Fleet Foxes
Audio CD
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£3.99
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Reviewer
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When I look at purchasing an album I spend as much time reading the 1 to 3 star reviews as the "wow, mega, gushing" 5 stars to attain a rounded view.
There are a surprising number of 1 to 3 stars considering the number of 4 and 5 star reviews, clearly a polarised listening base.
Despite that I bought it, via MP3 download so the "cardboard sleeve" critics do not apply to me.
Overall I really enjoy listening to them, the mix of singing and instruments, with either dominating for a period is very nice and easy listening, good fun.
It sits nicely with my Coldplay, Keane, Mumford & Sons, Snow Patrol etc. collection, they may not stand equally beside them, they all have their own strengths (and weaknesses), but I am not sorry to have bought it.
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I did not like the whole album at first, but after a few listens it grew on me, infact I found it pretty hounting.
for all the people who critisized their sound quality and production, if you read on the 'cheap' sleeve notes you might notice that this album is mostly recorded at home. And I think that's charming, yes maybe it is a bit over re-verbt and yes there are some bum-notes. But what is wrong with a bit of purity ? instead of all this over produced music that comes out these days.
I like this organic and naive recording. It makes it sound sincere and again pure.
To be fair to the critical reviewers, they do sound a bit like the beach boys...but what is wrong with basing yourselfs on such quality musicians? the beatles have been the foundation for most recent bands. So it's nice and refreshing to actually here people sing harmonies togheter again in the old tradition ala the Beach Boys'
This is a beautiful album, and I can't wait for their second one, and i'm sure that now they have made a bit of money that the sound quality etc will be a lot better.
So for the critical people ...don't give up on them yet.
But this album will stand the test of time !
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great album, soft, mellow, choral, the beach boys get mentioned alot, but theres alot of crosby, stills n' nash as well. Americana! Got to love it!
If like me you love this album but also love things a bit more 'edgy', extended psyk-out instrumentals, anger mixed into the beauty, etc, then check out the work of Akron/family.
Meek Warrior
Love Is Simple
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Much has already been said about our hairy heroes, Fleet Foxes and I concur with many reviewers here that a stand out feature of their music is the lush harmonies and sixties influenced sound. Luckily they manage to make this sound fresh and put their own twist on it to make it relevant to a modern audience. The opener `Sun It Rises' is a good indicator of what is in store, with swirling harmonies and a great riff during the chorus and towards the end. They are a typical Sub Pop band and if you like other bands on that label then it is a sure bet you will like Fleet Foxes as well and they are a good example of modern folk. For some reason I enjoy this album more when played on headphones and the harmonies have more effect this way and I recommend you do this on first listen at least. This hasn't shaken my world as some reviewers have suggested it can do, but it is a solid, well written and produced album and always makes for around 40 minutes relaxed music listening. Worth checking out.
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Although I'd already heard of them, my first encounter with Fleet Foxes was seeing their absolutely incredible performance at Glastonbury 2009 on TV. A few days later, I bought the album. Is it as good as my memory of the Glasto gig - not quite, but it is still highly recommended.
Even though they are a new young band, the chief influences behind the FF sound are certainly not so young. With their sparse arrangements and strangely tuned guitars, the most obvious reference point is Crosby Stills & Nash without the latter's more rocking numbers thrown in to provide some balance. Add to that the Fleet Foxes' trump calling card, their wonderful vocal harmonies, and you can also throw The Beach Boys into the mix as well as The Band, both musically and through the Foxes olde-world lyrics.
Going one stage further, the sublime harmonies of the band are at time choral and almost gospel though in a spiritual rather than overtly religious sense. This is especially evident in the album's opener Sun It Rises and wordless yet definitely not instrumental Heard Them Stirring. Further highlights from the LP include the highly revered White Winter Hymnal and Ragged Wood as well as English House and Mykonos from the six track bonus disc which brings together everything the band have released so far.
Excellent though the music is, the lack of variety does deflate things slightly over the whole album. Nevertheless, with harmonies and playing this exquisite, Fleet Foxes is an LP to treasure. I remember reading a review of Grace by Jeff Buckley in one of the glossy monthly music mags which stated that this is the sort of album which isn't made any more. The same can also be said for the equally excellent Fleet Foxes.
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