i'm from the prairies, i love folk, man. fleet foxes debut is nearly a 5 for me. i'm just firm on the belief that if i was oblivious to their work and saw fleet foxes perform half of the songs on this album i would not bat an eyelash. it is nothing special.

I think it is.

So much here to drench yourself in. The story of the singer in question, the music and layers of
guitar, fiddle and mandolins. The song-writing so perfectly fluid and yet separated for the benefit of
the tone of story, Fleet Foxes' singing ability (what with the harmonies and vocals been done in one
take yet still sounding so well composed). It's pretty special.

Album Rating: 3.0

And radio friendly? No...The Shrine/ An Argument? please...



The fact that you're not the only fleet foxes fan that probably says things like this kind of turns me off of fleet foxes.



"hey look at this new band I found"

"hmm they're ok they feel kind of stale though, like something I'd hear on the radio"

"are you kidding? listen to this song... see how not mainstream that bass clarinet solo sounds?"

Album Rating: 4.5

fucking smart phones, double post

i don't understand what's so horrible about sounding "mainstream". the mainstream is like any other scene and has it's mediocre artists and it's great artists. i happen to really like katy perry as a vocalist, and her songs are catchy, as much as that might be "the most vital component of pop". people will always rip on her originality and over-processed production.

i should probably take radio-friendly out of here and write "shallow". i should remind you all that bands like radiohead and y'know, bob dylan frequently get airplay. it's not that radio music is bad as a whole, it just happens to be shallow... either musically or lyrically.

Don't understand how anyone could dislike this.

Album Rating: 4.5

I understand that objectivity is non existent especially when it comes to reviews on art - but to not address the lyrics in a genre that revolves around them is woefully incomplete. First and foremost a review should be stand alone - you should cover the album in its entirety regardless to what has already been said. To add to that, and to also play devils advocate, since every aspect of music is subjective why not incorporate lyrics into the review? I didn't think I was being too far fetched in my criticism. Also, I'm not saying what you have established currently in the review is unsubstantiated - I 100% empathize with you view on the music. Really I'm just being highly critical of your review because:

You have the talent to be a contrib/staffer

You have well articulated criticisms (the whole point of a review)

You are just barely short of an amazing fucking review, specifically you can eliminate any criticism towards this review by covering that final piece.



Hope that is a bit more clear as to why I did so in the first place. I will more than gladly pos this if any sort of revision is made to include the aforementioned.



I havent slept in like 48 hours, maybe I'm delusional. I did spell Bob's name wrong.

I don't really care if music is main stream. =/
I'm a huge Cee-Lo Green fan and Kanye West fan for instance; and have always been.

Fleet Foxes are an exceptionally talented group of guys. I'm a big fan of folk me; have been for
quite some time growing up with trad Irish folk (being from Ireland). This branched out and I began
listening to other styles of folk; psychedelic 60s stuff to more oriental outings.

Fleet Foxes manage to sit in the middle of being complex but accessible for others to listen to.
They challenge the listener but hold their hand along the way. This had radio friendly tracks;
Bedouin Dress, Sim Sala Bim, Helplessness Blues etc. but with it comes a pack of abstract songs too;
The Shrine/ An Argument, The Cascades, The Plains/ Bitter Dancer.

Like Arcade Fire; what makes their formula of music so great is that they've found the middle
ground. To call the entire album radio friendly is just not correct . =P it's about 60 - 40

And it can only be summed up as shallow if you didn't listen. It's a well layered album musically
and the lyrics spark quite a lot about importance of a person in the world and the importance of
their ambitions, as small as they can be, much like the Patrick Kavanagh poem - Epic.

good album

Album Rating: 3.0

i don't understand what's so horrible about sounding "mainstream"



^this^ (depending on the artist of course, but it's usually not a terrible thing unless the music is generic and streamlined).



To me the problem is that if the genre of folk were a dog, fleet foxes is a cat. Every once in a while they're fun to play with, but usually they're busy doing their own shit.

Album Rating: 3.5

"i don't understand what's so horrible about sounding "mainstream"."



I completely agree, dislike that way of thinking and if people can make it work, I encourage it cos I like it when I enjoy accessible music. They're really doing something right when I do. I get no satisfaction at all out of listening to super obscure stuff.



And I don't hate Mumford and Sons - I understand the appeal but I'm not a huge fan...



"How fickle my heart and how woozy my eyes

I struggle to find any truth in your lies

And now my heart stumbles on things I don't know

This weakness I feel I must finally show"



It just feels like they're trying too hard for folk authenticity at times, and it feels very forced to me. But I don't like derailing discussions and I like what I've heard of Fleet Foxes and need to check them out properly.

Album Rating: 4.5

I think fleet foxes are more of a dog while folk is a cat

I'm sorry but even in your review; you summed up a shallow swim of the album possibly listened to on
an internet stream as opposed to actually listening to the album, lyrics with you and swelled into
the production of the album. =P

It may sound shallow on the surface but once you crack the ice; there are layers of depth to the
album.

Now, I am a huge Fleet Foxes fan so bias aside; this should sit for some at a 4 or a 4.5, a 5 if you
really liked it. Honesty goes along way with this album and I'm thankful; like all good folk
artists; they aren't lying through their teeth.

So don't get me wrong; I don't dislike Mumford & Sons because they're mainstream; I dislike them
because they try too hard. Calling an English-man 'Country Winston' as he wears a trucker hat. All
this talk about heart break and soul reap against a loft of hodown-banjo testiness straight out of
Michigan as he bellows in an Irish accent. Catchy as it is; on extensive listen; the curtains are
quickly torn away.

And here we have Robin Pecknold telling us about himself and his past.

is Steoandnoodles being an idiot again? jesus christ...

oh well, either way, good review. this doesn't interest me very much. skippable album.

It's easy to take your opinion serious when expressed so well but in contrast; Helplessness Blues is
possibly a record you didn't get as opposed to didn't like.

And it can only be summed up as shallow if you didn't listen.

I'm sorry but even in your review; you summed up a shallow swim of the album possibly listened to on
an internet stream as opposed to actually listening to the album

I'm an idiot by nature SeaAnemone.

The review is a well written first impression. It's not really deep. =P

There are a lot of faults to the review; How 'Montezuma' is a justifiable excuse for skepticism for
being without build; yet previous outings from the band opened in the exact same fashion. (Sun Giant
EP)

lol can we petition to ban this guy, he's awful =P

Does this apply to Balcean too, Steo? "that is because you really don't give the music time to sink in and are always chasing the next big leak for a review"

Album Rating: 3.0

ioi

I wasn't who said that; wasn't in regards to the new Explosions in the Sky LP?

I do feel though that if you're to write a review on an album; you need to have something mighty
relevant to talk about. Anyone can give an opinion on an album but to critically analyse it take a bit
more effort. (Not from a writing perspective; this is written wonderfully. I'm taking in terms of
content.)

And porch stop being so harsh because I don't agree with you. =/
Got problems buddy.