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Product Details
It's now twenty years since grunge emerged from then culturally isolated Seattle and Fleet Foxes, the eponymous debut album from the city's latest heroes, demonstrates just how much American independent rock has mutated in that time. The five young members of Fleet Foxes make up a very different sort of rock band, describing their own music as "baroque harmonic pop jams". Even that understates the depths of the quintet's effortless vocal harmonies and gently woozy, folky feel. Of their contemporaries only the enigmatic Midlake and My Morning Jacket at their most fragile come close, but neither could have cooked up the Beach Boys spiritual of "White Winter Hymnal" or its more powerful companion piece "Ragged Wood". In fact Fleet Foxes happily admit to aspiring to an earlier tradition--not just obvious antecedents like the Byrds, the Association, Neil Young and, especially, David Crosby's famously unfocussed solo album If Only I Could Remember My Name but ancient English folk songs and their later American descendents. All were hunted and gathered from the internet--songwriters Robin Pecknold and Skye Skjelset are barely in their twenties. Add a host of unlikely instruments and the results are stunning, the complete antithesis of mainstream stadium indie that has followed Arcade Fire. Still, the cover features a Bruegel painting of peasants that might have graced any Black Sabbath sleeve. In that way at least Fleet Foxes salute a local tradition. -Steve Jelbert
Product Reviews
 (4 stars) - Good music but already been done.
The first time i heard this i thought it was MY MORNING JACKET. They were doing this sound quite a few years ago. It's very good and different from most of the rock on the radio these days, but quite a few of these reviews act like this is brand new. One can't even really tell the singers apart. I am buying it though.
 (5 stars) - Recommended for all lo-fi lovers
Anyone who loves lo-fi - The Decemberists, Iron & Wine, Death Cab for Cutie, etc. - should get this album. I would say Fleet Foxes are closest to Iron & Wine (or Carissa's Wierd for those who've heard them) because while there are moments where the beat speeds up, it's never loud or "rock". It's more like baroque pop with the vocal harmonies combining with gentle string arrangements and flutes for a sound which is soothing and beautiful.
Fleet Foxes produces some great harmonies throughout this album, especially on "White Winter Hymnal", my favorite track. There are no tracks on here I ever skip over, they're all good. Songs such as "Ragged Wood" and "Quiet Houses" have faster paced sections which are uplifting. "Tiger Mountain Peasant Song" and "Meadowlarks" have a wonderful sparseness to them.
For the longest time Amazon had this CD in my "recommendations" but I neglected it. I don't recall why I ended up giving it a chance, but I'm very glad I did. Now I can't wait for Fleet Foxes to record more music.
(5 stars) - A Masterpiece of a true return to alternative music.
What can I add that hasn't been said?? Iron & Wine, Fleet Foxes, The National, Bon Iver ... the second true alternative rock music is well underway and Fleet Foxes lead the pack. Scarborough Fair Forever! Folks, this is gorgeous stuff.
 (3 stars) - Promising debut
As far as I can tell this is the first Fleet Foxes album, and as far as debuts go, this one is solid enough. I'm not sure how this ended up on so many people's Top 10 lists, but everyone is entitled to his opinion. If you think this is one of the best CDs released in 2008, all the more power to you.
What do I like about the record? I have to say the vocals are great. There are fantastic harmonies that are relatively out of the ordinary for a pop record - although they are hardly revolutionary. Just about all of the songs are nice to listen to, while I'm listening to them. But I can't manage to really remember them after the album is over.
I guess that would be my major problem with the CD. I can't really comment on any of the individual songs because I honestly can't tell you how any of them go, and I have listened to the CD several times. There's so much reverb, that it is difficult to hear the performances of the group members. I'm not sure if it is because of the production, but most of the songs sound the same to me.
I'm sorry if the review is kind of "ho-hum" but that pretty much sums up my feelings toward the record. Still, in the liner notes the band hopes that we will all pay attention to them as they grow and evolve. I hope that on future efforts, they can fully develop the potential that they display here.
BTW, if you like this record you may like early Fairport Convention stuff. They had great vocals, the world's least-well-known gonzo guitarist (Richard Thompson), with a sound which was derived from British folk traditions.
(5 stars) - Great music
Fleet Foxes has an eclectic sound you never get tired of. I can listen to it over and over. A great combination of sounds from the 60 & 70's combined and modernized.
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