Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
Borrowing from ageless folk and classic rock (and nicking some of the best bits from prog and soft rock along the way), on their self-titled debut album Fleet Foxes don't just master the art of taking familiar influences and making them sound fresh again, they give a striking sense of who they are and what their world is like. Their song titles reference the Blue Ridge Mountains -- never mind that they're actually from Seattle -- but it's the ease and skill with which they mix and match British and American folk and rock from the far and not too distant past that makes the band's music so refreshing. While this mix could be contrived or indulgent, Fleet Foxes use restraint, structuring their flourishes into three- and four-minute pop songs full of chiming melodies and harmonies that sound like they've been summoned from centuries of traditional songs and are full of vivid, universal imagery: mountains, birds, family, death. Despite drawing from so many sources, there's a striking purity to Fleet Foxes' sound. Robin Pecknold's voice is warm and sweet, with just enough grit to make phrases like "premonition of my death" sound genuine, and the band's harmonies sound natural, and stunning, whether they're on their own or supported by acoustic guitars or the full, plugged-in band. "Tiger Mountain Peasant Song" and "Meadowlarks" show just how much the Foxes do with the simplest elements of their music, but Fleet Foxes' best songs marry that purity with twists that open their sound much wider. As good as the Sun Giant EP was, Fleet Foxes saved many of their best songs for this album. "White Winter Hymnal" is remarkably beautiful, building from a vocal round into glorious jangle pop with big, booming drums that lend a sense of adventure as the spine-tingling melody lightens some of the lyrics' darkness ("Michael you would fall and turn the white snow red as strawberries in summertime"). The suite-like "Ragged Wood" moves from a galloping beat to sparkling acoustic picking, then takes a trippy detour before returning to a more thoughtful version of its main theme. "Quiet Houses" and "He Doesn't Know Why"'s driving pianos show off the band's flair for drama. Dazzling songs like these are surrounded by a few songs that find the band leaning a little more heavily on its influences. "Your Protector" nods to Zeppelin's misty, mournful side, and "Blue Ridge Mountains" is the kind of earthy yet sophisticated song CSNY would have been proud to call their own. But, even when the songs aren't as brilliant as Fleet Foxes' highlights, the band still sounds alluring, as on the lush interlude "Heard Them Stirring." Throughout the album, the band sounds wise beyond its years, so it's not really that surprising that Fleet Foxes is such a satisfying, self-assured debut.
© Heather Phares /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From $17.49/month
Nicholas Peterson, Drums, Percussion, Vocals - Robin Pecknold, Guitar, Vocals, Writer, Strings - Ed Brooks, MasteringEngineer - PHIL EK, Producer, Engineer & Mixer - Fleet Foxes, MainArtist - Casey Wescott, Keyboards, Organ, Piano, Vocals - Skyler Skjelset, Lead Guitar - Craig Curran, Vocals, Bass
© 2008 Sub Pop Records ℗ 2008 Sub Pop Records
Nicholas Peterson, Drums, Percussion, Vocals - Robin Pecknold, Guitar, Vocals, Writer - Ed Brooks, MasteringEngineer - PHIL EK, Producer, Engineer & Mixer - Fleet Foxes, MainArtist - Casey Wescott, Keyboards, Organ, Piano, Vocals - Skyler Skjelset, Guitar - Craig Curran, Vocals, Bass
© 2008 Sub Pop Records ℗ 2008 Sub Pop Records
Nicholas Peterson, Drums, Percussion, Vocals - Robin Pecknold, Guitar, Vocals, Writer - Ed Brooks, MasteringEngineer - PHIL EK, Producer, Engineer & Mixer - Fleet Foxes, MainArtist - Casey Wescott, Keyboards, Organ, Piano, Vocals - Skyler Skjelset, Lead Guitar - Craig Curran, Vocals, Bass
© 2008 Sub Pop Records ℗ 2008 Sub Pop Records
Robin Pecknold, Guitar, Vocals, Writer - Ed Brooks, MasteringEngineer - PHIL EK, Producer, Engineer & Mixer - Fleet Foxes, MainArtist - Skyler Skjelset, Guitar
© 2008 Sub Pop Records ℗ 2008 Sub Pop Records
Nicholas Peterson, Drums, Percussion, Vocals - Robin Pecknold, Guitar, Vocals, Writer - Ed Brooks, MasteringEngineer - PHIL EK, Producer, Engineer & Mixer - Fleet Foxes, MainArtist - Casey Wescott, Keyboards, Organ, Piano, Vocals - Skyler Skjelset, Guitar - Craig Curran, Vocals, Bass
© 2008 Sub Pop Records ℗ 2008 Sub Pop Records
Nicholas Peterson, Drums, Percussion, Vocals - Robin Pecknold, Guitar, Vocals, Writer - Ed Brooks, MasteringEngineer - PHIL EK, Producer, Engineer & Mixer - Fleet Foxes, MainArtist - Casey Wescott, Keyboards, Organ, Piano, Vocals - Skyler Skjelset, Lead Guitar - Craig Curran, Vocals, Bass
© 2008 Sub Pop Records ℗ 2008 Sub Pop Records
Nicholas Peterson, Drums, Percussion, Vocals - Robin Pecknold, Guitar, Vocals, Writer - Ed Brooks, MasteringEngineer - PHIL EK, Producer, Engineer & Mixer - Fleet Foxes, MainArtist - Casey Wescott, Keyboards, Organ, Piano, Vocals - Skyler Skjelset, Guitar - Craig Curran, Vocals, Bass
© 2008 Sub Pop Records ℗ 2008 Sub Pop Records
Nicholas Peterson, Drums, Percussion, Vocals - Robin Pecknold, Guitar, Vocals, Writer, Strings - Ed Brooks, MasteringEngineer - PHIL EK, Producer, Engineer & Mixer - Fleet Foxes, MainArtist - Casey Wescott, Keyboards, Organ, Piano, Vocals - Skyler Skjelset, Guitar - Gwen Owen, Flute - Craig Curran, Vocals, Bass
© 2008 Sub Pop Records ℗ 2008 Sub Pop Records
Nicholas Peterson, Vocals - Robin Pecknold, Guitar, Vocals, Writer, Strings - Ed Brooks, MasteringEngineer - PHIL EK, Producer, Engineer & Mixer - Fleet Foxes, MainArtist - Casey Wescott, Keyboards, Organ, Vocals - Skyler Skjelset, Guitar - Craig Curran, Vocals, Bass
© 2008 Sub Pop Records ℗ 2008 Sub Pop Records
Nicholas Peterson, Drums, Percussion, Vocals - Robin Pecknold, Guitar, Vocals, Writer - Ed Brooks, MasteringEngineer - PHIL EK, Producer, Engineer & Mixer - Fleet Foxes, MainArtist - Casey Wescott, Keyboards, Organ, Piano, Vocals - Skyler Skjelset, Lead Guitar - Craig Curran, Vocals, Bass
© 2008 Sub Pop Records ℗ 2008 Sub Pop Records
Robin Pecknold, Guitar, Vocals, Writer - Ed Brooks, MasteringEngineer - PHIL EK, Producer, Engineer & Mixer - Fleet Foxes, MainArtist - Skyler Skjelset, Guitar
© 2008 Sub Pop Records ℗ 2008 Sub Pop Records
Album review
Borrowing from ageless folk and classic rock (and nicking some of the best bits from prog and soft rock along the way), on their self-titled debut album Fleet Foxes don't just master the art of taking familiar influences and making them sound fresh again, they give a striking sense of who they are and what their world is like. Their song titles reference the Blue Ridge Mountains -- never mind that they're actually from Seattle -- but it's the ease and skill with which they mix and match British and American folk and rock from the far and not too distant past that makes the band's music so refreshing. While this mix could be contrived or indulgent, Fleet Foxes use restraint, structuring their flourishes into three- and four-minute pop songs full of chiming melodies and harmonies that sound like they've been summoned from centuries of traditional songs and are full of vivid, universal imagery: mountains, birds, family, death. Despite drawing from so many sources, there's a striking purity to Fleet Foxes' sound. Robin Pecknold's voice is warm and sweet, with just enough grit to make phrases like "premonition of my death" sound genuine, and the band's harmonies sound natural, and stunning, whether they're on their own or supported by acoustic guitars or the full, plugged-in band. "Tiger Mountain Peasant Song" and "Meadowlarks" show just how much the Foxes do with the simplest elements of their music, but Fleet Foxes' best songs marry that purity with twists that open their sound much wider. As good as the Sun Giant EP was, Fleet Foxes saved many of their best songs for this album. "White Winter Hymnal" is remarkably beautiful, building from a vocal round into glorious jangle pop with big, booming drums that lend a sense of adventure as the spine-tingling melody lightens some of the lyrics' darkness ("Michael you would fall and turn the white snow red as strawberries in summertime"). The suite-like "Ragged Wood" moves from a galloping beat to sparkling acoustic picking, then takes a trippy detour before returning to a more thoughtful version of its main theme. "Quiet Houses" and "He Doesn't Know Why"'s driving pianos show off the band's flair for drama. Dazzling songs like these are surrounded by a few songs that find the band leaning a little more heavily on its influences. "Your Protector" nods to Zeppelin's misty, mournful side, and "Blue Ridge Mountains" is the kind of earthy yet sophisticated song CSNY would have been proud to call their own. But, even when the songs aren't as brilliant as Fleet Foxes' highlights, the band still sounds alluring, as on the lush interlude "Heard Them Stirring." Throughout the album, the band sounds wise beyond its years, so it's not really that surprising that Fleet Foxes is such a satisfying, self-assured debut.
© Heather Phares /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 11 track(s)
- Total length: 00:39:35
- Main artists: Fleet Foxes
- Label: Sub Pop Records
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock
© 2008 Sub Pop Records ℗ 2008 Sub Pop Records
Distinctions:
Improve album informationWhy buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.