The Woman That Ended the World

This CD from Fuzzmonster Records tells the world about Hillstomp's blues . This music is best described as North Mississippi trance blues, a bit of Appalachia and a dash of punk duct-taped into a rockin' do-it-yourself hill country blues stomp. The clanging and tumbling from assorted vintage mics, buckets, cans and BBQ bottle lids, drenched in rambunctious slide guitar, make these simple musicians sound like what they are today. Just looking at the album cover, they give you an idea as to what type of music they have to offer. There's a train on a railroad track with two guys dressed in coutry outfits beggin' their women to dance. If that ain't a kick-in-the pants, I don't know what is. For example, track #1 "Poor Black Mattie", it sounds like the perfect square dance type of song. The vocals and clappin' in the background makes someone listen at least stomp their feet at the table. In track #4, "Shake It", I hear a harmonica, drums, and a banjo or violin being plucked. The harmonica is dominant in this bluesy track. Track #7, "You Done Told Everybody", is one of the countriest songs I've ever heard. This is a guitar and vocal dominated song with harmonica breaks to give it that down home feel. One of my favorites on this CD is track #8, "Boom Boom Room East Blues". This track starts off with a little jazz into that will get your attention. Throught this song, you hear fast-paced dance guitar, percussions, and drums to get the blood flowin'. The vocals are a little more aggressive than the beginning of the album. Of course, it would be one of the shortest songs. Track #9, "N.E. Portland 3am" is also played at a moderate pace with a plain guitar as the vocals remain aggressive, saying "yeah, yeah, yeah". The last two tracks are pretty somber and laid back. They are more blues driven and somewhat sad atmosphere created by the instrumentation.

Hillstomp's punk/blues influence will appeal to a broad base of fans once they are known. In the spring of 2001, Hillstomp was born in a home basement in Portland, OR. It was Henry Kammerer and John Johnson's mutual need to make music and drink beer is where all this started. In June 2002, Hillstomp emerged from the dust and dark with a raucous brand of hill country blues rock stomp. It is a visceral music that makes you want to stomp your feet, swing dance and clap your hands as you love your neighbor. In 2004, Hillstomp revealed their first full self-released album "One Word" to a sold out and nearly rabid crowd at the White Eagle Saloon in Portland. Despite their homemade instruments and novel approach, Hillstomp is not joke. They have distinctive songwriting and powerful musicianship as they recycle traditional elements into something fresh and exciting.