Artist: Fleet Foxes
Album: Fleet Foxes
Label: Bella Union
Link: www.myspace.com/fleetfoxes
After the critically acclaimed Sun Giant Ep, Fleet Foxes return with the first full length album, which is self titled. The thing that struck my most about the Sun Giant Ep was Fleet Foxes harmonies. They’re just incredible. So you’ll be glad to hear that their latest release is held in place by some of the most beautiful four part harmonies you’re likely to hear all year long.
They often get compared to Midlake, especially on the harmonies side of things, but they seem a little more credible. As much as i like Midlake, Trials Of Van… being an incredible album, i always felt like they were purposively creating music for a certain demographic, or that it was a homage to late 60’s/early 70’s rock à la Fleetwood Mac. On first listen i knew instantly the music they created was a modern incarnation of that sound but with Fleet Foxes, had i not known they were a contemporary band, i could have been persuaded they came from that era. A great example of this is on ‘Tiger Mountain Peasant Song’. Just check the vocals of Robin Pecknold on this track and tell me you don’t think the same. I dare you.
So what would you expect to hear if you got those record? Well, like i said, a lot of harmonies (’Sun It Rises’). A blend of traditional folk, alt-country, a touch of psychedelia and often the sort of surfer like pop sensibilities that only Brian Wilson could conjure up.
The only reason i doesn’t get a perfect score from me is down to the fact that a couple of the songs seem to tail off a bit but that’s the only criticism i have of this album. If you were put off by the mention of the harmonies then i suggest you listen to the finale to the album, ‘Oliver James’, just to hear the spooky, yet stunning, vocals from Pecknold.
This years just keeps getting better.
Highlight: White Winter Hymnal
Download: White Winter Hymnal
Rating: 8.9/10
Tracklisting:
1. Sun It Rises
2. White Winter Hymnal
[audio http://rapidshare.com/files/122144329/02_white_winter_hymnal.mp3.html]
3. Ragged Wood
4. Tiger Mountain Peasant Song
5. Quiet Houses
6. He Doesn’t Know Why
7. Heard Them Stirring
8. Your Protector
9. Meadowlarks
10. Blue Ridge Mountains
11. Oliver James
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6 responses so far ↓
1 dreamaboutme // Jun 13, 2008 at 2:27 pm
I LOVE BELLLLLLLA UNION
2 oliverx12 // Jun 13, 2008 at 2:28 pm
me too! If you read this Bella Union, send us promos! hehe
3 Jeremiah // Jun 14, 2008 at 7:40 am
I’ve been listening to this cd all week, I absolutely love it. Going to go see them in concert in San Francisco in a couple weeks, can’t wait for that.
4 oliverx12 // Jun 14, 2008 at 1:26 pm
Yeah its great isn’t it
5 oliverx12 // Sep 30, 2008 at 9:34 am
Blimey! I wrote ‘If you read this Bella Union, send us promos’ 3 months ago.
I just received this in the post as well as loads more bella union promos.
WOOOOOOOOOO
6 The 405 End Of Year List! | The 405 // Dec 22, 2008 at 10:54 am
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