Fleet Foxes
 

Seeing as how there's no actual thread about the band, I thought I'd start one and ask, after we've all heard Ragged wood, if anyone else thinks it doesn't really compare to the Sun giant EP? I've heard it a few times and there aren't any songs that jump out like the fantastic Drops in the river and Mykonos from the EP...:\

For those unfamiliar with the band:

MySpace.com - Fleet Foxes, Ruiner of Worlds - Xachua’Bsh, Washington - Zouk - www.myspace.com/fleetfoxes

I've been putting off listening to the album for that exact reason. It seems like everytime a band's debut EP receives so much acclaim (example: Voxtrot) the debut suffers. I will listen tomorrow though.

It's not that it's a bad album, they have plenty of nice melodies in there, just none that get you hooked on the first listen. :\

I had thought that they'd have difficulties getting as good as English House. Similar to Ethan I've been putting off listening to the album. Well, actually, to rephrase, I don't know where the album is. And hence I can't listen to it.

I really enjoyed the album,
it's more mellow for me than the EP.

I thoroughly enjoyed "Oliver James" and "White Winter Hymnal". It took a couple of listens though but enjoyed it nonetheless.

Okokook. I've cut Red Squirrel/Sun rises, Tiger Mountain Peasant Song, Meadowlark and Oliver James and combined it with the EP and now I'm seriously digging the shit out of it. Hellz yeah!:yeah:

The album itself as a whole is a complete overrated pile of piffle. Absolute piffle.

I take it you've just read the pitchfork review...? http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...wer/giggle.gif

You don't have to read pitchfork to realize something is overrated, imo. Just listen to all the hype on boards... word of mouth... and then you listen and you're like oh... oh so this is just more well put together harmonies and some tranquil sounding tracks? Oh... well that's neat I guess... I heard or read someone say that they thought this was a sequel to "Pet Sounds" - come on now...

Pitchfork gave it a 9.0 and the review came out today, that's why I mentioned it...
I wouldn't say it was that good personally, but it's still a very good album by my account...

Technically it's all well and fine. But I've listened through it 3 or 4 times now and it has yet to grow on me... Winter Hymnal is the only one I would actively seek out to listen to so far; only if I was in a very specific mood.

I'm actually surprised by the lack of attention they're getting from pitchfork crowds compared to Vampire Weekend. Anyway I think its good stuff.

Yes, seeing it on Pitchfork is how I came to know that it just came out. I listened to it however back when we all did, and while I agree with you that it's a listenable album, it's just not half as good as all the critics (Pitchfork included) are making out. In my opinion. Actually I think you summed it up best earlier on in this thread: you just don't feel it like you do the EP. Provided your feelings have not changed, I feel just the same way. EP, absolutely loved it. But there was not much on this album that I felt was must-listen material, ya know? I'll say what my favourites were:

Tiger Mountain Peasant Song
Quiet Houses
He Doesn't Know Why
Your Protector
Blue Ridge Mountains

The rest were consigned to the recycle bin.

its pleasing material but nothing was catching me on the first few listens. liking how they carry the theme.

i dont know what kind of crack yall are smoking.
this is one of the best albums in years, easily the best of this year.

I'm part of the 'average' crew i'm afraid. Pleasant enough music but it doesn't catch me in anyway, and i felt quite a bit of deja vu.

Ditto. You people are insane. There are three, maybe four albums this year that can compare to this piece, and even they don't stand up favorably.

You hipsters are ridiculous, hating anything that sounds particularly good. It's not a pop album. It's an indie album, and there's a great bit of excellent harmonies and well-constructed melodies. Seriously, learn to appreciate something that doesn't sound like it's being expelled by a fetus.

I've only recently heard fleet Foxes. I don't read music media much and heard about them through friends.

I prefer the album probably because I was introduced to them through it, then bought the ep later.

They're doing well in the uk, selling out most of their october tour already! I've got my tickets for Birmingham....can't wait!

Fleet Foxes's album is easily one of my top 10 albums of the year. I love all the brilliant vocal melodies they use in their songs. Can't wait till the winter to listen to it, as it is most definetly a winter album, imo.

The album disappointed me a little. The tracks I heard on their MySpace page were quite excellent...reminded me a little of the Byrds, that sort of thing. But the album, while pretty and easy on the ears, wasn't particularly hooky. I love well-produced, pretty pop, but unless it has melodies that really grab me and stick in my head, I can't call it great.

Fleet Foxes is nice to listen to, but when I'm not listening to it, I can't really remember any of the tunes.

I listened to the album a couple of times, and the truth I didn't find a song which I would say is great and it got stuck to my head. I think it's an album to listen as a whole and not track by track, it is actually very good as a whole piece I think,and I think that is what they were going for.

:confused:

I've still not heard this yet.
A close friend who's opinion I value and respect, reckons it's the best album he's heard all year...

your friend is very right.

I still don't understand why people are knocking this band. Is it the harmonies? The songwriting? The album is sound (if not excellent), and it has some of the most sonically spectacular songs I've heard this year. David, you gotta get on that.

Incidentally, the band I'm in just covered White Winter Hymnal. It would have sounded good if we didn't suck at singing.

I should have got on it ages ago when adidasss recommended them.
For some reason I got put off by the band name I think (shallow I know) and I think he described them as Americana, which didn't help.
Now if Marijan sends me a decent upload...

Americana? Noooo... It's barely folk music. Calling Fleet Foxes "Americana" is nearly as asinine as comparing every rock guitarist to Bruce Springsteen.

Um, I don't recall that, but if I did describe them as americana, don't take it to heart, I suck at genres...;)

I owe you an apology. :o:

Midlake/Fleet Foxes=bland band name...all the fuckin' same to me.

Everytime I try to listen to them I feel like there is something missing. I just cant do it.

Their new album ranks up there with new albums by Department of Eagles and Apollo Sunshine. 2008 is like the year for beautiful experimental indie psych-rock

I have to agree in a way with you....its almost like they are right there and so...damn....close...al...m..oos..damn...

Possibly frustrating at some points, but I enjoy the CD now that I have beaten it to death like I do to many of my albums... honestly I think the more I listened to it the more I enjoyed it, notice more and more details in every song.

I saw them live before I even anything by them and was impressed by their live show, although they really could use some help on the stage in between songs...too much mumbling into the microphones about things I either didn't care about, or couldn't actually hear.

I love their debut. I'll have to look into that EP.

This album was appallingly bad, and radically boring. I've never found an overhyped record this boring in all my life. It sits up there with Vampire Weekend as the most underservedly hyped album of 2008, and even Vampire Weekend was a lot less boring than this piece of garden variety horse excrement.

i agree

I completely agree with you, I can't stand to hear the Vampire Weekend s/t one more time. It's a polished turd.

From what I've heard of Vampire Weekend they're a ripoff of just about every other indie rock band out there.

Vampire Weekend>just about every other indie rock band out there