Music festivals are really conducive for lots of things. Actually seeing music is often not one of them. That’s particularly an occupational hazard of festival reporting, though; photo pits are hot messes of sweat and elbows, and 15 minutes from a band’s first song, you need to be on the other side of the park lining up for the next must-see. So when you’re bouncing around from stage to stage, it’s a pretty special thing to have a band pierce that armor of distraction and just genuinely move you. That’s how it went down for Fleet Foxes’ set at Pitchfork Music Festival this past weekend. I already knew they were a great live band — it was a show at Bowery that turned me into a gushball in the first place — but that’s all the more reason to have been amazed at being amazed all over again. Pitchfork’s sharing video highlights from the festival. Here’s Fleet Foxes’ “English House.”
Pretty nice, and it still doesn’t do them justice. There’s a whole slew of clips from the Fork Fest posted at P4K.tv, so make that some mandatory viewing this weekend. As for Fleet Foxes, these are your chances to catch them this fall:
08/18 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Red Butte Garden Ampitheatre (w/ Wilco)
08/20 – Eagle, ID @ Eagle Knoll Winery
08/21 – Spokane, WA @ INB Performing Arts Center (w/ Wilco)
08/23 – Bend, OR @ Les Schwab Ampitheater (w/ Wilco)
09/21 – San Francisco, CA (Treasure Island Music Festival)
Do it.
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boring songs with harmonies, sweet!
I think fleet foxes is one of the most memorable bands to hit the scene over the past few years, and will be remembered for years to come. Great live performance!
Something about the lead singer sitting down the whole show just really bothered me. I was bored, maybe he was too.
while i was 5 inches from the bassist at the Bowery Ballroom show, i sort of actively knew that i was seeing something unique. i’m glad i saw them there in that small space before they explode.
i had the same experience at johnny brenda’s in philly. i think it was a night or two before the bowery show. we’re talking about their march tour right? it the first time i was ever at a concert where the entire crowd was literally silent the entire time the band was playing. also the applause lasted several minutes after they finished playing, you could tell the band was surprised people were still cheering after they started packing up their shit. i was standing up against the stage (could smell their tour b.o. quite clearly). im definitely glad for the experience especially as they start to play larger venues.
the haterzz are inevitable; ignore them.
That really sparkled… you know how sometimes you buy an album and you like it but then find yourself not playing it much? That’s been Fleet Foxes for me. What I keep watching lately is CSNY in 74 on youtube. Neil is just GIGANTIC. you can tell the other three are in awe of him. Maybe even afraid. “Pushed it Over the Edge ” for one is an amazing song that has never even seen the light of day. So that’s new music to me… Hate to sound like dad but these guys are schoolboys by comparison. Not to say they aren’t good.
god they have some tight ass harmonies.
the portland mercury hit it on the head when they called them ‘my morning band of grizzly bear’.
They are playing tomorrow right here in Seattle at the Capital Hill Block Party!! Just blocks from my place! YAY! I can’t wait to see them!
Yeah, sitting lead singers are a killjoy, but they sound great. Like Yeasayer meets Dirty Projectors.
they owe a lot to grizzly bear if you ask me.
that intro to english houses is direct rip off of “easier”
I think that as well. every time i hear it. half the time it turns me back to yellow house.
i know they’re a highly influential band that’s been around for a long time, and one of the first bands to ever use 3 or 4 part harmonies…
but nobody owes anything to grizzly bear. seriously.
j. tillman’s solo work is pretty stunning as well.
Fleet Foxes are The Eagles of the 00′s. Quite good though.
If you think they’re “quite good,” then they’re not really The Eagles of any era…
I don’t really like Fleet Foxes. But I’ve found this huge blog… This is very-very good
The fact these boys are opening for Wilco is the icing on the damn cake for me. Ought to make up for the fact they skipped town a couple days ago.
That show in Eagle is with Wilco too…just FYI.
That show in Eagle is with Wilco too…just FYI.
I know this has already been said, but really… saying they “owe a lot to Grizzly Bear?” Because they harmonize with one another? They owe a lot to the Beatles, yeah. They owe a lot to the Beach Boys. They owe a whole damn lot to CSNY. But I’m thinking that, while Grizzly Bear and them would probably get along great, Robin doesn’t craft songs with the concept of “let’s rip off Yellow House!” in mind.
I’ve always wondered what it’d look like if Jesus played in a cool indie band
I know everybody loves these guys, but I just don’t get it. Yes, they have great harmonies, but I was there for their live set at Pitchfork, and it almost put me to sleep. Great songs, and they were very tight, but it didn’t translate well to a festival setting. I don’t think Dizzee Rascal, who went on after they finished, was terribly impressed, either. “F*ck that boring folk sh*t” I believe was his exact quote. Kinda rude, but I agreed with his sentiment.
if i want this kind of cup of tea, i just listen to midlake.
midlake are great, but in no way are they as tight as these guys are, and the harmonies don’t even compare. but i have to agree that they’re not what i want to see at a festival. they just don’t have that type of energy.
i love fleet floxes as much as the next video (the white winter hymnal video is absolutely amazing) but I really don’t see them as being way more “tight” then midlake, who have some of the most imaginative and captivating lyrics i’ve heard in a while and a sound to match.
these guys do what they do so well. saw them at sasquatch (twice) and loved it. i have to admit though, it sounds so derivative. bands like grizzly bear pave their own way and make something unique, but this is nothing new to me. wonderfully done, but several melodies on the album sound like other songs by other bands.
Great band? For sure. As good as who they get compared to? Nope.
definitely not bad but I can’t understand why they are getting this kind of press beyond the fact that they have a nice machine pushing them. It’s quite decent music with slightly-better-than decent harmonies and way-less-than-decent originality and imho not a whole lot going on in the “remember it after a few minutes of not hearing it” department. Am I glad bands like this (ie. talented musicians who aren’t trying to ‘shock’ anyone with a swear-word infused band name or stupid, faux-visceral music) are getting their day in the sun? Yeah. But there are some out there who take themselves a little less seriously but still have more soul than the fairly slick appearing Fleet Foxes. I would like to hear more of this genre (Grizzly Bear/MMJ/Horses), but only if the musicians who play it are ready to step up to the plate and give us something with a less dreary spirit, and that’s addressing even the big three of the genre.
Grizzly Bear/MMJ/Band of Horses is not a genre.
STOP THE WILDLY INACCURATE COMPARISONS!
arrrrggghhhh.
1. i believe the name of the genre you are looking for is “vocals that sound like they were recorded in a grain silo and produced by phil ek”.
2. listen to “there’s nothing wrong with love” and “keep it like a secret” by built to spill.. and the self-titled album by grand archives.
MMJ has not sounded like they’ve recored in a grain silo since At Dawn. that was like three albums ago.
maybe stop regurgitating what you read six years ago.
1. after listening through “evil urges” a few times, mmj would do well to transport themselves six years back in time.
2. i believe i was referring to a few bands other than mmj, each of which have been known to benefit from gratuitous amounts of reverb on their vocals, as well as production by (or similar to) phil ek.
> great lake swimmers.
YES.
i know this “cuthbert wilkins” would prefer to listen to something a little less dreary.. but if he/she cannot appreciate the wonders of great lake swimmers.. i don’t know that any of us can be of much help.
phil ek didn’t produce grand archives. check your facts.
um.. i didn’t say he did?
let’s double-check.. um.. i still didn’t.
basic reading comprehension, dear.
Saw them last night at the Doug Fir Lounge in Portland, OR. Incredible performance, extremely appreciative and certainly one of the finest bands out today. Musicianship beyond their age. An absolute delight to see.
Yeah, too bad they didn’t bother showing up to their Toronto show to open up for the Jicks because they were “tired.”
I got the impression that Malk and co. weren’t impressed.
Yeah, too bad they didn’t bother showing up to their Toronto show to open up for the Jicks because they were “tired.”
I got the impression that Malk and co. weren’t impressed.
saw them live in Atlanta. best live show I’ve ever been to. we were right in front of the stage and actually met Robin and Casey before the show. I didn’t have a ticket and it was sold out, so they put me on their guest list. coolest guys in a band I’ve ever met.
Stop over analyzing everything and just enjoy this bands beautiful music you knobs.
Oh, and while we’re on the subject, I have seen both Grizzly and these guys live, and while I completely enjoy Grizzly Bear without a doubt and share in their praises for the most part, FF’s harmonies are in another league. One of the best live performances I’ve ever seen.
It’s like when you light a fire under pretty’s ass you get something like “Gish”.
Gish was samurai music. Certainly not sitting in your chair at 22 years old music…
Just posted a late review of their Union Hall show as well as MP3′s from my bootleg that night.
http://www.oneforthegooddays.com
Well, I woke up today with this song in my head so maybe I was too quick to judge. Anyway, about the ‘genre’ thing – I guess yeah, I was describing the “grain silo” genre, modern indie-conscious music that seems to be mostly popular because of big, ambient vocal effects. In this regard, I think Band of Horses, MMJ, and Grizzly Bear probably do fit under an umbrella- no one is going apeshit over any of these bands for any other reason besides the vocalists, and sometimes even just the studio treatment of the vocalists. To me, Grizzly Bear is the stand out, and clearly what they are doing in terms of arrangement and writing is clearly quite different, but I suppose I lumped them all together not because they necessarily sound alike but because they have come together to spawn bands like ‘fleet foxes’, which to me embody a lot of the most marketed qualities of those three bands. For example, I have a friend who gave up on MMJ after their last record, this guy was a mega-fan, but ditched MMJ in favor of Fleet Foxes because they kept the reverb =P I can imagine a lot worse music getting the kind of hype fleet foxes are; it’s definitely a lot easier to imagine worse music than to imagine better, but there is no doubt these guys could be a lot better – ie. push the envelope and do something no one else is doing. These guys are doing what everyone else is doing, they just do it quite nicely. Nothing wrong with that, I’d just like to hear something more original from bands getting 9.0′s on debut albums and huge praise for what seems like a relatively boring-been there type live show.
ah, the haters of the future. just… a… few… more… glowing… comments… we’re… almost… there…. !
It’s a damn fine album. I do have to chuckle at the people who don’t like them stating they don’t like them because they sound like other bands. What’s the problem with that? It isn’t like they are actually ripping off their songs. And then there is the fact the don’t sound like My Morning Jacket, Band of Horses, or Grizzly Bear. If reverbered vocals is all it takes to be declared unoriginal then I am at a loss for words. Fleet Foxes harmonies are in a league of their own, and then there are the compelling and dynamic arrangements.
I’m just saying Art Garfunkel lives on to this day as an example of something to avoid in the creative sense. If we can’t establish a bar the quality of lifes suffer.
if there’s anything remarkable about this band then give me reasons – just like band of horses they are a mmj clone plain and simple
band of horses can’t even hold a candle to fleet foxes. lots of bands harmonize, and it just so happens that fleet foxes manage to do it well. it isn’t like the technique was coined by grizzly bear or mmj and i really don’t get any of these comparisons because i don’t hear my morning jacket when i listen to fleet foxes, i hear fleet foxes. catchy melodies with extremely tight harmonies plain and simple.
are you “listening”?
conducive ‘to’.
this argument is so moronic. i have to stop coming back to read it.
1. after listening through “evil urges” a few times, mmj would do well to transport themselves six years back in time.
2. i believe i was referring to a few bands other than mmj, each of which have been known to apply gratuitous amounts of reverb to their vocals (both recorded and otherwise).
oh wait, I was going to see them, was all set to see Fleet Foxes, until they wussed out at the very last minute for their opening slot in Toronto for Malkmus & The Jicks. That was less of a disappointment, and more of an indication as to what type of band this is exactly-who cancels at the absolute last minute without a valid fucking excuse. Shitty move on their part.
oh wait, I was all set to see these guys, really excited about it in fact, until they wussed out of their opening slot for Malkmus & The Jicks in Toronto. Who cancels at the absolute last minute without a valid fucking excuse? I was initially really disappointed until I realized what a huge indication it was of the type of band Fleet Foxes were-the type that could and would disappoint their fans by not showing up to a gig, and do so without much regret. Really bad move on their part. I still like their songs, would I dish out money to see them live again should they come back to town? probably not.
Odd how people will defend Fleet Foxes for the same things they will attack Vampire Weekend for.
wtf does this mean?
nah, i just find vampire weekend annoying as hell. fleet foxes actually have talent, unlike Vampire Weekend who just got lucky with a slew of media hype from a mediocre television station.
oops, replicated dp.
re: Fleet Foxes’ recent cancelled Toronto appearance (opening for Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks at the Phoenix) …. there’s not much really to complain about. I was disappointed not to have seen them (and I really wanted to see them) but organizers did address the fact that many of the ticketholders did purchase tickets specifically to see Fleet Foxes and then offered a refund opportunity when they cancelled. I could understand if they were leading an ‘exhausting’ schedule and God knows they weren’t about to cancel their scheduled Pitchfork Festival appearance over the Toronto show.
I’ve encountered a psychological quandry as a result of this whole “being in a band” thing. When we finished the full length record in November 07 I had a very minimal knowledge of the work of the aforementioned bands, and of those bands I only owned the Grizzly Bear record. The main record I was listening to at the time that was somewhat inspiring was David Crosby’s “If I Could Only Remember My Name” and I thought that CSN while they had their amazing moments weren’t a band to freak out over. I’m not at all implying that this music was made in a Henry Darger-like vacuum devoid of outside influence but we honestly weren’t really interested in the bands mentioned and aside from Grizzly Bear who I really respect and dig musically, I’ve never put on an MMJ or BOH record for enjoyment. I thought the reverb would sound to people like reverb on Beach Boys or Marvin Gaye or Steeleye Span records, but I fully get how it and the music is heard in another way. And I’m not angry or bitter at all about it, you put something out there into the world and get feedback and that’s how creative stuff works.
What’s strange to me now is that after 6 plus months of hearing these comparisons, I’m now unable to sit down and play guitar for fun without thinking that whatever I idly come up with must be ripping those bands off in some way. I now have absolutely zero confidence as a result of being in a band that’s compared so frequently to bands that aren’t really for me (GB aside) and weren’t touchstones for me musically (those bands would be Neutral Milk Hotel, Smile era Beach Boys, Judee Sill, Love, Joanna Newsom, Karen Dalton, the Jonas Brothers).
What do I do? Even when we were finishing the record there were a million things we wanted to change, and it’s strange to be living with the repurcussions of something you made and disavowed in 2007 throughout all of 2008! If I ever get up the courage to try and write more songs they won’t sound anything like what’s come before! But then I’ll probably just be ripping off whatever was cool this year.
Sigh.
Regretfully yours,
Robin Pecknold
F. Fawkes’s
You care too much. Music criticism and review is pretty much solely based on comparison, no band or artist will ever escape it. Your best chance is to disregard it. And I’d have thought that the sheer number of people who consider your self-titled their album of the year would be enough to spur you onto album #2, no?
P.S. He Doesn’t Know Why sounds sickeningly like Jonas Brothers.
Imposter!!! (I mean to pretend to be RP at 4:58 in the am.)
I wish you guys would play the 40 Watt instead of the Georgia Theater
Oh, please, whatever ANYBODY does is a rip off, unless you’re in Animal Collective.
Just, ignore the outside world as best you can, besides, Pitchfork likes you guys, and so does everyone else, so you’re set.
I really doubt the Stereogum crowd causes that much of a dent in the music industry as it does for your self confidence. So, pretend we don’t exist.
robin, don’t comment on blogs!
bad idea!!
only setting yourself up for more insult
Robin, don’t listen to these idiots. Seriously. Just do your thing. It’s great. Most of these people have nothing going on for themselves besides this, so it makes them feel better to cut people down who are actually doing shit. Or they just don’t like the music. Either way, they are irrelevant.
Plus, everyone is just building on the work of people before them, no matter what you’re doing.
Also, Grizzly Bear have to be one of the most overrated bands of this decade. Band of Horses suck. And MMJ, while awesome live, are not you guys.
I’ll take Fleet Foxes above any of those bands any day.
eh you are wrong. Grizzly bear reign supreme in that battle but you can believe what you want
I guess…
You pretentious clit, no one cares about your band that will never be. Thank you for doing us all a favor and realizing your music is awful. After glancing at your comment, and seeing that you took the time to write a page and a halves worth of whining, it is with out a doubt that you are the poster child for legalized abortion.
Aw very cool… didn’t know that they were opening for Wilco at the Eagle show. Got my tickets… looking forward to it!
Bah, to hell with all these “haters.” No one appreciates anything anymore. So much baseless vitriol. You can’t please everyone as they say. Robin, I would definitely say ignore everything in the musical “blog-o-sphere” as best you can and just keep doing what you are doing. I, for one, think it is a brilliant breath of fresh air.
My mom loves this — Takes her back to the days of Johnny Mathis!!!
Great show at the Capitol Hill Block Party last Saturday, Robin! I’ve been meaning to see you guys since the Vera Project show last February but kept putting it off. I’m glad it’s now been accomplished since.
I had to split quickly after your set to catch NIN at The Key Arena across the downtown sprawl.
Hey Robin, stop reading blogs and work on new material. Who gives a shit about what people think.
Robin – For christ’s sake, get over yourself! You’re really going to complain about this kind of shit given everything that is happening for you and your band right now? Cry me a fucking a river!
don’t cry robin pecknold! fuck the haters – keep up the pretty and keep enjoying the ride. it makes people’s lives better, in the very least…
also, play the 40 watt. we’ll treat you to the grit and bring you vegan cookies.
Hell yes, sister. Also, why is everyone yelling at the poor guy? Go bitch at people on Brooklyn Vegan, chumps.
Because he seems disgustingly ungrateful for all the good things that are happening for him. Stop reading the blogs and just write music if that’s what you want to do. Deal with the fact that people are going to say nasty shit about your music and/or compare you to other bands. Don’t act like an entitled baby!
It’s HIS music. If he wants to defend himself and his music, let him do so. You don’t have to be so nasty.
Don’t Cry Robin Pecknold is going to be the name of my new band.
Dual pickguards are sweet.
you people actually think that was his post? get real, he wont show up to gigs (due to exhaustion), yet he’ll got time to defend himself against the naysayers at stereogum,com. somehow I just dont buy it.
It’s definitely him. He has posted on other blogs too. Obviously not good for his ego because not everyone is in love with his band. Can’t take the criticism, don’t read the blogs and definitely don’t post.
MMJ is great
BOH suck so bad
Grizzly Bear is ok but way overrated
Fleet Foxes dont sound like any of them . . . at all!!! Let it go
Here is one more reason to go see them live:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92089028
excellent summation.
(I have good reason to doubt that that was really him… More likely a subpop employee worried about their Christmas bonus. But I’ll treat this as if it was….)
Robin, I bought this album because a magazine I respected gave it a gushing five star review with alot of Crosby’s name being batted around. Imagine my dissappointment when what I heard more than anything was that wintery beach boy happy sleigh ride Shins music. I mean I like the Shins but that was FIVE bloody years ago. That tells me somebody’s playing it too safe. Subpop want those Shins numbers. You’re very talented but some of that is working against you at this point.
It’s too much a surface game. Too many influences. I don’t know who you are yet.
Fleetwood Mac’s “Woman of a 1000 Years’ remains my favorite Fleet Foxes track.
I suppose I really do belive it’s possible you’ve never heard it. (These things just seem to be in the air the past few years…) They were under CSN’s influence at that moment of time themselves. The difference is the depth. It’s truly haunted. It’s a Van Gogh. So fuck the machine that’s using you and work towards your first reall five star album. You have the potential. Venture deeper into the woods… do vast amount s of drugs on a boat in the middle of the ocean… don’t forger your guitar. For reading how about Neil’s bio Shakey and assorted Tom Robbins?
Just to clarify, in no way was I bemoaning my place in life or complaining… I actually find all of this incredibly helpful in some way. I was merely pointing out (in a “ain’t that weird” kinda way) the fact that one can make themselves believe something if they hear it enough – i.e. the current songwriting predicament I mentioned. That’s not a complaint, just an observation, I think I even said that in the first comment thing. I feel incredibly grateful to get to play music for people, and I don’t want to let those people down with dumb new songs. Seriously a grateful group, sorry for making it sound otherwise.
To CTA – I actually agree with everything you said and I hope to make you proud next time around.
robin! STOP COMMENTING! YOU ARE CRAZY
who cares if you make CT proud
just do your thing
personally I’m not a fan but you do NOT need to defend yourself on comment threads!!!
these comments are worse than anything Courtney Love could ever write.
I NEERLY HAD A F***KIN BRAIN ENYARIZM FROM THIS SHITY ROCK CARP. 1ST OFF: WHO THE SHIT KNOWZ ABOUT “FLEET”, SWORN THAT THERE WAS ALREDDY A BAND CALLED FLEETWOOD MAX. SOMEOTHER SHIT: SOME GUYS THESE DAYS GET A BEERD AND THEN PUT SOME ECHO FX OR SING INA PORT-O-PODDY BUT NOT A GOOD RAPPER EVER DOEZ THAT. CASE IN POINT: FIGURE A) SNOOP DOG F**CKIN RULEZ. FIGURE B) FLEET FOX SOUNDS LIKE A SHIT SMOOTHIE AT JAMMA JUICE! I GOT-2-HAND-IT-TO-THAM. THEY KNOW HOW TO BE A BABY AND CRY AT ANYTHING AND SIT DOWN AT A CONCERT WATEVER. I THINK I GO AN LISTEN TO NOTORUIS B-I-G- INSTED. “ALL I WANNA DO IS SCREW–DRINK BREW WITH THE CREW ON THE AVENEW” N-E-DAY OF THE WEEEEEEEEEEEK.
this may be the dumbest thing i’ve ever read. and i like biggie. but your comment is asinine and way out of line. it has no place here. go slither back to the little home in the scum in the pond in the cave where you came from.
This serves as a unique, fascinating view into how artists in 2008 interact with and connect with their fans. To people who are saying, “Robin, stop commenting,” don’t you get it? This is how our generation consumes art. We read about it on blogs, experience it or digest it for ourselves, (In Fleet Foxes’ case) hopefully see them live, and then share our experiences online. Robin and the other guys in the band are no different in how they interact with art. Sure they are the ones creating it, but they will go online and read what people are saying. Don’t you think they read music blogs?
Robin, if you read this. Thanks for putting on two breathtaking shows at 7th Street in Minneapolis and thanks for signing my poster. I have no doubt you will continue to make music that our generation will be listening to for decades. Thanks for the music and keep making it for the true fans, not the jaded. See you the next time, next door in the Main Room.
Fleet Foxes sound like a precise, scientifically calculated, combination of MMJ and BOH. I don’t see how you couldn’t see the resemblance unless you’re lying to yourself. His voice sounds just like Jim James and that other bearded guy from BOH. The song “Ragged Wood” rips “Golden” by MMJ big time. Same beat, same finger-picked guitar part, same reverb drenched vocals. Beards unite!
Well Lonnie, I don’t listen to MMJ or BOH because they don’t do anything for me, so I don’t give a shit whether or not you think they’re ripping two bands off that I could give a fuck about.
I enjoy Fleet Foxes though.
on an unrelated note: everyone, robin included, should listen to more My Morning Jacket.
Yeah baby, More MMJ!!!
People on the internet are rather nervy and take out all the anger they can on everyone else. I don’t see any of the people commenting on here trying to create something and having the balls to share what they create with the world. Look how harsh everyone is! I think people forget the power of their words. They forget what they say really does have an effect on people. I’m really disgusted that it appears to be ‘uncool’ to be supportive just because someone or something is getting positive recognition. I don’t see anything insult worthy of someone putting an honest effort into their passion. Even if it is not your taste, you should at least be able to recognize the audacity of these people! No one even try to deny the truth in that statement. Of course I’m sure someone out there happily will. WHY go out of your way to be overtly negative? It’s not just getting your “critical” opinion heard, it’s just plain nastiness.
First of all, I don’t understand how people revere MMJ. They suck. They write cheesy songs and play overly long and extermely boring live shows. The fact that a band goes on an extended, sparse “solo” for 25 minutes during the middle of an otherwise crappy song does not make them a “great live band.” Maybe try writing songs that aren’t about juvenile shyness or how sunny days make you happy or whatever.
Band of Horses did sound like JJ of MMJ when I first heard them except that their songs were 100 times better and their live show was fantastic and engaging compared to two MMJ shows that I went to and fel asleep during. B of H has surpassed MMJ in only two albums.
Grizzly Bear is fantastic.
Fleet Foxes are great, and while they may sound similar to any one of the above bands at times, their overall work is nowhere near a rip off of any of them. Is it possible for a band to come out with harmonic indie-folk type music without being compared to an inferior band (MMJ) that has come before them? Give me a break you hipster tools.
First of all, I don’t understand how people revere MMJ. They suck. They write cheesy songs and play overly long and extermely boring live shows. The fact that a band goes on an extended, sparse “solo” for 25 minutes during the middle of an otherwise crappy song does not make them a “great live band.” Maybe try writing songs that aren’t about juvenile shyness or how sunny days make you happy or whatever.
Band of Horses did sound like JJ of MMJ when I first heard them except that their songs were 100 times better and their live show was fantastic and engaging compared to two MMJ shows that I went to and fel asleep during. B of H has surpassed MMJ in only two albums.
Grizzly Bear is fantastic.
Fleet Foxes are great, and while they may sound similar to any one of the above bands at times, their overall work is nowhere near a rip off of any of them. Is it possible for a band to come out with harmonic indie-folk type music without being compared to an inferior band (MMJ) that has come before them? Give me a break you hipster tools.
What’s with the hate for Band of Horses. So much better than Fleet Foxes if you ask me. BOH is AMAZING live!
Lonnie, seriously?
“Fleet Foxes sound like a precise, scientifically calculated, combination of MMJ and BOH.”
If you do think they sound similar it certainly wasnt on purpose. Did you not read Robin’s post?
“When we finished the full length record in November 07 I had a very minimal knowledge of the work of the aforementioned bands (MMJ & BOH). . . I’ve never put on an MMJ or BOH record for enjoyment.”
Yeah, they used a bunch of reverb, big deal. That doesnt mean the lyrics and song structures are the same.
I would rather listen to nails on a chalkboard than listen to BOH. The lead singers voice is that bad.
I love MMJ, but I can’t think of one song that sounds like Fleet Foxes. This is an extreme example, but “Highly Suspicious” = “White Winter Hymnal” Dont think so Lonnie . . .
gotta say, it’s cool to have the artist interact. it’s uncool to have it in a forum where people write anything that can’t be considered constructive, especially those who did it after the comment by the artist.
the artist should most of all listen to himself and produce based on that. what others think about it is a silly thing to try to consider, because some will like it and others won’t, and it doesn’t matter what the ratio is unless all you’re after is sales. you don’t have to please anyone but yourself and your band members, and as long as you’re doing that, you’re doing something honest. and honesty tends to produce good art, which tends to attract people. don’t doubt what you’ve done if what you’ve done is honest. that’s all i can think to say.
Robin, Thank You for an amazing show at the cap hill block party. These bands that you are being compared to are amazing as well, so take it all as a compliment, if you ask me.
man, most epic stereogum comment list i’ve ever seen
but then again, i haven’t been here too long
I saw them at the midnight show at Union Hall, and the people who are accusing them of being boring, probably lack classical music in their lives. The only group I can compare them to are maybe the New York Philharmonic? Although honestly, i’m not sure that they are as tight, captivating or humble as FF.
i love live music!! i recently saw Eric Solomon live and was really glad to get a chance to see him in a small venue… i need to check these guys out too
BOH < fleet foxes = mmj < Grizzly Bear Math does not lie.
My Morning Jacket created this whole sound and aesthetic in this indie americana-esque genre and not only that, they are the best live band in the world right now. They have balls bigger than any band around. They are actually innovative and keep moving ahead of the pack. At Dawn, Z, and Evil Urges are all amazing records and all very different. Meanwhile, Fleet Foxes wrote a song that sounds exactly like one of MMJ’s most popular songs, “Golden”. Yeah Fleet Foxes never listened to or heard MMJ before they starting making music cough…..LOL. yeah right. The rest of these bands are riding their coattails…… They’re all good at what they do, but go buy At Dawn…and listen to the real shit, before it got watered down…
comparisons are odious.
OK, let’s put this comparison to bed once and for all.
We’ve got Band of Horses, Grizzly Bear, Fleet Foxes and My Morning Jacket. I think we can safely eliminate the MMJ, because what in the world is an article of clothing going to do against an animal? Admittedly, a horse, bear, or fox would care less about the jacket lying there limp on the ground, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to win anything.
So, now we’re down to BoH, Grizzly B and FF. Taking the size of the animal into account, a grizzly bear and a horse are pretty fairly matched. Poor fox, though, just a touch larger than a housecat won’t be much effect against these relatively gargantuan foes.
I don’t think that we should rule out the wily and elusive nature of the fox, however. A horse, while certainly a majestic and kind animal, cannot be said to have the same dexterity as a fox, or even a bear. Surely a fox could dodge any hoof-fall that the horse unleashes. if the bear and fox were to square off, the bear (being used to hunting slippery fish for dinner) would surely be able to nab the fox with its ferocious claws.
We are leaving out an important wild card, though, in that both the BoH and FF are plural groups of animals, while the Grizzly Bear is the lonely singular, one bear against an entire band of horses! And Fleet, which could mean either a naval fleet (probably not) or swift of foot. So we have multiple horses and fast foxes against one bear. The bear might be tough, but one bear against an army doesn’t stand a chance. I also can’t see the foxes taking out many horses, so I’m not sure that the foxes would emerge victorious, although the horses don’t really have the means to physically destroy all of the foxes. Could it be, then, that the three animals destroy each other in a melodious carnage?
And could it be that the true victor, lying limp and unnoticed on the ground, is the morning jacket, waiting to be discovered amongst the animal carcasses and worn to the next basement show? Maybe pacifism does have a place in our society.
this is brilliant.
i LOVE this.
http://beardedmagazine.co.uk/wp/
just got back from the grizzly bear show in nashville. they debuted two new songs (besides two weeks and while you wait…) and they were crushing. one of them was probably the most intense thing they’ve done yet. i put it up there with “(electric) little brother” and “on a neck”. If they play it at lolla there will be a shit ton of talk about it. everyone left there with the minds completely blown.
…did someone seriously say these guys are “one of the first bands to ever use 3 or 4 part harmonies”
that joker needs to get out more.
it was sarcasm, douchenozzle.
if band of horses only played songs like “st. augustine” and “i go to the barn because i like the” and “monsters,” then and only then could you make a case that fleet foxes are anything like them. as for the mmj comparison, well, i think it’s a stretch…similar vocals but that’s about it.
Saw you guys at Pitchfork and were just blown away, Robin. Stellar stuff. Just keep doing what you’re doing and don’t worry about these d-bags. I mean, that seems to be working out pretty well for you and for all of us who love your music. Hope that you’re somewhere nearish soon.
Agreed. I just bought the new album and it completely delivers on the promise of the EP, which is a beautiful masterwork on its own that should have been enough to silence the generalizing nitwits in this pathetic thread.
I sincerely hope that wasn’t actually the lead singer of Fleet Foxes who posted that, but if it was, you should know better. Listening to what someone else thinks of your art form is never productive to it. If you’re constantly thinking of the expectations of other, how can you ever expect to truly be creative? It’s been said a thousand times in this thread, but listening to the joyless neanderthalls who populate this place (despite the noble intentions of this site’s authors) is self-defeating at best.
It always disturbs me looking at comments of articles, whether I like the subject or not, and seeing all these people in the world that wallow in negativity and hatred. Every band or musician there ever was or will be has been hailed as the best in the world and the worst in the world. It would be very depressing to me to be the kind of person that is constantly mad at things that they don’t like instead of appreciative of the things they do like. I usually stay away from comment sections because they are so poisonous and hurtful but looking at
To Robin: When I look at reviews of my favorite music or movies that I liked my mentality is to look at the 5 negative reviews and ignore the 100 positi
Catchy tunes, but I can’t help but think they’re playing the Coldplay to Akron/Family’s Radiohead (not to mention jumping on the whole “New-Americana-Weird-Freak-Psych-Folk” bandwagon, adding some faux-whimsical wannabe-Devendra Banhartisms to those unobtrusive harmonies). I suspect they’re a sign that 70s style FM radio soft rock is back.
Will Ferrell will be so happy.