Blitzen Trapper is a Portland, Oregon-based experimental country/folk band associated with Sub Pop Records, Vagrant Records and Lojinx. Formed in 2000, the band currently operates as a quintet, with Eric Earley (guitar/harmonica/vocals/keyboard), Erik Menteer (guitar/keyboard), Brian Adrian Koch (drums/vocals/harmonica), Michael Van Pelt (bass), and Marty Marquis (guitar/keyboards/vocals/melodica). Blitzen Trapper self-released its first three albums. "Wild Mountain Nation" was No. 98 on
Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Best Songs of 2007.
Blitzen Trapper released its third album,
Wild Mountain Nation, in 2007 to much critical acclaim from critics such as Pitchfork Media, The Nerve, and Spin Magazine. The group signed to Sub Pop Records in the summer of 2007.
The release of
Furr in 2008 was a high-water mark for the group as their eclectic new songs received a two-page feature in
Rolling Stone. The album was ranked No. 13 on
Rolling Stone's Best Albums of 2008
In July 2013 it was announced their latest album "VII" would be released on October 1 on Vagrant Records in the USA and on British indie label Lojinx in Europe on September 30.