It's been way too many months since I have posted something on this little blog so I am going to catch up with some rapid reviews. And away we go:
FLEET FOXES w/CAVE SINGERS-United Palace, NYC-5/8
The much anticipated arrival to NYC after the release of their spectacular album 'Helplessness Blues' resulted in something I never saw before at a concert. A standing ovation in the middle of the show. Not just a standing ovation, but a passionate, heartfelt, slow building standing ovation. It was as if it just dawned on everybody just how amazing this experience and needed to let the band know. The band, especially lead singer Robin Pecknold, seemed overwhelmed and almost bashful about the applause and appreciation from the crowd. This was an awesome show by an awesome band and just like every other time I have seen this band live, I'm just thankful I was able to attend.
The Cave Singers opened and I caught the second half of their set. The reminded me of a folky version of Modest Mouse. Liked them a lot and plan to catch them next time they come around
TWILIGHT SINGERS-Webster Hall, NYC-5/13 (Friday the 13th)
A show so good they decided to release it as their first ever live album with the killer name 'Twilight Singers: Live in New York'. All joking aside, this was a great night. Lead singer Greg Dulli's time leading the Twilight Singers is nearing that of his time with the Afghan Whigs. How will his career be defined? Who cares? Every release and every live show is a welcome adventure and tonight he was his bad ass self talking up Prince and breaking into a little Tom Petty and even taking time to heckle some fans in the front row. The backing band seemed to be the same as the last time I saw them after what was a rotating cast of support members since the band started. Never the less, these guys were fantastic. I did notice that the cup holder was missing from Dulli's mic stand for this show? Has he stopped drinking? Was he just being good since they were taping the show for for release? Not sure but he did seem a bit more 'together' tonight.
Regarding the Afghan Whigs. Very exciting news to hear that they will be reuniting in 2012 to play the All Tomorrows Parties festivals in London and New Jersey. Hopefully more shows will be included...
SWINGIN' UTTERS-Santos Party House, NYC-6/15
I was a little let down by this show. This is one of my favorite punk bands and it has been many years since I have seen them. The venue was only half full and the crowd was pretty mellow and the band seemed a little subdued, as if they were just going thru the motions. I guess I expected more from them since they haven't been to the east coast in a while. Ahh well. I'll look forward to the next time the roll thru...
WILLIAM ELLIOTT WHITMORE-MERCURY LOUNGE, NYC-7/19
First the voice. Wow! You would never imagine this bluesy, soulful voice comes from this tattooed and bearded white dude. Second the coolness and genuine nice demeanor of the guy. He is just super cool. I spoke with him before the show and mentioned that I had seen an interview with him and his grand mom online. It was hilarious and sweet. She must be in her 90's. He said, 'ahh well thank you. Grand ma is a really great lady. Thanks for watching and thanks for coming out to watch tonight'. It was a very packed and sold out show so when he got up to the stage, he invited people to sit around him on the stage to free up the rest of the room. Cool move. He is a one man show switching between guitar and banjo as well a using a base drum with one foot. Stories are told between songs as if he wants you to really feel what he is singing about. Simply said, should William Elliott Whitmore come thru your town, do yourself a favor and go see him.
DEER TICK-Pier 54, NYC-8/11
I've just hopped on the Deer Tick wagon this year. I know I'm a little late but while I heard some of their songs before, I never purchased a cd or made it to a show. Big mistake. These guys are fantastic live as was evident at their show I witnessed earlier this year when they played with Dawes and Middle Brother. It all starts with lead singer John MacCauley, who I will go on record in saying is the funniest lead singer out there. This shit this guy says is hilarious. They performed a career spanning show tonight, playing for over 2 hours mixing in some great covers of Nirvana, Chuck Berry and even Sam Cooke. Cool moment of the night is before one of the last songs of the show, John called up a kid that was in the front row. He said the kid has been singing every single word the whole night was was doing such a great job, he wanted him to join the band on stage. The kid clammed up a bit but I'm sure it was a highlight of his summer.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
The Vaccines
THE VACCINES-What did you expect from the Vaccines?
What have you done since last June?? Let me tell you what the Vaccines did. Formed a band in June 2010. Demo of their first song played on hot shot British dj Zane Lowes show in August to rave reviews. UK tour starts in September. Sell out a London show in November. Their debut single, which only lasts a minute and 24 seconds long, was released in November and was named 'song of the day' by Q Magazine. Performs on Later with Jools Holland in December. Named as one of the top bands to watch in 2011 by NME, BBC and MTV (yes, MTV Europe because MTV US never plays music). Signed to major label. Quick sold out tour in the USA. Debut album released in May 2011 that coincides with a US tour opening for the Arctic Monkeys then a performance at Glastonbury. Not a bad first twelve months huh?
All this praise is deserved in my eyes & ears. From the first time I heard 'Wreckin Bar (ra ra ra)' & Blow it Up', I was hooked and couldn't wait for this album to come out. The sound is different from what has been coming out of England. It's punky, it's poppy, it's dark and it's deep. They blend speedy sing-a-longs like 'If you wanna' and 'Norgaard' with a poppy 'Wolfpack' to an almost Coldplay sounding 'Wetsuit', a Pixies 'Blow it up', a Jesus & Mary Chain 'Lack of Understanding', as well as the Smiths sounding 'Post Break up Sex'. They cover all the bases here blending it together like a cool fresh drink just in time for summer. A classic debut album only 11 months after forming all while seeming like some pretty grounded lads. Can't wait to see what they come up with as they grow together as a band.
If You Wanna:
Blow It Up:
Wreckin Bar (Ra Ra Ra):
What have you done since last June?? Let me tell you what the Vaccines did. Formed a band in June 2010. Demo of their first song played on hot shot British dj Zane Lowes show in August to rave reviews. UK tour starts in September. Sell out a London show in November. Their debut single, which only lasts a minute and 24 seconds long, was released in November and was named 'song of the day' by Q Magazine. Performs on Later with Jools Holland in December. Named as one of the top bands to watch in 2011 by NME, BBC and MTV (yes, MTV Europe because MTV US never plays music). Signed to major label. Quick sold out tour in the USA. Debut album released in May 2011 that coincides with a US tour opening for the Arctic Monkeys then a performance at Glastonbury. Not a bad first twelve months huh?
All this praise is deserved in my eyes & ears. From the first time I heard 'Wreckin Bar (ra ra ra)' & Blow it Up', I was hooked and couldn't wait for this album to come out. The sound is different from what has been coming out of England. It's punky, it's poppy, it's dark and it's deep. They blend speedy sing-a-longs like 'If you wanna' and 'Norgaard' with a poppy 'Wolfpack' to an almost Coldplay sounding 'Wetsuit', a Pixies 'Blow it up', a Jesus & Mary Chain 'Lack of Understanding', as well as the Smiths sounding 'Post Break up Sex'. They cover all the bases here blending it together like a cool fresh drink just in time for summer. A classic debut album only 11 months after forming all while seeming like some pretty grounded lads. Can't wait to see what they come up with as they grow together as a band.
If You Wanna:
Blow It Up:
Wreckin Bar (Ra Ra Ra):
Mountain Jam Music Festival
Mountain Jam Music Festival
June 5, 2011
Hunter Mountain
Located at Hunter Mountain Ski Resort in the New York Catskills region, Mountain Jam has been growing and evolving since 2005, when it started as a one day festival sponsored by WDST/Radio Woodstock. The common denominator from every year has been the band Gov't Mule and Warren Haynes. Hmmmm, Woodstock and jam bands. Hippies and college kids in tie dye. While this always seemed kind of interesting, especially the setting of it, the line up never intrigued (too 'jammy') me enough to lay out the money for a full weekend. Single day tickets and a pretty cool final day line up (less 'jammy') this year peaked my interest enough to buy tickets. Guess I should have looked at a map because Hunter Mountain is 2 hours from NYC, not 45 minutes as I had thought. My bad!
Bravo for the setting, lay-out, organization and ease of getting around the festival. We parked in a lot on the edge of town just in town for a tour bus pulled up to take us to the main entrance. Mind you, this wasn't any tour bus. This was a tour bus with the best sound system i've ever heard in a tour bus and he was blasting old school Steely Dan. Dropped off at the entrance, no line to get our wrist bands and no line to enter. Pretty sweet. Campgrounds were set up on the slopes on one side of the mountain with 2 stages set up at the base, just below the lodge. The pitch was steep enough so that when you are watching a band, the almost was never anyone in your site lines. Pretty sweet again. The two main stages were set up next to each other so when one band finished the next band started up right away. No down time. Again, pretty sweet. A Jerry Roll to eat (a fried egg roll with cole slaw, veggies and some other goodness) served by a guy that said he "once saw Jesus at a Grateful Dead show" (yawn-wonder how many times he used that line this weekend) then washed it down with a great selection from Ommegang Brewery (Cooperstown NY) and we were ready to go. I could say that the crowd was eclectic, but that would be too simple. After all, it is mostly a jam band festival and we weren't far from Woodstock. I'm sure a lot of these people, including the guy that served us the Jerry Rolls, came here in 1969 and never left. Not that there's anything wrong with it because this just added to the entertainment and everybody was having a great time, including the dude that was running around and dancing with a fly swatter. Really, I can't make this shit up.
So this was all about the music. A threat of weather had us nervous but cloud cover kept the sun away as well as the rain. Here is a breakdown of who we saw in order:
DAWES: I've written about these guys before. Great California 60's sound. They played a bunch of songs from their new release 'Nothing is Wrong' as well as their stellar debut album. The younger folk at this show dug them. The hippies didn't leave their lawn chairs.
EDWARD SHARPE & THE MAGNETIC ZEROS: Surprise of the day. I have their debut album which I absolutely love. I had heard some people say they were just ok live. How wrong they were. Lead singer Alex Ebert is a top notch showman and spent half the show performing in the crowd making this massive setting seem small. An eclectic band of over 8 members added to the spectacle and co-lead singer Jade Castrinos lent her beautiful voice. A fantastic performance.
PRESERVATION HALL JAZZ BAND: Straight from New Orleans. Saw them open for My Morning Jacket last year. It is just classic history on stage and a great band for a festival setting. Jim James from MMJ joined them on stage for a couple songs. Always a fun time. Would love to see them on their home turf sometime.
GRACE POTTER & THE NOCTURNALS: I couldn't stand this band.
MY MORNING JACKET: As expected they played a set pretty heavy focused on their recently released album 'Circuital'. I was super happy to hear them open up with Victory Dance then Circuital. Awesome opening. Also as expected, the new stuff sounded fantastic live and has me listening to the album with a different ear. Preservation Hall Jazz Band joined them on stage adding a bigger bolder sound for the final few songs including a great cover of Al Johnsons 'Carnival Time'
After the show, a short bus ride back to our car, again serenaded by Steely Dan, followed by a speedy drive home (nice work MP). Great day.
June 5, 2011
Hunter Mountain
Located at Hunter Mountain Ski Resort in the New York Catskills region, Mountain Jam has been growing and evolving since 2005, when it started as a one day festival sponsored by WDST/Radio Woodstock. The common denominator from every year has been the band Gov't Mule and Warren Haynes. Hmmmm, Woodstock and jam bands. Hippies and college kids in tie dye. While this always seemed kind of interesting, especially the setting of it, the line up never intrigued (too 'jammy') me enough to lay out the money for a full weekend. Single day tickets and a pretty cool final day line up (less 'jammy') this year peaked my interest enough to buy tickets. Guess I should have looked at a map because Hunter Mountain is 2 hours from NYC, not 45 minutes as I had thought. My bad!
Bravo for the setting, lay-out, organization and ease of getting around the festival. We parked in a lot on the edge of town just in town for a tour bus pulled up to take us to the main entrance. Mind you, this wasn't any tour bus. This was a tour bus with the best sound system i've ever heard in a tour bus and he was blasting old school Steely Dan. Dropped off at the entrance, no line to get our wrist bands and no line to enter. Pretty sweet. Campgrounds were set up on the slopes on one side of the mountain with 2 stages set up at the base, just below the lodge. The pitch was steep enough so that when you are watching a band, the almost was never anyone in your site lines. Pretty sweet again. The two main stages were set up next to each other so when one band finished the next band started up right away. No down time. Again, pretty sweet. A Jerry Roll to eat (a fried egg roll with cole slaw, veggies and some other goodness) served by a guy that said he "once saw Jesus at a Grateful Dead show" (yawn-wonder how many times he used that line this weekend) then washed it down with a great selection from Ommegang Brewery (Cooperstown NY) and we were ready to go. I could say that the crowd was eclectic, but that would be too simple. After all, it is mostly a jam band festival and we weren't far from Woodstock. I'm sure a lot of these people, including the guy that served us the Jerry Rolls, came here in 1969 and never left. Not that there's anything wrong with it because this just added to the entertainment and everybody was having a great time, including the dude that was running around and dancing with a fly swatter. Really, I can't make this shit up.
So this was all about the music. A threat of weather had us nervous but cloud cover kept the sun away as well as the rain. Here is a breakdown of who we saw in order:
DAWES: I've written about these guys before. Great California 60's sound. They played a bunch of songs from their new release 'Nothing is Wrong' as well as their stellar debut album. The younger folk at this show dug them. The hippies didn't leave their lawn chairs.
EDWARD SHARPE & THE MAGNETIC ZEROS: Surprise of the day. I have their debut album which I absolutely love. I had heard some people say they were just ok live. How wrong they were. Lead singer Alex Ebert is a top notch showman and spent half the show performing in the crowd making this massive setting seem small. An eclectic band of over 8 members added to the spectacle and co-lead singer Jade Castrinos lent her beautiful voice. A fantastic performance.
PRESERVATION HALL JAZZ BAND: Straight from New Orleans. Saw them open for My Morning Jacket last year. It is just classic history on stage and a great band for a festival setting. Jim James from MMJ joined them on stage for a couple songs. Always a fun time. Would love to see them on their home turf sometime.
GRACE POTTER & THE NOCTURNALS: I couldn't stand this band.
MY MORNING JACKET: As expected they played a set pretty heavy focused on their recently released album 'Circuital'. I was super happy to hear them open up with Victory Dance then Circuital. Awesome opening. Also as expected, the new stuff sounded fantastic live and has me listening to the album with a different ear. Preservation Hall Jazz Band joined them on stage adding a bigger bolder sound for the final few songs including a great cover of Al Johnsons 'Carnival Time'
After the show, a short bus ride back to our car, again serenaded by Steely Dan, followed by a speedy drive home (nice work MP). Great day.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Ravenna Woods
The other day I was listening to KEXP at work and I heard really cool tune coming from the speakers. It sounded like an acoustic TV On The Radio song. There was no ‘song playing’ listed on their site so I quickly pulled up shazam on my iphone which told me that it was the song called ‘Graves’ off the recently released EP ‘Valley of the Headless Men’ by a band called Ravenna Woods. It was such a uniquely cool song that I needed to find out more about this band. A quick google search told me the following:
-They are three piece acoustic/folk band from Seattle.
-Their debut album, ‘Demons & Lakes’ was released early 2010 and was voted one of the top 90 albums by KEXP listeners.
-Seattle Magazine voted them as the “best new acoustic band of 2010”
-Seattlesubsonic.com says: “If you were in a cult and you wanted a soundtrack for your seaside bonfire and kool-aid party, I would recommend you hire Ravenna Woods. Only don’t pay them in punch, we are going to want them around for a while”
The Seattlesubsonic.com quote had me really intrigued so I downloaded their critically praised debut album and have been listening to it non-stop since. Their sound is dark, trippy, somewhat haunting yet fresh and weird at the same time. Its as if TV on the Radio set out to make an all acoustic album that sounded like Fleet Foxes if they had been listening to a lot of Yeasayer. Go ahead. Drink the kool-aid. Give a listen/watch:
Graves:
A Devil's Coming:
Ghosts:
-They are three piece acoustic/folk band from Seattle.
-Their debut album, ‘Demons & Lakes’ was released early 2010 and was voted one of the top 90 albums by KEXP listeners.
-Seattle Magazine voted them as the “best new acoustic band of 2010”
-Seattlesubsonic.com says: “If you were in a cult and you wanted a soundtrack for your seaside bonfire and kool-aid party, I would recommend you hire Ravenna Woods. Only don’t pay them in punch, we are going to want them around for a while”
The Seattlesubsonic.com quote had me really intrigued so I downloaded their critically praised debut album and have been listening to it non-stop since. Their sound is dark, trippy, somewhat haunting yet fresh and weird at the same time. Its as if TV on the Radio set out to make an all acoustic album that sounded like Fleet Foxes if they had been listening to a lot of Yeasayer. Go ahead. Drink the kool-aid. Give a listen/watch:
Graves:
A Devil's Coming:
Ghosts:
Friday, June 3, 2011
My Morning Jacket-Circuital
Very high on my anticipation list, My Morning Jackets sixth studio CIRCUITAL was released this week with much hype and fanfare. I've heard a handful of these tunes both in concert and thru early leaks by the band so I was somewhat familiar with some of the parts but not the sum of the album. Early reports are that this album would see a return to an earlier MMJ sound after a departure on their last album EVIL URGES although after a few early spins, I feel CIRCUITAL continues to stray--->sometimes good and sometimes not so good.
Great:
VICTORY DANCE -- One of the better album openers in recent memory. It is mezmerizing and hopefully it will be an opener on their upcoming tough. Great tune.
CIRCUITAL -- When I listen to this I think of early The Who. It is over seven minutes long and rolls over peaks and valley's. Instant classic.
WONDERFUL (THE WAY I FEEL) -- Mellow. Sweet. Loving. Beautiful. Could be their new 'Golden'
HOLDIN' ON TO BLACK METAL -- When I first heard this song I thought to myself "on no! what the hell are they doing" After 3 listens I was in love with it. The female chorus and blaring horns backed by some fuzzy guitars. Definitely a try it your like it song.
Good-Potential With More Listens:
THE DAY IS COMING -- Can't put my finger on this but this reminds me of something. Possibly from the 80's. Maybe a George Michael mellow vibe?
OUTTA MY SYSTEM -- Another tune with a vibe of The Who but it never seems to really take off. The way it starts out and its name, I really thought this would end with the band losing their shit but it never happens. Bummer
FIRST LIGHT -- Similar feeling as OUTTA MY SYSTEM. Never seems to really take off although with their horns etc., I bet this will be one of those songs that is awesome live.
YOU WANNA FREAK OUT -- Jim sounds like Paul McCartney on this tune. This song is almost like a lie. Yes, I wanna freak out but you are not giving me the chance!
Not So Good:
SLOW SLOW TUNE & MOVIN' AWAY -- Not sure what they were thinking here. They almost don't even sounds like Jim is the singer. I'll just leave it at that.
The album starts of with some pretty killer tunes but ends with a thud. I know a few of the middle songs will sound awesome live but songs like 'Slow Slow Tune' and 'Movin Away' are just bad. I'm curious to know what the band was thinking ending this album with these two songs. They are at their peak in popularity and have pure gems on this album while challenging their fans (new and old), in a good way, to appreciate songs like 'Black Metal', 'Freak Out', 'Outta My System', 'Day is Coming' and 'First Light'. You only have 10 songs on the album, why make these two of the ten? For a while they have been playing a fantastic song called 'Friends Again'. I would have been extremely happy to have a nine song album with this included and the last two dropped.
I think having a song on CIRCUITAL titled 'you wanna freak out' is appropriate. This album is filled with songs that leaves you on the brink. Yes, I wanna freak the fuck out! I want Patrick Hallahan, your drummer, to freak out as well. He is one of the best drummers out there and I bet he only used one drum stick while recording this album. Release the hounds. Where is this albums 'Anytime' or 'One Big Holiday'? I appreciate the continual evolution of the sound of this band and never putting out the same album, but I feel a little let down. A lot of people felt that way with their last album EVIL URGES, which I thought was fantastic from top to bottom. On CIRCUITAL they have some of the best songs in MMJ's catalog and also some of the worst. Over the years we have been spoiled MMJ fans as they have always give us more than we expected. Here is looking to seeing them on tour. They never let you down there.
***Update***-I went to Mountain Jam music festival this past weekend to catch the last day which included Dawes, Edward Sharpe & Magnetic Zeros, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Grace Potter and My Morning Jacket. I'll write my review at a later date. MMJ closed out the night with a stirring 2 1/2 hour set that included 8 of the 10 songs from this album. As expected, they all kicked ass, even Slow Slow Tune which I was pretty harsh on in the review above. Seeing these songs performed live has me listening to this album with a completely different ear. This is the mark of a great band and why I list them as one of my favorites of all time.
CIRCUITAL (from VH1 Storytellers):
WONDERFUL:
FIRST LIGHT:
Great:
VICTORY DANCE -- One of the better album openers in recent memory. It is mezmerizing and hopefully it will be an opener on their upcoming tough. Great tune.
CIRCUITAL -- When I listen to this I think of early The Who. It is over seven minutes long and rolls over peaks and valley's. Instant classic.
WONDERFUL (THE WAY I FEEL) -- Mellow. Sweet. Loving. Beautiful. Could be their new 'Golden'
HOLDIN' ON TO BLACK METAL -- When I first heard this song I thought to myself "on no! what the hell are they doing" After 3 listens I was in love with it. The female chorus and blaring horns backed by some fuzzy guitars. Definitely a try it your like it song.
Good-Potential With More Listens:
THE DAY IS COMING -- Can't put my finger on this but this reminds me of something. Possibly from the 80's. Maybe a George Michael mellow vibe?
OUTTA MY SYSTEM -- Another tune with a vibe of The Who but it never seems to really take off. The way it starts out and its name, I really thought this would end with the band losing their shit but it never happens. Bummer
FIRST LIGHT -- Similar feeling as OUTTA MY SYSTEM. Never seems to really take off although with their horns etc., I bet this will be one of those songs that is awesome live.
YOU WANNA FREAK OUT -- Jim sounds like Paul McCartney on this tune. This song is almost like a lie. Yes, I wanna freak out but you are not giving me the chance!
Not So Good:
SLOW SLOW TUNE & MOVIN' AWAY -- Not sure what they were thinking here. They almost don't even sounds like Jim is the singer. I'll just leave it at that.
The album starts of with some pretty killer tunes but ends with a thud. I know a few of the middle songs will sound awesome live but songs like 'Slow Slow Tune' and 'Movin Away' are just bad. I'm curious to know what the band was thinking ending this album with these two songs. They are at their peak in popularity and have pure gems on this album while challenging their fans (new and old), in a good way, to appreciate songs like 'Black Metal', 'Freak Out', 'Outta My System', 'Day is Coming' and 'First Light'. You only have 10 songs on the album, why make these two of the ten? For a while they have been playing a fantastic song called 'Friends Again'. I would have been extremely happy to have a nine song album with this included and the last two dropped.
I think having a song on CIRCUITAL titled 'you wanna freak out' is appropriate. This album is filled with songs that leaves you on the brink. Yes, I wanna freak the fuck out! I want Patrick Hallahan, your drummer, to freak out as well. He is one of the best drummers out there and I bet he only used one drum stick while recording this album. Release the hounds. Where is this albums 'Anytime' or 'One Big Holiday'? I appreciate the continual evolution of the sound of this band and never putting out the same album, but I feel a little let down. A lot of people felt that way with their last album EVIL URGES, which I thought was fantastic from top to bottom. On CIRCUITAL they have some of the best songs in MMJ's catalog and also some of the worst. Over the years we have been spoiled MMJ fans as they have always give us more than we expected. Here is looking to seeing them on tour. They never let you down there.
***Update***-I went to Mountain Jam music festival this past weekend to catch the last day which included Dawes, Edward Sharpe & Magnetic Zeros, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Grace Potter and My Morning Jacket. I'll write my review at a later date. MMJ closed out the night with a stirring 2 1/2 hour set that included 8 of the 10 songs from this album. As expected, they all kicked ass, even Slow Slow Tune which I was pretty harsh on in the review above. Seeing these songs performed live has me listening to this album with a completely different ear. This is the mark of a great band and why I list them as one of my favorites of all time.
CIRCUITAL (from VH1 Storytellers):
WONDERFUL:
FIRST LIGHT:
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Screams for the Stones
I'm currently reading Keith Richards book 'Life' and I am at a part in the book when he talks about, early in their career, how loud the girls would scream when they performed. This classic video is probably what he is talking about. Great in so many ways.
Fleet Foxes-Helplessness Blues
The month of May sees the release of four albums I have been looking forward to for some time. With the Fleet Foxes and Beastie Boys at the beginning of the month and My Morning Jacket and The Vaccines at the end, it's a great month for new music. Lets kick it off with my review of Fleet Foxes.
When I first heard the song Mykonos from Fleet Foxes EP titled Sun Giant a few years back, I knew there was something special about this new band. Not long after that, they released their self titled full length album, which ironically was recorded before Sun Giant, I knew this was the beginning of a long loving relationship I would have with this band. There is something so familiar about Fleet Foxes yet there is also something new, exciting and fresh. Their lush harmonies lend easy comparisons to Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, The Beach Boys, Simon & Garfunkel with an added dash of Van Morrison. Those harmonies with the beautiful voice of lead singer Robin Pecknold is something you can easily get lost in.
There is no sophomore slump with their latest release, Helplessness Blues. Over three years in the making, they have created a timeless classic that was truly worth the wait. With Helplessness Blues, Fleet Foxes have found a way to stretch their sound yet not really seem to make stray too far from their core. What really makes this album great is that it is just that, an album, filled with twelve outstanding tracks. In an age when peoples ipods are filled with singles, this album can be played from 1-12, 12-1 or shuffle and each time leaving you with the feeling that you just found your new favorite song. 'Montezuma' starts out with Pecknold questioning the type of man he used to be over 'ooohs and ahhhhs' reminiscent of monks chanting. 'Sim Sala Bim, yeah sing that ten times real fast. In 'Blue Spotted Tail', Pecknold whispers questions of why that could easily have been on the soundtrack for The Graduate. 'Grown Ocean' and 'Battery Kinzie' chug along like a freight trains, while 'Lorelai' has a waltz like feel. The epic 'The Shrine/An Argument', at over 8 minutes, is a roller coaster of a song pulling in all aspects of the Foxes sounds while adding a new sound by testing your ear drums with a screeching clarinet.
Every song on this album deserves your time. Each one oozes an honesty from Robin Pecknold's lyrics built around outstanding harmonies and sonic sounds. While Fleet Foxes generate comparisons to bands well before their time, this is not a retro album rather an album from a band that is just way ahead of the curve.
Here are Fleet Foxes performing on Later With Jools Holland:
Grown Ocean:
When I first heard the song Mykonos from Fleet Foxes EP titled Sun Giant a few years back, I knew there was something special about this new band. Not long after that, they released their self titled full length album, which ironically was recorded before Sun Giant, I knew this was the beginning of a long loving relationship I would have with this band. There is something so familiar about Fleet Foxes yet there is also something new, exciting and fresh. Their lush harmonies lend easy comparisons to Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, The Beach Boys, Simon & Garfunkel with an added dash of Van Morrison. Those harmonies with the beautiful voice of lead singer Robin Pecknold is something you can easily get lost in.
There is no sophomore slump with their latest release, Helplessness Blues. Over three years in the making, they have created a timeless classic that was truly worth the wait. With Helplessness Blues, Fleet Foxes have found a way to stretch their sound yet not really seem to make stray too far from their core. What really makes this album great is that it is just that, an album, filled with twelve outstanding tracks. In an age when peoples ipods are filled with singles, this album can be played from 1-12, 12-1 or shuffle and each time leaving you with the feeling that you just found your new favorite song. 'Montezuma' starts out with Pecknold questioning the type of man he used to be over 'ooohs and ahhhhs' reminiscent of monks chanting. 'Sim Sala Bim, yeah sing that ten times real fast. In 'Blue Spotted Tail', Pecknold whispers questions of why that could easily have been on the soundtrack for The Graduate. 'Grown Ocean' and 'Battery Kinzie' chug along like a freight trains, while 'Lorelai' has a waltz like feel. The epic 'The Shrine/An Argument', at over 8 minutes, is a roller coaster of a song pulling in all aspects of the Foxes sounds while adding a new sound by testing your ear drums with a screeching clarinet.
Every song on this album deserves your time. Each one oozes an honesty from Robin Pecknold's lyrics built around outstanding harmonies and sonic sounds. While Fleet Foxes generate comparisons to bands well before their time, this is not a retro album rather an album from a band that is just way ahead of the curve.
Here are Fleet Foxes performing on Later With Jools Holland:
Grown Ocean:
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