Album Rating: 3.0

I'm with Colton 100% here. The way this is produced makes it feel so, weightless? I know that can be a good thing but nothing begs for repeated listens as a whole. It is a very beautiful album at points, just nowhere near as essential and boundary pushing as Crack Up was.

Album Rating: 3.5

Yo, nice sowing! Best review I've read of this yet. Quick question: will I enjoy this if Crack Up is the only release of theirs that I really like?



Couple things I picked up:

In para 3 I don't understand this fragment and how it fits into the sentence: "...and brass horns (they break ground on ‘A Long Way Past The Past’ and then flourish across the album’s back-end)."



And final para: "...they no longer sound[s] like bearded forest folk"

Album Rating: 4.5

First off, thanks! This is a pretty stark departure from Crack-Up...far more clean-cut in terms of consisting of shorter, more structured folk songs as opposed to multi-part suites. It's also got a noticeably shiny luster consistent with a lot of pop releases. Nothing about this is guaranteed from one's opinion of their previous work.



What I was trying to say in para 3 was that the brass first surfaces in the aforementioned song but then really comes alive across the back 1/3 or so of the record. In terms of its relationship to the rest of the sentence, it was the second part of a broader point that Fleet Foxes are introducing new sonic elements. It makes sense to me unless I'm missing something. The part about bearded forest folk is goofy at best, ha. I ought to consider changing that.

Album Rating: 3.0

Album Rating: 4.5

"The results are jaw-droppingly lush; a piece that immediately makes its presence known while retaining its luster multiple spins later." this was my main worry - the album would lose it's lustre after repeat listens, but in fact, it's been the opposite for me. Easy to dive back in, and still find it rich and rewarding. Great review, Sowing! Listening in the album announcement thread was a super fun experience too. I've 4.5'd this, but if I keep enjoying it, ima just have to throw a 5 at it.

Album Rating: 4.0

quick typo near the end there - it's "Judee" Sill, not Jude. pretty excited to hear a fleet foxes record for the first time in forever actually

Album Rating: 4.5

Appreciate that, Oneironaut. And yes, listening to it at 9:31 and commenting throughout on every song was awesome lol. I love when fans come together to share in the joy of a new release.

Thanks for catching that klap. This is pretty unlike past FF albums. Values an optimistic atmosphere and poppier melodies but fortunately does so without compromising integrity.

Album Rating: 3.5

Oh yup, that para 3 thing is legit, I just had a brainfart.

I'm fine with bearded forest folk haha I vote you keep that. Was just trying to point out that perhaps it should be "they no longer sound..." instead of "they no longer sounds..."



I think there's something about the melodies in particular on Crack Up that tickles me (that I didn't get from other Fleet Foxes releases), but I can't place exactly what's happening. I can tell you that I get similar kicks from the melodies on Alcest - Kodama and Kauan - Kaiho, and I need more of it in my life.

Album Rating: 4.5

Oh, well it appears I had a brain fart of my own. I edited that. Thank you.

The melodies on Crack-Up are very subtle and it almost sounds like he's singing from the other side of a lake or something. It makes it sound like the band is performing in the middle of a hurricane, waves crashing chaotically all around. I prefer that tattered, weathered element to this, although this is nice too.

Album Rating: 4.5

This album is friggin incredible! Intoxicating stuff. The only real gripe I have is its placement in their demography as I've said before. I don't care that isn't as challenging or melancholy as their past albums though, this thing just works front to back.

I am very over fantastic music that's full of doom and gloom, and to hear there is some fantastic music with a positive message really gets me interested. I hope I'll enjoy this as much as you have.

I hate how A Long Way Past The Past ends abruptly, it's such a tune

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

the opening trio of songs are so strong. can't say i love shore as a closer (yet), definitely their weakest ending to an album

Album Rating: 2.5

this is quite nice but also really forgettable

Album Rating: 4.3

no

Album Rating: 3.0

ok my mistake

Album Rating: 2.5

Agreed with:

- ''The way this is produced makes it feel so, weightless?''

- dedex' sound off (especially ''It's rather because the melodies are only at the service of atmosphere, multiple layers convoluting on top of one another.'')

- ''this is quite nice but also really forgettable''



The record seemed a but muddled and messy to me. This sometimes can be a good thing, but not in this case I fear.

Album Rating: 4.0

It's also just the vocals being too damn quiet. That's a common complaint for me but I feel like it actually applies here. Why bury a voice as powerful as Pecknold's in the mix like that? There's also a slightly airy, reverby sound to the vocals at times that makes them stand out even less.

Remember trying Helplessness Blues years ago cause Alexis Bledel recc'd it in an interview and being like "Yea this is not for me."

Album Rating: 4.1

I thought the vocals were mixed too high in parts of the s/t and Crack-Up, so it's nice that everything's more balanced here.