- Release Info -
Artist: Fleet Foxes
Album: Helplessness Blues
Label: Sub Pop
Playtime: 49:53 min
Genre: Folk
URL:
Rip date: 2011-04-21
Street date: 2011-05-03
Size: 90.90 MB
Type: Normal
Quality: 239 kbps / 4410Hz / Joint Stereo
- Release Notes -
After an outstanding EP, a near-perfect debut album, and ventures into solo
territory, Seattle folk troubadours Fleet Foxes have returned with yet another
laudable contribution to folk music. The sextet’s sophomore release
Helplessness Blues is a beautifully made parade of songs that have
successfully avoided the sophomore slump with an album that has its roots in
folk and baroque pop.
After their debut album, the boys in Fleet Foxes kept themselves busy. Drummer
J. Tillman released a substantial amount of solo albums, while frontman Robin
Pecknold focused on solo efforts with White Antelope and Rainbow Fang, a
project with his manger/sister Aja. It has been almost three years since the
group released new material, but it was well worth the wait. Helplessness
Blues – although similar in sound to their previous release – is another
perfectly executed effort. With the addition of multi-instrumentalist Morgan
Henderson, the multi-faceted Helplessness Blues has moments of serenity, which
are paired nicely with the excitement of their louder songs.
Opening the album is ‘Montezuma’, which is a beautiful song, but the presence
of pessimism and oppression is evident as Pecknold sings, “Oh man what I used
to be, Montezuma to Tripoli.” Montezuma was the Aztec Emperor captured by the
Spanish Conquistadors and Tripoli, Libya is a city that has throughout history
been subjected to foreign invading customs forced upon their existing culture.
The title track ‘Helplessness Blues’ starts soft and quiet as Pecknold’s truly
introspective and heartfelt lyrics lead the Foxes into a mandolin-heavy love
song, that shifts again into a well-orchestrated resolution that includes a
delectable sound omitting from Skylar Skjelset’s guitar.
At an epic eight minutes, ‘The Shrine / An Argument’ is a musical journey with
four distinct chapters that again flaunts the control and range of Pecknold’s
voice as he ventures beyond the vocal range heard on their self-titled debut
when he belts out “Sunlight over me no matter what I do” with impressive
control while the cascading picking of an acoustic guitar is heard in the
background. With a constant change in style and a brass epilogue, ‘The Shrine
/ An Argument’ exemplifies Fleet Foxes venture into unknown territory.
Finishing the album is ‘Grown Ocean’, where fluttering flutes are yet another
example of Fleet Foxes progressive demeanour in instrumentation.
Although few might criticize Fleet Foxes for not diving deep into a new
direction, this can also be seen in a positive light. Rather than risking a
flop, Fleet Foxes have stuck to what they know best, and have refined their
craft of folk music. However, the forward process of Fleet Foxes music is
evident in both the diverse range of instrumentation and Pecknold’s
introspective lyrics that dive heavily into the concepts of existentialism.
The fluidity of the songs is matched by the cohesiveness of the entire album.
Not only are all the songs well crafted, but also it seems as if they are more
personal. Helplessness Blues is arranged in perfect order, and the album
furthers Fleet Foxes’ position as the leaders of the folk-rock revival scene.
OTHER NOTES:
Heres for the new nukers... We dont look to you, we dont mind appeasing you, but
we're here. We enjoy releasing music, not for you but for our group and ourselves.
Change the rules. I'm here again :D As with many other groups something needs to
be done.
- Track List -
01. Montezuma ( 3:37)
02. Bedouin Dress ( 4:29)
03. Sim Sala Bim ( 3:14)
04. Battery Kinzie ( 2:49)
05. The Plains/Bitter Dancer ( 5:53)
06. Helplessness Blues ( 5:03)
07. The Cascades ( 2:07)
08. Lorelai ( 4:24)
09. Someone You'd Admire ( 2:29)
10. The Shrine/An Arguement ( 8:07)
11. Blue Spotted Tail ( 3:05)
12. Grown Oceans ( 4:36)
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