| | Full Review | Ratings (915) |
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| 4.0 excellent | Andrew Kaster | April 10th 11 |
This is fantastic. A lot better than their first LP, I'd say. Everything sounds so much bigger, fuller, and more lush. Not to mention, some of the experimenting they do on these tracks and the eclectic instrumentation they bring in really add color to these songs. In short, it's the sophomore album you wanted from this band; something instantly familiar that plays to their strengths yet moves forward in refining their sound.
3 Bumps | Bump |
| 0.0 | SowingSeason STAFF | May 5th 11 |
On Helplessness Blues, Fleet Foxes present us with the TRUE Simon & Garfunkel of our generation
2 Bumps | Bump |
| 0.0 | Eric | March 28th 11 |
Good, but it's like they drained anything that could have been considered interesting outta here.
2 Bumps | Bump |
| 0.0 | Steve | May 13th 11 |
What good is it to sing helplessness blues? Well it equates to the finest folk rock record of our generation.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 4.5 superb | Tom | May 4th 11 |
A glorious, earthy album that really sees Fleet Foxes ascending into the upper echelon of their fiercely competitive genre.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 3.5 great | rmill3r | May 1st 11 |
Fleet Foxes stay true to form while breaking some molds as far as content is concerned. It's a welcome change, although sadly, Pecknold seems to favor bluntness over subtlety this time around.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 5.0 classic | sean.n.zelda | March 8th 13 |
Same great aspects of their first album, only with a more mature sound.
Bump |
| 4.5 superb | SMK | December 19th 12 |
Best moment: the Freejazz-part at the end of "The Shrine/An Argument".
Bump |
| 4.5 superb | Tess | July 12th 12 |
The first time I listened to Helplessness Blues, I was a little bit bored by the few songs I heard, but as the album progressed, I started enjoying it more and more, and now it is one of my favorites.
Bump |
| 4.5 superb | Dan Gelinas | January 13th 12 |
the song writing and melodies are consistenly soothing and endure in the ears after you put your headphones down and walk away. I especially like The Shrine/An Argument
Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | Kubrick | January 9th 12 |
There's always an album that ends up being the soundtrack to my summer, and Helplessness Blues was definitely that album this year. It doesn't even necessarily have to be the album I listen to the most through the season, but just the album that makes me feel the warmth of the sun again on the crisp fall nights and the frigid winter afternoons. It's kind of a misnomer because I really wouldn't even call this a "sunny" album. Certainly there are numerous instances where the layered acoustic instrumentation and the warm harmonized vocals come together to create the perfect summer atmosphere, particularly on the earlier portion of the album with songs like "Bedouin Dress" which makes me feel like I'm in the middle of a festive gathering on the greenest pasture imaginable. But the strength of the album is that it mixes these sounds with more contemplative, melancholy moments like "Blue Spotted Tail" with lyrical themes that bring the triviality of life into clear focus. All in all this is a fantastic folk album that mixes the simple pleasures of fun acoustic jams with more meticulous arrangements and lyrical depth.
Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | Alexander Mee | January 3rd 12 |
Fleet Foxes beautifully paint Yeats' 'Lake Of Innisfree' in musical form, with the same simple yearning for a simple life in a natural sanctuary transposed expertly into Peckner's words. The album wonderfully rolls from one highlight to another; the screamed frustration of 'The Shrine/ An Argument' to the saxophone of that same song, all backed by the wonderful arrangements in vocal harmonies and gentle picked acoustics. For an album completely removed from its context, Fleet Foxes somehow construct the folk album of 2011.
Bump |
| 4.5 superb | Metamorphosis | December 18th 11 |
As it has been mentioned countless times on this site, this album is so entirely genuine. Every carefully chosen word is uttered with such intension and precision with undertones of extreme emotion while the musicianship is impeccable. It's definitely going to be looked at in hindsight as a folk classic.
Bump |
| 4.5 superb | NavajoJ | September 16th 11 |
Fleet Foxes fascinating (if slightly unfocused) new album is a rarety of mystic emotion and towering maturity.
Bump |
| 4.5 superb | Prae | July 4th 11 |
Liked the first LP, but turned into a fan after this one. "Helpless Blues" is SOLID. The opening "Montezuma" acted as a perfect transition from "Fleet Foxes" to "Helpless Blues". As album took a less negative and livelier turn, "Blue Spotted Tail" and "Grown Ocean" beautifully sums up the journey and leaves you longing for more.
Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | Alex Kugaczewski | April 12th 11 |
"Helplessness Blues" is much more varied--albeit less immediate and catchy--than the previous album, and it is the better album for it. This is a natural next step for the band, and a graceful one at that.
Bump |
| 5.0 classic | Tari Ajadi | April 2nd 11 |
Such a beautifully constructed, intelligent, poignant album. It just feels instantly familiar, almost as if they are singing directly to me. Amazing. It grows on you as well.. "Montezuma" is not only fantastic, in my mind, it is career-defining.
Bump |
| 4.5 superb | bigguytoo9 | March 30th 11 |
This album trumps the s/t on first listen, lets see how it holds up.
Bump |
| 4.5 superb | fev | May 21st 13 |
| 2.0 poor | treeqt | April 22nd 13 |
| 3.5 great | goguey | April 18th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Velcro | March 26th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Koei | March 20th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | arthen | March 16th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | flaffy | March 15th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | thejared | February 20th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | tnd | February 15th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | YuriGama | February 15th 13 |
| 3.5 great | oneups | February 11th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | hprice7 | February 10th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | 1554699 | February 10th 13 |
| 3.5 great | Lobber | February 3rd 13 |
| 3.5 great | reef2 | January 24th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | trogora | January 21st 13 |
| 4.5 superb | mrbloke | January 17th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Majesty | January 16th 13 |
| 5.0 classic | Ian | January 13th 13 |
| 3.5 great | Samuel | January 13th 13 |
| 5.0 classic | dean3 | January 7th 13 |
| 3.5 great | Ryan | January 6th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Oddsen | January 5th 13 |
| 3.5 great | KeiRei | December 22nd 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Halzy31 | December 19th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | eternium | December 19th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | urzadek | December 17th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | teahead | December 11th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | kic333 | November 25th 12 |
| 3.5 great | Happy | November 21st 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | dwejkk | November 20th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | alex | November 19th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Peluca | November 12th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | slarti | November 3rd 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Amos81 | October 31st 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Zainish | October 24th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | parrot | October 23rd 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Susana. | October 18th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | st3v3 | October 11th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | KAZUK | October 10th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | Gina | October 8th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Melanin | October 6th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | Spon426 | October 5th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | evanfang | September 28th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | Collin | September 26th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Gurt | September 23rd 12 |
| 4.5 superb | wack | September 20th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | zackseb | September 2nd 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Maniac | August 28th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | junyi15 | August 28th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | TheDMV | August 15th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Ramon | August 14th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | bleath | August 13th 12 |
| 3.5 great | krkat | August 9th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Alex Beebe CONTRIBUTOR | July 29th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | SYLover | July 28th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | bradlbw | July 27th 12 |
| 3.5 great | Mojito | July 20th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | hnled | July 18th 12 |
| 3.5 great | JoshTh | July 15th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Adam | July 6th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | ZmbZ98 | June 21st 12 |
| 4.5 superb | xevman | June 19th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Caelum | June 18th 12 |
| 2.5 average | chiu | June 14th 12 |
| 3.0 good | Loois | June 13th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Aaron | June 13th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | Nick | June 11th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | boopko | June 4th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | BrianE | June 3rd 12 |
| 5.0 classic | SlyJak | May 19th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Rail | May 3rd 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Lought | April 28th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | elry2k | April 27th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | vDrop | April 15th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | G.M.B. | April 12th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Waits | April 7th 12 |
| 2.0 poor | Reid | March 21st 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Ruezann | March 9th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | c0ffee | March 7th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | ecm1285 | February 26th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Salander | February 21st 12 |
| 5.0 classic | nwagner | February 9th 12 |
| 3.0 good | PHATJ | February 2nd 12 |
| 4.5 superb | jeol | February 2nd 12 |
| 2.5 average | fogza | January 27th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | fsharp | January 26th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Raust | January 22nd 12 |
| 3.5 great | mttgry | January 18th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | mitch91 | January 17th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | bmagnus | January 17th 12 |
| 3.5 great | DgDeBx | January 16th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Sumire | January 15th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | PacM4n | January 11th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Josh C. | January 4th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | uman32 | January 3rd 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Oceanus | December 27th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | JPaller | December 27th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | amandine | December 25th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | JJwins | December 22nd 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | WBalls | December 20th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | DrStex | December 19th 11 |
| 3.5 great | Zephir | December 15th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | SnazSpaz | December 10th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | zxlkho | December 6th 11 |
| 3.5 great | DOW. | November 30th 11 |
| 2.5 average | Beauers | November 30th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | gosk8n | November 29th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | Sprat16 | November 25th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | pieromod | November 21st 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Hawks | November 20th 11 |
| 3.5 great | toxin | November 17th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Quinn | November 17th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | F177 | November 3rd 11 |
| 4.5 superb | kuala | October 30th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | vivapo | October 27th 11 |
| 3.0 good | BcA187 | October 23rd 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Danny | October 17th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | Darb | September 25th 11 |
| 3.0 good | Opaque | September 23rd 11 |
| 2.0 poor | nnnope | September 20th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | DPUSS | September 16th 11 |
| 2.5 average | Aecial | September 11th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | DoOrDie | September 6th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | cmclay | September 5th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | pcar | September 3rd 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | iGuter | August 30th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | ADAMWD | August 28th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | seifer | August 24th 11 |
| 1.5 very poor | 4zet | August 24th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | jorsh | August 22nd 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Brace | August 10th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | gvogel | August 4th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | ryan10 | August 3rd 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | randle | July 30th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Totes | July 20th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Mark H. | July 19th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Donkey | July 15th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | discoe | July 13th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | hughes | July 13th 11 |
| 3.5 great | garth | July 1st 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Ethan | June 30th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Jones | June 30th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | dPsychc | June 30th 11 |
| 2.5 average | Andy | June 27th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Micah | June 24th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Cinimin | June 21st 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Sblang | June 15th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | MTEK | June 15th 11 |
| 3.0 good | SC04 | June 4th 11 |
| 3.0 good | Lukas | May 29th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | WLuke | May 27th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Lakes | May 27th 11 |
| 3.5 great | asaf | May 26th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | zoso33 | May 24th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Batman | May 23rd 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Gard3n | May 23rd 11 |
| 3.5 great | Jake | May 22nd 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Reza | May 20th 11 |
| 3.5 great | Teto | May 19th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | IRAI | May 17th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Photon | May 15th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Tyler | May 14th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Jeremy F STAFF | May 10th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | timbo8 | May 9th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Guigss | May 8th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Matski | May 8th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | -1up!- | May 6th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Ronen | May 5th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Hro | May 5th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | iRox | May 3rd 11 |
| 2.5 average | ncherf | May 3rd 11 |
| 2.5 average | nick77 | May 3rd 11 |
| 2.5 average | Asator | May 3rd 11 |
| 3.0 good | ot63 | May 2nd 11 |
| 3.0 good | Esky | May 2nd 11 |
| 2.5 average | lobby | May 2nd 11 |
| 4.5 superb | MRxT | May 2nd 11 |
| 4.5 superb | mvdu | May 1st 11 |
| 4.5 superb | cb123 | May 1st 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Jips | May 1st 11 |
| 3.0 good | doug | May 1st 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | NateT | April 30th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | fund it | April 29th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | panaba | April 28th 11 |
| 2.5 average | doqtor | April 25th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | loydd | April 21st 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Rowdy | April 20th 11 |
| 3.5 great | Thef | April 19th 11 |
| 3.5 great | Rudy K. STAFF | April 19th 11 |
| 2.5 average | Ali CONTRIBUTOR | April 18th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | DeStijl | April 16th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | CeeBone | April 14th 11 |
| 3.5 great | Kiran EMERITUS | April 10th 11 |
| 2.5 average | alsid | April 9th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | tom79 | April 6th 11 |
| 3.5 great | Chris | April 5th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | idk | March 26th 11 |
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