Fleet Foxes

Bob Harris has been giving the Fleet Foxes some exposure on his Saturday night show, and I like what I've heard Simon.

Thanks for the prod.

John.

Unfortunately there have been a lot of bands over the last ten years to be compared with Brian Wilson. Sadly, most of them have proved to be shite.

Hopefully this Seattle combo will be the exception.

Simon,

This CD has been consistently well reviewed, and I've got it on my 'To Buy' list ...got to say I find your description disheartening! I thought that Smile was dreadful!

I will be buying it though.

M

.............. it's on my list too

I bought it at the weekend - I had no idea what it would sound like and first play was very encouraging.

Amazon are taking ages to deliver mine. Samples (and reviews) so far have got me really looking forward to it!

Bruce

PS If you want another very good 'furry-faced American' album try out the new Bonnie Prince Billy. It is excellent.

Cheers Bruce , will check it out.

Mr Underhill, fear not this is an absolutely brilliant album and at no point during the recording process did a 300lb man on acid attempt to conduct a herd of goats for the backing chorus

These boys have their own sound so take my comparisons with a pinch of salt.

quote:

Mr Underhill, fear not this is an absolutely brilliant album and at no point during the recording process did a 300lb man on acid attempt to conduct a herd of goats for the backing chorus

I suspect Mr Underhill was referring to the antiseptic reenactment of Smile released a few years ago, which would have benefited greatly from a goat chorus.

Mark S

Just to add my appreciation for the Fleet Foxes to all the other comments. It's a very fine album.

My introduction was courtesy of Rough Trade's Album Club. Been a member since Christmas and haven't had a duff album yet.

Steeve

Steeve

That sounds interesting. How does it work?

What have you been recommended so far this year?

Simon

Details here...

The Album Club

I just subscribe to 1 CD a month, but you can do more. It's true you do pay more for the CDs than you would at, say, Amazon, but I wouldn't even think of buying most of the titles and you often get exclusive extra CDs included with the main item.

Previous CDs I've received that I can remember off the top of my head are :

The Shortwave Set - "Replica Sun Machine"

Superimposers - "Harpsichord Treacle"

Bon Iver - "For Emma, Foever Ago"

Pete & The Pirates - "Little Death"

Jaymay - "Autumn Fallin'"

MGMT - "Oracular Spectacular"

I particularly love the Jaymay CD - listened to it again the other day and it's just beautiful. But they are all good.

There you go, my bit of free advertising for the day!

Steeve

Thaks Steeve.

Just been listening to theJaymay album on her myspace. It sounds really nice. The Bon Iver is one of my favourites of the year so far.

Good old Rough Trade - naim stereo in the shop as well. That beats HMV any time!

I've had my copy a few days, and have to agree it is very good.

In a similar but slightly more poppy/less rustic vein is Hal's eponymous album. The critics loved it when it was released in 2005 but I don't think too many people bought it. Worth checking out.

Bruce

I really like this album but something about it worries me. Have we now reached the point when 22 year olds can produce facsimilie music to such a high standard that it's impossible to distinguish it from anything produced in say 1971? When I was growing up kids of that age were wanting to rebel and pick up guitars and say something. Now they appear to want to sit back; chill out and harmonise. Strange days indeed.

Mike

Mike,

I agree there is a bit of Beach Boys harmonising, but think of it this way they are rebelling against manufactured electronic pap that the big four are dishing out. Its we want to have a bit of real singing, feeling and melody in our music. I think the lead singer has a fantastic voice especially on the last track.



Dean..

If you are still enjoying this lots you might want to check out the 'Sun Giant' EP.

Not quite as consistent but some great moments.

Bruce

quote:

Originally posted by Bruce Woodhouse:
If you are still enjoying this lots you might want to check out the 'Sun Giant' EP.

Not quite as consistent but some great moments.

Bruce

fwiw, if you buy the vinyl version of the album, the 'sun giant' EP is included.

I passed the album up a couple of times now in the store - maybe I should give it a listen.

I'm afraid I'm going to take what appears to be the minority position on this one.

It's yet another attempt to do a sixties sound which for me just doesn't work. To do harmonies properly you have to have pretty good pitch, and the FF ones - which could be mostly the one guy overdubbed - do waver a lot around the pitch. I'm afraid CSN(Y) and the Beach Boys - nor the Byrds - didn't have this problem. To me it sounds wobbly and uninteresting. There's one track which sounds like another Smile attempt - ends up like the High Llamas (another dislike of mine). Mostly it sounds like the Cosmic Rough Riders, a Scottish band (I think) who attempted the same California harmony thing a few years ago. If it sounds like anyone from the sixties it's definitely more like the Byrds than the BBs, which implies to me that most of the supporters of this band don't really know their 60s music but have just swallowed journalistic shorthand. I suggest you buy 'Sunflower', 'Younger than Yesterday', and the first CSN album to see how it should sound.

Mr Bear

I've never owned any of the albums you reference, or indeed heard any but the odd radio track. Not knowing my sixties music does not mean I cannot enjoy the CD though. Perhaps it is easier to enjoy Fleet Foxes for what it is (a contemporary record) rather than making comparisons that may or may not be unfavourable.

Bruce

Bruce - this is very true; in fact, most of those who would enjoy this record would be those who haven't the past references in their musical memory.

However, two (relevant) points: first, for those of us who do have these memories, this ain't a great record; and second, everyone who talks about this record (see above) seems to refer to the same influences!

Bruce

Well as one who does have all those musical references I still think its a fabulous record and it has stayed on my turntable. I think you are right to remember that it is a contemporary record and that references are only references.

I have to agree that I don't think they were setting out to do a sixties sound or a sixties record, I think they simply did what spoke to them.....now.

.....and it speaks to me now too! Which I suppose is as it should be.

james

I think it is a good album but not as amazing as the reviews suggest. The singing is not great but there are some interesting ideas.

Hi there!
Saw them in Gothenburg, Sweden, a couple of weeks ago (along with Neil Young!!!). They were much better live than on record. The choiring (don´t know the name in english) was spectacular, and in my view they are doing something quite special compared to other contemporary bands when it comes to lyrics, sound and song. It was magic and you could tell that the swedish crowd loved it!
I understand that some people say that they have heard it before etc, and myself I listen mostly to 60´s and 70´s rock and singer-songwriting like CSN(Y), Neil Young, Nick Drake etc. I still can´t say I have heard the Fleet Foxes mix of song and maybe a mideval sound (Incredible String Band?). Even if they are making something unoriginal I feel they are picking from the best era in music ever and I want more of it.
See them Live!
Fred
By the way, the bands members are barely 20!