This is fine.
ATH and blog world favorite Fleet Foxes recently played a short 3 song live set for NPR. You can watch the video over on the NPR website. If you read our show review and/or our album review of the band, you know we don’t hesitate to post things about Fleet Foxes.
Do you believe the hype? I’m not sure the band even believes the hype coming their way: “How are so many people here?” Believe it or not, Fleet Foxes played to a sold out crowd at Mohawk in Austin last Wednesday night and I can’t say I recall anyone selling out the Mohawk recently. The band’s name has recently spread like wildfire across the internet and music world, giving them a whole mess of new fans as evidenced by the mass of people at Mohawk.
The most talked about up and coming band to watch Fleet Foxes will be stopping by The Mohawk Austin on Wednesday night with tour mates The Dutchess & The Duke. Tickets are on sale right now for only $8 on the Transmission Entertainment ticket site. The doors are said to be opening at 7pm with opening act Balmorhea set to start at 8pm. If I was a betting man, I would bet that puts Fleet Foxes going on some time after 10pm. As always, ATH will be on hand covering the event. If you’ve read our review of the band’s most recent self-titled album, you know we are pumped about this sure to be outstanding show. You can read more about the band & hear a few songs on the band’s myspace page. Don’t miss out!
Rating: 
When one is confronted with the repeated hype of a band across the Internet word, as we all were with Fleet Foxes Sun Giant EP, you want to find one thing, anything, that proves them wrong. You almost want to hate the album, but I’m sorry, this is not the album.
Personally, I wouldn’t have started the album with “Sun Giant,” since it may have appeared somewhere in the past, but it still sets the mood for this album. By the time “Drops in the River,” the third track, rolls around, this band already had me won over–I actually didn’t like the EP. Sure, its a gentle track from the beginning, but once it gets rolling its hard not to find yourself bobbing your head here. Then they go straight into “White Winter Hymnal,” which definitely is a stand out on the album.
Actually, its not a stand out at all because I am struggling to find the one song on here I can dislike, or at least dismiss. There isn’t one. I double-checked. Not a one.
Each song on this album has carefully crafted instrumentation, and it all fits so perfectly with the harmonies of lead singer Robin Peckfold, who at times is harmonizing with every one else in the band. It is quite an interesting effect–though I admit at times it makes the lyrics somewhat indiscernible. Still, you can’t hide the fact that each arrangement on this album seems to fit perfectly with the rest of the song–with the rest of the album for that matter.
My biggest complaint about this album is the timing of the release. This is just me being selfish, but where was this album during the winter? Everything on here screams perfect winter album to me. I know I know. I could easily enjoy this sitting around a campfire with my best friends, but I don’t have time to go camping right now. Still, it would be perfect for that.
My favorite songs are “White Winter Hymnal,” “Mykonos,” “Quiet Houses,” and “Oliver James.” Now, I could ramble off thousands of comparisons to this band, but I’m sure you could find more adequate ones elsewhere on the Internet. My vote is for The Clientele comparison, but that is just me.
I hope this little review gives you enough insight into this album, but to be honest, its really hard to write about such a solid album. See for yourself.
Fleet Foxes will also be bringing their live act to the Mohawk in Austin on July 2nd. Get your tickets at The Mohawk’s website.
[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/02-fleet_foxes-white_winter_hymnal.mp3]Download: whitewinterhymnal.mp3
