, something I shy away from, but with a few more listens under my belt I'm absolutely hooked. This is a great record. The title track is beautiful, and Neil Young wishes he could sing "Not Your Lover." Give a band time to grow and figure out what they do well. The proof is in the pudding. "Furr" is delicious. I'm glad they didn't just record "Wild Mountain Nation" again, because that would be boring.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Eclectic and smart as hell October 30, 2008

By David OBrien

Format:Audio CD

Furr is the successor to the excellent Wild Mountain Nation and in some ways is superior to it. The album opens with Sleepytime In The Western World. This is excellent stuff. The keyboards and vocals are reminiscent of Badfinger at their best. Next up is Gold For Bread - a cornucopia of styles from glam rock to country rock. Sounds like T-Rex, Creedence and Neil Young rolled into one. The song Furr is an acoustic ballad about a man who becomes a werewolf. Very intelligent lyrics. God & Suicide calls to mind Badfinger again. It's one of the strongest songs on the album. Fire & Fast Bullets is fast and frenetic. It has shades of T-Rex and Roxy Music in it as well as Super Furry Animals. Saturday Nite is another Badfinger type of song. Great piano and banjo here. Black River Killer is another intelligent ballad. The subject matter is perfectly described in the title. It's another great tune. Not Your Lover sounds like it belongs on Neil Young's After The Goldrush. I believe that Neil Young himself is on record as saying that he wishes he wrote it. Love U for me is the weakest track on the album. I find it grates on my ears a bit. War On Machines is another classic. It's a mix of glam rock and country. Stolen Shoes & A Rifle is a fantastic country ballad. Echo/Always On/EZ Con - three songs in one all in just over three minutes. It shows how good the band are. Final track Lady On The Water is another good acoustic ballad. Sounds like Jim Croce or even Bob Dylan.

All in all, this is an excellent album. There are no long songs. Each song is different and brilliant in its own way. It's a show of eclecticism that I haven't heard since Super Furry Animals. They should be huge. If they aren't there is no justice.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars If you like Fleet Foxes, Wilco, etc... September 25, 2008

By W. Sellers

Format:MP3 Music

I'd heard the title track off of NPR's "All Songs Considered", and tracked it down from there. I'd heard of the band, but never heard their songs before a few days ago. Good sound, and purchasing here through Amazon was several bucks cheaper than itunes...

Gotta love a band who writes a wistful rememberance song about a Werewolf. Actually pairs pretty well with Fleet Foxes' White Winter Hymnal (from point of view of foxes)...

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Portland band taps influences for throwback sound in polished album May 1, 2010

By Scott Schiefelbein VINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD

I am about to commit what many will consider to be sacrilege - more on that in a moment. Full disclosure - "Furr" is the first Blitzen Trapper album I've heard, so I can't compare to their earlier works. But that cannot keep me from loving this album of thirteen polished, riveting tunes.

There's a tried and true cliche of a music review - the writer has to compare the band to somebody else. And here's the sacrilege: a number of tunes on "Furr" remind me of the Beatles. From the wistful lyrics to the pitch-perfect delivery to the tight arrangements, as each tune popped up my thoughts turned to Lennon, Sir Paul, and the lads. My favorite tune is the title track - a classic poet's tale of growing up and life's simple pleasures that can be tapped when you are true to your nature. Which sums up my take on this band and this album. Check it out.

Only time will tell if this album deserves five-star status - I try to hold out on that level of rave review if I find that the album is one that keeps appearing in the CD changer for a long period of time (Paul Simon's "Graceland," the Pogues "Rum, Sodomy and the Lash," anything by The Mavericks, etc.). So I reserve the right to reserve and amend this rating, and I think there's a good chance that I will.