Fleet Foxes Album Review
A Rare Ethereal Folk Inspired Debut
Positive vibes abound in Fleet Foxes soulful debut album. The self titled Fleet Foxes LP is diverse, and draws upon many influences and styles of music. It is a sound reminiscent of late 60's style Folk-Pop with an earthy modern edge.
There is something transcendental about this music, it has a sort of spiritual energy to it. The poetic elements of the songs are impressive, and the sincerity in the band's vocals evoke strong emotions. Fleet Foxes are a group of musicians who genuinely love music and the melodies they've created exude talent in every way possible.
Fleet Foxes: The Band
The five man Seattle based band is comprised of Robin Pecknold on vocals and guitar, Skyler Skjelset on lead guitar, Josh Tillman on drums and vocals, Christian Wargo on bass, guitar and vocals, and Casey Wescott on keyboard and vocals.
The band was signed by Sub Pop records in the U.S. and Bella Union in the U.K., and released their Sun Giant-EP in April 2008. The release of their debut full length album Fleet Foxes followed promptly in June of 2008.
What Kind of Music is Fleet Foxes?
Fleet Foxes music stands out in a time when musical styles have remained unchanged for so long. Their music is something different, a breath of fresh air, and it demands to be listened to. This kind of music doesn't really fit neatly into a category or style, there is not one single word that could stand alone to describe it.
The band has masterfully melded many different styles of music together to create their unique sound. According to a bio for Sub Pop, the band describes it's music as Baroque Harmonic Pop, and draws it's inspiration from traditional folk music, pop, choral music and gospel, baroque psychedelic, sacred harp singing, West Coast music, traditional music of Ireland to Japan, film scores, and the music of their friends and contemporaries in the Seattle Music family.
Fleet Foxes: The Album Review
An album like Fleet Foxes doesn't come along everyday, it is a rare treat. The lyrics in most of the songs paint pictures of pastoral imagery in the listener's mind, allowing their audience to visualize what they might see as they drive through snowy back-country roads.
In Blue Ridge Mountains, the band sings about quivering forests, frozen rivers and snow. The song has a very unique melody and utilizes many different, unusual instruments which makes it quite addictive.
One of the most popular songs on the album is the brilliantly crafted White Winter Hymnal. Rich in vocal reverb, this song has a definitive 60's vibe and might just be their best song on the LP.
Two other notable songs on Fleet Foxes are Tiger Mountain Peasant Song and Ragged Wood. Ragged Wood starts with an upbeat back-country feel, then meanders to a soft, gentle place, and transitions into a moment of foreign instrumentation.
Tiger Mountain Peasant Song starts out slowly with Pecknold's beautiful voice. The lyrics are poetic and powerful. It is a song addressing questions of the meaning of mortality, and it's ethereal melody is pure and peaceful.
Fleet Foxes' soaring harmony and rich melody are the highlights of this undeniably good debut. For more of Fleet Foxes music, check out their five-song Sun Giant-EP featuring Mykonos, which they recently performed on an episode of Saturday Night Live.
Fleet Foxes
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Fleet Foxes
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