Wild Animals

half of *Wild Animals*, Trampled by Turtles continue their journey in taking their bluegrass roots to the alternative mainstream. The title track could be inspired by Band of Horses or My Morning Jacket, with “Hollow” gently taking that sound and sneaking in their acoustic instruments further up in the mix to match their peerless harmonies. Fellow Minnesotan Alan Sparhawk, frontman for Low, is just the producer to help them. He took the band into the legendary Pachyderm Studio in Cannon Falls, Minn., where Nirvana and The Jayhawks once recorded; together they found some gorgeous arrangements that are purely their own sound. “Are You Behind the Shining Star?” features a pop melody supported by strings and harmonies. “Silver Light” nails a superb ethereal country-rock sound. “Come Back Home” fires up the pace, and “Western World” turns to the bluegrass side of their punk roots. 

On their seventh long-player, Duluth's acoustic troubadours Trampled by Turtles continue to push the outer limits of folk and bluegrass playing light against darkness, delivering one of their most thoughtful and downtempo albums to date.