Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part of our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. Each and every Friday we offer songs by local artists. Today’s selection is Lord Huron‘s “The Stranger,” from the 2011 self-released The Mighty EP.
LA-based Lord Huron originally hails from Michigan, a fact the band goes out of their way to advertise. Frontman Ben Schneider is proud of his childhood home, even spending time at his old retreats (more specifically, Lake Huron). It’s there that the first Lord Huron EP, Into the Sun, was born. 2011 sees the follow-up, a four-song collection entitled Mighty, that holds the spirit and rustic atmosphere of Michigan’s lakes and wilderness. Calypso beats and Fleet Foxes-esque harmonies are matched with a reckless wanderlust, reminiscent of songs sung on the American frontier.
It’s a stirring collection, but “The Stranger” stands out because of its nomadic attitude. In the track’s video, three companions traverse an icy tundra. As delirium sets in, a costly price is paid, resulting in a stream of lonely regret. “The Stranger” captures the unwavering arrogance of mankind measured against the unbending, ruthless call of the wild. Watch below.
If you’d like to catch Lord Huron live, they’ll be back in Seattle at the Tractor Tavern on April 10th. For more tour dates and to hear more from the band, check their website, Facebook and MySpace pages.
2 Comments
pretty sure this song is the lonely forest not lord huron
Yes, the link is fixed now!