Steep Canyon Rangers, Trampled by Turtles out with new CDs

Life is Good on the Open Road

After a four-year-break from recording, Duluth, Minn. sextet Trampled By Turtles return with its eighth studio release of edgy bluegrass and Indie folk/rock. Lead singer Dave Simonett wrote all of the mostly dark themed lyrics with the lone instrumental that showcases the band's topflight musicianship, "Good Land," credited to bandmate Erik Berry. The musicianship is best demonstrated on uptempo tunes such as the raging "Blood in the Water," which finds Simonett ...

Wild Animals

Trampled By Turtles, the five-piece band from Duluth, Minn., combines bluegrass, folk and country into an enjoyable mixture. This act, which has been known to cover such unexpected artists as the extremely somber Radiohead in concert, is gradually moving away from its speedy bluegrass leanings and incorporating much more moody instrumental blends into its music. "Wild Animals'" title track, for instance, opens up this 11-song album with a slow, dirge-y piece. ...

Stars and Satellites

"Stars and Satellites," the latest offering from Duluth, Minn.'s Trampled by Turtles, marks a literal change of pace for a group known for technically proficient neo-bluegrass jams at break-neck speeds. By slowing things down a bit, the band manages to produce its most complete and compelling artistic statement to date. Although the band hasn't completely forsaken high-energy jams on this new album - songs like the ultra catchy pop-grass blitz of Sorry and the hard-charging ...