Fleet Foxes 'Fleet Foxes' 2cd edition

I have to report that I am currently half deaf. This is hopefully a temporary thing, very temporary. It means though that I have not been listening to much music over the last couple of days and I have the Bruce Springsteen and J Tillman LPs to review. Best idea then, is to review something that I have been listening to pretty constantly for the last few months and is now being re-issued.

Fleet Foxes are re-releasing their fantastic debut album with a bonus disc, which is the already released 'Sun Giant' EP with one extra track! This could be considered to be an un-necessary re-release but at times like this we don't be-grudge Bella Union trying to cash in a bit, plus it gives T&G a chance to correct our original review of 'Fleet Foxes' which was along the lines of "its very good but not as good as people are saying". The truth is this is a brilliant record and the ultimate 'grower'.

So why is this album so good?

Melodies that you pick up on without noticing and then find dancing around your head for days on end. A singer with a wonderful voice. Songs that you'll just love singing along to. The highlights here are songs that you'll want to listen to for years to come.... 'White Winter Hymnal' is a weird, vivid fairytale and the most immediate song on the record, 'Oliver James' is the beautiful, part acapella, ballad with the harmonies to die for, 'He Doesn't Know Why' is maybe best of all, the story of a friend who went down the wrong path with some amazingly poweful singing. The EP has 'Mykonos', with about three distinct and equally catchy sections and the touching, sparse 'Innocent Son'.

All the comparisons have already been made. You'll hear echoes of the Beach Boys, Crosby Stills and Nash and The Eagles here but this is a record that will stand for years to come on its own name, pure quality. This is the sort of record that you'll find yourself buying copies of to give to other people. I said in my original review that there is nothing really new here and that is true. These are just superbly crafted songs that will dance around your head and make you want to sing along. No more or less than that.


9.2

['Fleet Foxes' the 2cd edition is out on Monday on Bella Union. Or you can buy the vinyl copy with 'Sun Giant' on side 4, out now. Fleet Foxes play 3 nights at the Roundhouse in Feb. T&G will be in attendance.]