Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes

Fleet Foxes (2008, Sub Pop) Fleet Foxes' first studio album. ****

The last thing that the Fleet Foxes want to hear is that they sound like someone else, namely Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, but that it's okay, because CSNY was awesome. Of course the influence - assuredly among many others - is there, but the true sound of the Fleet Foxes is one that is incredible; Pecknold, the band's sole songwriter, has managed to make several of the cuts sound like standards. Even stranger, it sounds as if some of these 'standards' are now being covered by Fleet Foxes. Strange, isn't it?

One spectacular track is "White Winter Hymnal," which is pretty self-explanitory. The church-vibed vocal delivery compliments the Americana feel that the rest of the song carries, with only one set of lyrics that is repeated twice. Despite almost every song being incredible, probably the standout among the crowd is "Tiger Mountain Peasant Song," a simple acoustic tune that would have fit in perfectly to the catalogue of any folk or folk-rock artist of the 60's and 70's. Its sound is eternal - while it is reminiscent of any age where folk and acoustic guitar were present, it is remarkably fresh, not sounding like Dylan, CSNY, or any other genius.

The overwhelming spirituality that is put into each song staggering, and ironically doesn't appear in the lyrics. The feeling is what makes this album spectacular, for without the sincerity it so desperately needs, the songs would be hollow versions of themselves; it therefore challenges any cover of these new 'standards' to be better than the rich original. (White Winter Hymnal, Tiger Mountain Peasant Song, He Doesn't Know Why)