Fleet Foxes - Not of This Time

I just recently picked up the new album from Fleet Foxes, which I got as a recommendation from a friend.
The sound of Seattle's newest breakthrough act (recently signed to Sub Pop Records) is difficult to describe to younger generations without referring to the glowing sounds of the 1960's with such bands as The Beach Boys, The Zombies, and Crosby, Stills & Nash.

The Fleet Foxes, all Washington Natives (Robin Pecknold,Casey Wescott, Christian Wargo, Nick Peterson, and Skye Skjelset) describe their own sound as "baroque harmonic pop jam." The baroque part of their description stands out most to me. Even though they are a Seattle band, the group draws on influences as far ranging as the baby boomer record collections of their parents, classical baroque choral traditions, Appalachian folk, gospel, and old english folk songs. In the end the mixture is both different, and unique, however recognizable and seems timeless. The group almost seems anachronistic in the sense that it is difficult to grasp how such lush vocal harmonies and folk melodies could be spawned from Seattle, in 2008.

The frontman, Robin Pecknold has a vocal quality like their Seattle contemporaries 'Band of Horses' lead singer Ben Birdwell, and Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys mixed together. With respect to the songs themselves, and the new album, the lyrics are not necessarily deep or meaningful - however they don't need to be. The vocal lines (with amazing 3-4 part harmonies) draw a listener in and lull you into a rustic, pastoral landscape, of golden colors, and haunting melodies. Sound like an acid trip? Well, not quite, but their is something to be said for great vocal harmonies.

One of the songs that stood out strongest on the album was Blue Ridge Mountains (which has a wonderful vocal harmony beginning very remeniscent of Beach Boys - Pet Sounds), and the buildup to 2:03 when the drums break in fully into the song is beautiful. Another personal favorite was Tiger Mountain Peasant Song which is like an old renaissance baroque lullaby (L'homme armé esque); performed as a solo by Robin Pecknold.

The cover of their self titled debut album is a Pieter Bruegel painting from 1559 - called Netherlandish Proverbs. At first, the usage of the painting seems odd, and misplaced but after seeing the detail and colors of the painting, it almost seems like a nice visual representation of the sound which Fleet Foxes is able to evoke.

Still with all the rustic, pastoral references, and old 60's throw back stylings which this album produces... it is surprising that Fleet Foxes came out of Seattle and not some sunlit grove in the middle of the Appalachian mountains performing sunshine pop masterpieces.

-Andrew Joslyn