American music can mean a lot of things to different people. It’s jazz. It’s folk. It’s hip-hop. For the Americana band Blitzen Trapper, “American music” means the music that reminds them most of home: rural Oregon and Portland (before Portland was cool).

As part of Here & Now’s occasional music series, the guys of Blitzen Trapper – on their U.S. tour promoting their latest album “All Across This Land” – stopped by to talk about quintessential American music as they hear it, and explain how American roots music has influenced their sound.

Blitzen Trapper’s American Playlist

Big Star, “Thirteen” (#1 Record, 1972)

[Youtube]

Son Volt, “Tear Stained Eye” (Trace, 1995)

[Youtube]

Wilco, “Casino Queen” (A.M., 1995)

[Youtube]

R.E.M., “Nightswimming” (Automatic for the People, 1992)

[Youtube]

Blitzen Trapper, “Cadillac Road” (All Across This Land, 2015)

[Youtube]

Guests

  • Eric Earley, guitarist, vocalist and songwriter for Blitzen Trapper.
  • Marty Marquis, guitarist, vocalist and keyboard player for Blitzen Trapper
  • Brian Adrian Koch, drummer and vocalist for Blitzen Trapper.
Copyright 2015 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.

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