We love a bit of Blitzen here in AUK Towers. He was our favourite reindeer (less needy than Rudolf) and also half of the name of one of americana’s consistently best and most creative bands over the last 10 years or so, Portland, Oregon’s Blitzen Trapper. To celebrate that, they have announced the release of a 10th-anniversary expanded version of their album ‘Furr’, which goes live on September 14th, and which back in 2008 was ranked Number 13 on Rolling Stone’s 50 Best Albums of the year. The band have released the track ‘Booksmart Baby’ online today, one of a dozen tracks added to the original album’s 13 which expands it into their upcoming double LP Furr: Deluxe Edition. You can hear it below.
Rolling Stone describes ‘Booksmart Baby’ as “a mellow, finger-picked folk tune that runs for just under two minutes. The song, which first surfaced as a B-side on a 2009 Record Store Day single, sounds in line with the wistful melancholy of Nick Drake and that of another Portland artist, Elliott Smith. Throughout the short song, Blitzen Trapper frontman Eric Early delivers hushed, cryptically poetic lyrics full of longing.”
Look out for a review of the new/not new album on AUK soon.