Inside Tyler Childers’ “Snipe Hunter”: Bassist Craig Burletic on Rick Rubin, Groove, and Growth
Tyler Childers has returned with his seventh studio album, Snipe Hunter, which collects 13 songs ranging in mood and topic. Where many of his previous releases have seemed to center on an approach or concept, Pitchfork calls the release his “most free-spirited and pleasantly weird album to date.”
That could be thanks in part to the help of legendary producer Rick Rubin, who recorded with Childers and his band, The Food Stamps, between Hawaii and Malibu. The result is an album that blends old and new as it explores textures of country, rock, psychedelia, and more.
Childers is joined again by longtime bassist Craig Burletic, who shared his experience of recording in an Instagram post.
“The World Series was going on in LA and New York when we went in to round out the album we started in Hawaii with Rick Rubin,” he wrote. “Shangri La Studios, once a ranch and filming location for the TV show Mr. Ed, was turned into a studio in the 1970s by members of The Band and Bob Dylan. The music of The Band was something James, Rod, and I bonded over deeply 15+ years ago. Showing up each day felt like arriving at a temple. Being there and creating with my brothers, old and new, was exciting, affirming, almost ceremonial. It feels like a finally formed thing, and I can’t believe I’m lucky enough to be a part of it.”
Burletic seemed to channel some of The Band bassist Rick Danko’s energy for Snipe Hunter. His bass lines are supportive, but have an energy and melodic edge to them. Check out his beautiful work on “Oneida” as he weaves the chord progression together with a descending motif in the bass’s upper register.
For a higher octane, check out the swampy groove and hilarious video for “Eatin’ Big Time”:
Snipe Hunter is out now on CD, vinyl and as a digital download (Apple Music, and Amazon Music).
Snipe Hunter Track List:
- Eatin’ Big Time
- Cuttin’ Teeth
- Oneida
- Getting to the Bottom
- Bitin’ List
- Nose on the Grindstone
- Watch Out
- Down Under
- Poachers
- Snipe Hunt
- Tirtha Yatra
- Tomcat and a Dandy
- Dirty Ought Trill
In his time with No Treble, Kevin has met hundreds of amazing bassists and interviewed icons like Jack Casady, Victor Wooten, Les Claypool, Marcus Miller, and more. He's a gigging bassist performing jazz in Northern Virginia and bluegrass with The Plate Scrapers up and down the East Coast. Kevin appreciates all genres of music, from R&B to metal and everything in between. Connect with Kevin on Facebook and check his performance schedule on his website.
