Find Me A Drink Home was by far my most played album of 2008. Poetically frustrated lyrics set to power pop…fans of Lemonheads and Smoking Popes should fall in love just as I did many times over. Definitely honored to have worked with the band for Beartrap. Watch out for these guys. Bigger and brighter things are on the horizon!
Bunch of hippies! Yup, Fleet Foxes burst onto the scene earlier this year with their fantastic debut EP, Sun Giant. Quickly to follow is the band’s debut self-titled full-length which is almost as impressive. It really is hard to believe how wet behind the ears Fleet Foxes still are. You would never know it as the band sounds like they have been putting out records for years and years now. With a sound that echoes My Morning Jacket, The Shins and Band Of Horses, Fleet Foxes are adding their own spin to this brand of Americana-laced pop. There is a definite gospel influence in Fleet Foxes soulful sound. That’s mainly because of the rich vocals of front man Robin Pecknold. His vocals and lyrical imagery provide a solid backdrop for the band to add their colorful instrumental touches around. Credit goes to veteran producer Phil Ek as well as the record sounds wonderfully textured. Fleet Foxes possess a timeless nature to their music as many of these songs sound like they could have come straight out of the 60’s. While I enjoyed the Sun Giant EP a bit more, Fleet Foxes have put forth out a strong album full of wide open spaces and intoxicating harmonies. Bunch of damn hippies!
Genre: Indie/Americana/Pop
RIYL: My Morning Jacket, Band Of Horses, The Shins
Label: Sub Pop
White Winter Hymnal
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He Doesn’t Know Why
Fleet Foxes needs no more critical acclaim. The band have not even released a full-length yet (their debut, Ragged Wood, is out in May on Sub Pop) but thanks to the power of the world wide web, they are well on their way to a great musical career. Really though, it’s not about just hype in this particular case. On the band’s debut EP, Sun Giant, Fleet Foxes write haunting, moving pop that carves out it’s own special niche. The reverb soaked vocals of Robin Pecknold certainly remind one of Jim James of My Morning Jacket at times. Both vocalists are pulling from different eras. They are just as much old R&B as they are Americana. You can not teach soul and both James and Pecknold have that. Granted, Fleet Foxes aren’t a rock band like My Morning Jacket though. That’s not Fleet Foxes game and these five songs never feel lacking because of it. They band knows they simply do not need to beat you over the head to get their point across. Instead these songs float in and out with beautiful melodies. Sun Giant is subtle and succinct. The soaring vocals of Pecknold do lead the way but the band crafts out some gorgeous musical landscapes behind him. If Sun Giant is any indication, let me offer a warning, you might be sick of hearing the name Fleet Foxes by the end of 2008.
Genre: Indie/Pop
RIYL: My Morning Jacket, Band Of Horses, The Shins
Label: Sub Pop
English House
