New Wax
Pulling from a wide array of influences, Seattle's Fleet Foxes have garnered a good bit of buzz, and their full-length self-titled debut does nothing but enhance the hype. Following up their excellent Sun Giant EP, the self-titled album maintains a rustic tone and it sounds like it could easily be a surprise find from a milk-crate bin in the back of a record store. For both the EP and the full-length, the five-piece band, which boasts former members of Pedro The Lion, Crystal Skulls, and Seldom, sought out the expertise of producer Phil Ek, whose credits include Modest Mouse, Built To Spill, and the Shins. At the core of Fleet Foxes' sound is a focus on harmony, and lead vocalist Robin Pecknold is supported by wonderful full-band backup vocals. Lyrically, Pecknold maintains a vague and mysterious tone. On "White Winter Hymnal," Pecknold sings: "I was following the pack/ All swallowed in their coats/ With scares of red tied around their throats/ To keep their heads from falling in the snow." The haunting "Tiger Mountain Peasant Song," which is built on an acoustic guitar and Pecknold's lone vocals, ends with: "I don't know what I have done/ I'm turning myself into a demon." Creepy. But awesome. While most of the album's tracks boast a full-band array of sound and harmonies, the quiet moments on the aforementioned "Tiger Mountain Peasant Song" and the finale "Oliver James" are just as memorable. Good stuff. -- Capt. Obvious
Listen:
MP3: Fleet Foxes - White Winter Hymnal
MP3: Fleet Foxes - Tiger Mountain Peasant Song
1 comments:
One of the best debuts of 2008. Their success story reminds me a bit of Vampire Weekend (although their style is completely different)
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