Reviews (page 12 of 15)
Eh
Melancholy folky
This album killed indie music.
I was never a fan of this genre, or any of its siblings. The pure indie choir boy, hey-ho sound can only stay interesting for so long. Personally, I like my music to have a touch more grit - which this album had none of. It is well-produced and it's good music for fans of the style so I certainly see the appeal, it's just too clean and pristine to be my thing. Back when this music was big I was still all aboard the emo bandwagon, so we never really clicked. I did enjoy Tiger Mountain Peasant Song & Your Protector though, mainly because they were a bit darker than the rest of the record.
I've never read so many praises by music critics about a seemingly ordinary indie/folk album. It's the first time I've heard of band Fleet Foxes, and after digging deeper into their discography and reviews, I feel a massive dissonance between what's has been written and what I think about this album. The self-titled album is a very soft and gentle folk pop, which sounds like a lullaby version of Mumford and Sons, if only all band members knew how to sing. The songs are very atmospheric and give you a vibe of a perfect listening session in late autumn, with a hot cocoa, under the blanket, with a cliche rain/snow outside. The album at times feels more manufactured than natural, like prepared by some perfect music AI, which programmed all the voices in spotlessly clean harmony, with no unnecessary sound or a note, from start to finish. The song, like for example their single "White Winter Hymnal" are really nice to listen to, but somehow it feels, just simply, like a product. And hey, it was good, but I'm not buying it.
Not massively inspiring. Kind of nice but also a bit meh
Pas mindblown mais pas détesté. Du bon indie folk. Définitivement à revisiter
decent, mellow and 1 tempo
Easy listening.
pretty classic album
Too pretty … I like it, but reminds me too much of My Morning Jacket and I’m over them.
Haven't listened to this album for ages, and it's a mix between some really quite good songs (generally the ones with a bit more emphasis on the music - Ragged Wood, Your Protector probably my favourite 2), and some vocal arrangements that are perfectly pleasant, but a bit twee. Listening to it back in 2008, it felt very different from anything else that I was listening to then, the sound isn't quite as unusual now but it's still a decent listen. 3/5.
Folky Indy like this tends to leave me cold. Not all the time, but this one did in any case. I think the make/break quality for me is I prefer duets and/or solo woman singer over solo man singer
I was fine with this. Wouldn't turn it off if it hit my shuffle, wouldn't actively seek it out. If I could give a half star I would at 2.5. It is exactly the middle for me.
Not my favorite indie rock band but its a good album. Songs kind of all run together & sound similar
White Winter and Oliver James are classics. Good folky stuff.
3.4
decent. 3/5
I've tried these dudes before, and even attended a concert of theirs with a friend, but they're just too (almost sickeningly so) earnest and, well, twee. I get it. Y'all can harmonise with each other. Maybe write a good song or two as well, yeah?
Good folk, however nothing hooked me
Ik hoor een Hammond orgel voor de liefhebber. Muziek klinkt een beetje '70s maar het album is van 2008. Grappig. Zitten wel een paar leuke liedjes bij. ***
Ljúf þjóðlagatónlist, flottar raddanir.
I think I would really like this if I was more into folk music, but currently it is more 'kinda nice' for me.
It’s nicely done with some memorable melodies and lovely harmonies. But my god it’s earnest, with no edge or bite
It’s its time and not something I’ll rush back to, but didn’t mind listening to it again at all. A few enjoyable tracks have been added to my Best of 1001 Albums playlist and that’s more than the Eagles achieved
Ok...generally it's a meh. But, White Winter Hymnal is a song of it's time, and I respect Fleet Foxes influence on that folk scene that became big around that time. I'm not going be choosing it to play, but my ears wont be offended to hear it playing round a sibling in law's house. Which is likely. Your Protector - enjoyed the drums.
It's not a crush for me.
La copertina mi piace un sacco. Album rilassante, simpatico. Tuttavia, non c'è quel quid che lo potrebbe definire un capolavoro, a cui riservo le 4 e le 5 stelle.
Un album piacevole. Niente di più, niente di meno.
This album sitting at an average of 3.5 is appropriate for what it is. Well crafted and produced songs that do nothing exciting. It's like ordering the poached pear for dessert and wishing you'd had the tiramisu like your friend did.
Nice background music. Nothing revolutionary for me but I enjoyed it
Sound is nice, but didn't make much impact on me
Beardy, flannel wearing lumberjacks with a Beach Boys obsession roll up and chop up some tunes. Best Tracks: White Winter Hymnal; Ragged Wood; Blue Ridge Mountains
Nice. Low.
Very good relaxing album.
Album was a nice listen. Very relaxing music and interesting instrumentals. Not the type of music I would go back to too often, but I'm glad I listened to it. Favorite track: Ragged Wood
It's pretty chill, I can vibe to it. But I prefer Lord Huron for my modern folk, tortured indie artist tunes. I love this album cover! I could look at it for hours, it's very amusing and captivating.
it was ok not really my thing 3/5
piola yanki
Red house painters in a happy mood belike this. :)
It’s nice and mellow listen, even it hipster CSNY/CSN knock-offs aren’t your jam.
I like some indie folk, but I’m not much for hymnal style harmonies. So there are elements of this record I like, mainly instrumental, but overall I would never put this on to listen to.
Cool plaatje!
Mjah, wel goed ofzo maar al de zoete harmonieën gingen me op den duur toch wel tegenstaan.
Goed aan te horen, maar door die voortdurende samenzang krijgt het ook wel een hoog geitenwollensokken-seventies-gehalte.
Average tbh.
was okay
Blei lei av fleet foxes for mange år siden, men huske at eg syns da va greit på eit tidspunkt
Huske kje heilt, men trur da va sånn passe
Pretty bland
What happened to the indie-folk revival thing? Did it die yet? This one has some striking moments, with some strong lyrics, some lovely vocal moments, and the occasional memorable melody. But overall, I find it forgettable and samey. I think my issue is that filtering any genre through indie-rock is never going to improve it. 3*
Used to have this album on my iTunes back when that was something that people used. It's pleasant, but few songs stand out to me. I much prefer their second album, from what I can remember.
Was up and down with this one. On one hand, I quite like the beach boysesque harmonies an d sound, but because of that sometimes found the cleanliness of the modern production distracting. Didn't hate it, and had some high points that sounded great, but uneven and failed to click as a whole.
I'm not generally into the new folk stuff, but I like these guys. This was enjoyable.
this got me hyped to swim in the ocean with my dog in a very walter mitty way
Genre: Chamber Folk 3/5 An album that started like a soft fart and ended like a soft fart, Fleet Foxes' eponymous debut album is a soft fart. Not offensive, soft and airy, but a little stinky. This album has one constant sonic pastel throughout its run time, lush, pretentious, mid-aughts folk music, and those 16-17 year olds (plus the majority of music critics) ate it up with such relish that some were dubbing it one of music's best debut records ever... Let's not get crazy. This is some decently arranged pop music, with pretty strings and decent production, but overall a soft fart. White Winter Hymnal, by the far the best song on the album, a choral style folk song with some beautiful vocal performances, is the biggest highlight here. Unfortunately, as it's the 2nd song on the album, it immediately goes to work overshadowing anything that comes after it. Songs like He Doesn't Know Why and Blue Ridge Mountains, both decent indie folk jams in their own right, sit in the tsunami-sized wake of White Winter Hymnal, and have no chance to come out on top. Decent, listenable, boring, but certainly not the best debut album ever made. Not by a long shot.
A little familiar already. Highlights: Quiet Houses, Meadowlarks, Blue Ridge Mountains.
Perfectly bland. Can't remember a tune, wasn't bad tho.
Takie pogranicze indie-psycho-folk pop-rocku. Muzyka raczej spokojna z dość bogatą warstwą instrumentalno-wokalną. Słuchało się całkiem przyjemnie, ale nie porwało. Taka chillowa muzyczka w tle trochę.
Slow
Pretty meh. Not a fan, but didn't run away screaming either.
not hard to see why we fell in love with the harmonies and pastoral folk and beach boys style melodies of fleet Foxes, but odd in retrospect why then... in retrospect it sounds less impressive than I remember, it's influences too apparent but still beautiful songs
não acho que esse álbum e a banda como um todo envelheceu tão bem. nunca fui lá um FÃ, mas pelos idos de 2009/10 eu até gostava do pouco que ouvia. hoje, gosto do trabalho solo do Father John Misty, mas acho fleet foxes chato pra caramba
More or less what I expected, its pretty, whit winter hymal is still the best
I do like Fleet Foxes but I don't love them. A nice recognisable sound but I always get a little bored.
It's very well made in I feel like I'm appreciating it from an arts & crafts level. Some good moments, nothing too exciting generally.
Eh. It’s ok.
-The part in "White Winter Hymnal" where everything comes in louder is cool -Idk there were cool bits and pieces but nothing built to any cool climaxes or anything
I remember this being a huge album in the college environmental community. God I hated that music. time, distance, and a general broadening of my musical horizons might give me a better chance to listen to this. The harmony work right off the bat is ethereal and tight. Tiger Mountain Peasant Song is a good tune, I just don't like it. These high harmonies and the spacy open verb are good and I can see the appeal, I just don't really like it. its like modern church choir music.
Skdbc
Okay for what it is
I didn’t get attached to any particular song but found it to all be good
Fine album
once i get past my hang-ups about folk, fleet foxes' album is quite beautiful! folk can be difficult for me since it's so different from my typical musical interests. i must be in the right mood to appreciate the subtlety and mellow tune. fleet foxes definitely make it worth it to pay attention! the whole album blends together, but you cannot find a song that isn't pleasing to your ears.
This definitely takes me back to a specific period of the 2000s where a lot of indie music had this folk leaning, and I remember Fleet Foxes being a standout example of the genre at the time. This album is a pleasant enough, easy listen, but that said, it is rather monotonous. After a few songs, it all kind of fades into one (albeit, nice) noise. I particularly liked White Winter Hymnal and Your Protector, and found those to be standout among a lot of dreamy, distant, slow folk songs. I wish this album had been more songs like these.
Modern country?
Chilled-out acoustic modern folk. Loved hearing elements I recognised from current psych rock like Tame Impala, as well as 70s folk like Cat Stevens, Tyrannosaurus Rex. Lots of love for "White Winter Hymnal", naturally.
For when you want to know what it feels like to fall in and out of love with a manic pixie dream girl.
Fínasta haustplata. Brún lauf fjúka til og frá.
First time listen, have seen them on "Later...." and quite liked what I heard. I particularly like "Mykanos" and "White Winter Hymnal" but not over enthralled by their folk rock approach. A little too Hipster for me. (I don't have a beard you see! A good album and can see why it is included on this list.
It’s fine. There are a lot of good elements, but overall it just doesn’t come together for me and is never greater than the sum of its parts.
Good album for relaxed listening
Was always a fan of ‘Blue Ridge Mountains’ & ‘White Winter Hymnal’, but so pleased that to have discovered other stand out tracks such as ‘Quiet Houses’, ‘Your Protector’ and my personal favourite ‘He Doesn’t Know Why. A couple of the tracks passed me by but the consistency of the album cannot be denied. Harmonies wise, it’s unbelievably good.
Just alright. I don't find myself feeling driven to want to pursue listening regularly. It's sorta calming and good background music, but not something I'd pursue if I wanted to listen to something.
Iidt ensformigt og meget rumklang. Lidt for stile
This was a pleasant listen, pretty, melodic music. Ultimately I find it pretty unmemorable though. I probably will not revisit. Fave Songs: Your Protector, Meadowlarks, Sun It Rises, He Doesn't Know Why
harmony!
7/10
Fleet Foxes by Fleet Foxes (2008) If you like unplugged woodsy wooden music with elaborate four-part vocal arrangements, this album’s for you. The Seattle-based avant-garde folk band Fleet Foxes made quite a splash with this eponymous debut release. Lyrics are outdoorsy and visual enough, but they lack depth and there are frequent mismatches between the natural meter of the lyrics and the meter of the melodies (especially blatant on “Oliver James”—I was impressed with the lyrics but disappointed with the melody to which it was set). We get high reverb, spooky vocal harmonies constructed with inventive but sometimes aimless chord progressions. This is all pleasantly diverting, but where is it heading? The truly outstanding track on this record is “White Winter Hymnal” for its vocal blend and vivid lyrics, with a curious canon head fake at the beginning. This composition could have gone a completely different direction, but I’m kinda glad it didn’t. The only way it could have been improved would have been with a few portable tanks of oxygen. Oh, well. In terms of production and performance, what it lacks in polish and virtuosity it more that makes up for in entertaining quirkiness—kind of like the Pieter Bruegel the Elder painting on the cover. Most of these songs come alive when the rhythm section kicks in. Altogether it’s a good mix of vocals, percussion and plucked strings. Robin Pecknold doesn’t quite have the vocal power to pull off the solo a cappella on the closing track “Oliver James”, but it’s haunting nonetheless. I can’t remember ever hearing a song about discovering a child in a cradle exposed to the elements and then preparing his body (for life? for the grave? for both?). Fascinating. Almost like the Mystery of the Incarnation. 3/5
Nicht reingekommen. Aber bestimmt auch nicht schlecht.
Neither fleet nor foxy. Fair play for the folk revival. It's pleasant enough and a bit too smug. The biggest take away is how much I enjoy the cover painting. Pieter Bruegel the Elder rocks like the Fleet Foxes can only dream.
“Geddy Lee of Rush includes this album among his favourites.”
I can appreciate it but doesn't have a high replay value for me
Demasiado folk, demasiado! Demasiado sonido indie, demasiado!!!!! Buscas que género es White Winter Hymnal y no encuentras. Lo mejor, la pintura de la portada. Wikipedia tiene una descripción completa de la misma.
Some bangers in here for sure, but it gets a little too pop-folk with some of the oohs and ahhs and kick-tambourine.
Nice background music, though very one note throughout
A lot of the vocal work sounded like it needed more music behind it. Many tracks sounded like they'd be great backing for a scene in a movie that's supposed to make you "feel". Favorite track: "Your Protector"
Good stuff
Dreary, medieval-tinged, late-aughts, hipster acoustic vibe
Just an okay album. Enjoyed it well enough in background of a car ride - but doubt I’ll go back to it anytime soon.
okay
The best from this album IMO: - Tiger Mountain Peasant Song - Blue Ridge Mountains Sounds a bit too generic for me. Some songs sound the same. Not a big fan of folk music though. 2.8/5
Pretty chill. Something I could put in the background in the early mornings or cloudy days.
I'm not saying it's a bad album, I'm just saying I have listened to it multiple times and I can tell you maybe what two songs sounds like 3/5
I went through an intense Fleet Foxes period a few years ago and eventually burned out on them. It was nice to therefore go back to this after a considerable break. Lovely sounding album and it has been influential on numerous bands that have recently broken through. That being said, I do think there are a few low points between the standout tracks. Oliver James in particular 😕
3 stars. Too much mellow folk style for me. I will return to fleet foxes, but not to this album
I like this. Not sure if it's the album cover influencing me, but I'm getting vibes of medieval england while listening. Some of the guitar is beautiful, especially on Tiger Mountain Peasant Song. I'm surprised this is from the 2000s. I realised I knew a few of the songs towards the end there. Really good album.
Well, this is a nice surprise. I had not heard of the band and I don't recall ever hearing any of their music, and now I'm glad to be introduced to them. What an interesting blend of styles, and it all comes together so well. I plan to listen to their other work, too. Good stuff.
Not exactly my cup of tea
Lo escuché y ya no me acuerdo.... Pero ya lo retome y trae momentos muy interesantes
3 1/2
Never would have remembered this was from 2008. Perfectly enjoyable.
Folk
This is good, but I didn't really like it... kinda boring. But I can definitely appreciate it. The singer's voice wasn't the best. This is a tough one to rate...
Something I can appreciate. It's good music but not for me
not a type of music I am used to listening to, but pretty interesting, folksy and peaceful yet melancholic vibes, liked it for the most part (but I prefer Father John Misty solo).
Lots of hype for this album...5 🌟 from allmusic.com. I've listened a couple of times previously, nothing really caught my ear then and nothing changed on this listen. Fine music but not memorable for me. As an aside the program I use to manage my digital library picks random songs based on the album I listened to ...the song that came on after FF ended...Summer Song by James Yorkston was the most interesting song to me during my FF listening session 3 🌟
Not really my thing, but a very creative and nice album to listen to
3/5
Folky, twee and earnest. Plenty of swelling choral sections. Just a bit too pretentious and slow/boring for me though. I prefer my folk the upbeat kind.
Indie Folk at it's finest. White Winter Hymnal is banger but overall album lacks any edge.
Instruments were really good. Vocals seemed to be secondary. Was a good Monday morning drive time listen....
Never really looked at the cover art of this album before but the medieval vibe is definitely strong haha. White Winter Hymnal and Blue Ridge Mountains are always great, but as a whole this album was great for an easy listening/morning chill listen.
Behageligt og afslappende. Ragged Woods er faktisk ret dejlig
nijakie
I didn't listen to the full album, the first few songs are very catching. But I lost interested about 4 songs in.
It was objectively good, but I’m not a huge fan of this type of folk.
I like Fleet Foxes - but this album really didn't hit for me. It was very easy to listen to but nothing stuck out as memorable or requiring another listen. The best was White Winter Hymnal, really enjoyed the sound.
3/5 okayish album
This is an interesting one to review. Then vocals are quite good - Oliver James is a good example although I'm bound to be favourably disposed to that song based on the song name only. As for the music, on the one hand it has at times a bit of an Irish folk sound which I like. But on the other hand, many songs sound like a hymn you might hear in a church that doesn't have an organ. I can sense that there is something special here that I could probably figure out if, instrumentally, the tunes were in my wheelhouse. But they're not.
3.9
Nice harmonies, but songs are all pretty similar, I think.
Kuulosti osaavien muusikoiden hommilta, mutta ei oikein iskenyt. Jotenkin tuli sellainen fiilis, että nää vois kiertää firmojen bileissä tai sitten jossain SuomiLOVEssa. Ei häirinnyt ja varmasti joihinkin uppoaa kovastikin.
I have this album on CD. It's OK for an occasional listen when I'm in a mellow mood.
Enjoyed this. An old sound in a modern package.
Pleasant enough
Pleasant to listen to, but quite forgettable.
meh, but got better later on
An album I have listened to many times before. A very impressive and soothing album for me as the style of music is not often on my play list, making it a great escape. It's hard to believe that the main singer and songwriter was only 22 when this came out and which shows true individual talent and provides a hidden appreciation for this album that most might miss.
Ich mag diesen Hipster-Knabenchor ja gern, finde das auf Albumlänge inzwischen aber etwas zu eintönig. Trotzdem: wirklich schöne Musik!
Someone mentioned that the Fleet Foxes are kinda like a blend of CSNY and Beach Boys, both of who I don't like, specifically because of their \"glorious harmonies\". I know many of their fans will think this is blasphemous as their harmonies are their calling card. I didn't mind the instrumental songs and I can appreciate the strong production and musicmanship throughout and also the nice Flemish woodblock cover so I'll give this a 3
Bought this album, loved playing it driving back from work on summer nights
7/10
Not bad
Takes me back to a very specific post-college yearning. Sad, but pretty.
nostalgia
Pretty nice. 7/10
Pleasant harmonies and easy to listen to. Unfortunately not much stands out and makes it memorable. I like it as a pretty unique sound.
Typical early 2000s indie. Sounds like a mixture of Bon Iver and of monsters of men
One of those albums I put on and then a half hour later remember I'm listening to music. Entirely inoffensive, but I'm not seeing the art.
Some tracks left an impression, but overall delivers a tone that felt like it repeated itself too much.
Under the radar alt pop...not bad.
Pretty chill
Beetje basic folk albumpje, maar goed luisterbaar
I enjoy the vibe of this. Very folk. Almost jester-like. Get a little monotonous after awhile, but, pretty solid.
Some great songs on here. White Winter Hymnal is my favourite. 3.5
Pretty good. Inoffensive and decent background music, but nothing really grabbed me. Will listen again, it's the sort of thing that will grow on me, I think.
Bändi josta kaltaiseni indierockfanin pitäisi kai tykätä. Olen antanut tälle useita mahdollisuuksia aiemminkin mutta ei vaan oikein lähde. Ihan kivaa pääosin akustista fiilistelyä joka menee sisään toisesta korvasta ja ulos toisesta. Ylöspäin pyöristyvä 2,5 tällä kertaa.
Decent album. Would maybe listen to again under the right conditions. It was a little slow.
This album pretty much paid off what the cover art was promising. It's not something I would reach for frequently, but the folksy vibe strikes me sometimes. 3 stars.
i want to like this more.. it's fine.
Wonderful harmonies, naturally folksy, nothing too distinct, a Led Zeppelin feel sometimes, He Doesn't Know Why, Your Protector, and Blue Ridge Mountains were the most gripping
Requires more listening I guess, mediocre at the first go
Kind of makes me think if the Grateful Dead were really into choral and hymnal music. Peaceful. Great harmonies. Not really my style. Favorite tracks: "Ragged Wood", "Your Protector"
The production is crystal clear and the melodies are beautiful. However, essentially every song falls into the same form rut: Folky intro followed by two to four minutes of indie rock (especially the indie rock drums) (I say this as someone whose taste is shaped by The Suburbs). Because of that, I think it ultimately falls short of the earlier wave of British folk rock. That said, I may be seeing cliches where there are none, and I am very glad that music like this made it into the post-2000 mainstream. It would be better if it leaned further into what makes it interesting.
Not my cup of tea
I didn't listen to the whole thing, but I'll be honest and say I don't get it. They're talented, but I'm not interested. I don't like the far away vocals. I don't understand why this very 70s sounding group was even successful in 2008. Except for the resurgence of folk/hipster movement during/after that time. I guess this was an early part of that movement?
This one is pleasant enough albeit boring. It’s chill and well-produced, but nothing stands out about it. It reminds me of Coldplay, especially vocally, but without the hooks. It’s very innocuous: I don’t hate it and I don’t love it.
Medio pelo. Agradable al oido, pero no lo escucharia. Meh total. 5/10
This is a chill album, but I found it quite boring.
we really lived in a cultural wilderness in the late 00s, didn't we
Ok
No es mi tipo de musica, pero no esta mal
I always had that feeling that I was missing something by not jumping onto this wagon... But I can confirm now I wasn't missing much, it exactly as boring as I anticipated. I really like White Winter Hymnal... But the rest of the album is just ok... Maybe this is an album that sounds better in different seasons?
Schöne Momente, aber berührt mich über weite Strecken gar nicht.
Not really my speed
Have you ever come across a band where you think “if these guys played a party, that party would be bad.”? I checked my watch a few times. Too many times. Didn’t descend into the depths of phone-devouring hate.
To make soulful music you kind of need a soul. This comes off as a straight-to-coffeeshop-playlist production. Sits nicely in the background, passes the blends in the background check, but when it's the focus of the attention, it feels like constructed music, rather than expressed. Not a fan of bands that make me feel like their existence is to sell me something.
No me interesa el estilo
If I’ve learned anything from this list it’s that I apparently have no idea what makes good music. “The album garnered wide praise from critics, many of whom named it one of the best albums of the 2000s and one of the greatest debut albums of all time.” What?
How dirty must that bongwater be?
This is like unflavored pudding (not sure that's actually a thing) a blob of nothing, There is no form to this music, no hook, nothing even remotely interesting to grasp on to. There is nothing to like or dislike. It is entirely uninteresting.
It's well produced but incredibly boring. I am not a fan of the 2000's folk revival. It sounds like a commercial trying to sell me some kind of car I can use to take my mixed family (one boy, one girl) to some non-descript field so we can pick berries while the sun shines. The idea is nice, but it's artificial.
I'm on song 1 and already it feels like I've been listening to this for hours. It isn't bad but it is incredibly boring. It desperately tries to sell this fantasy of this perfect rural time/place that doesn't actually require labour. wants to romanticize something that doesn't exist and they have never known. Somehow using the painting from a Dutch Painter from the 16th century without purely for the aesthetic feels the most apt description of this album.
Meh
This fine. It reminds me of Iron and Wine but I prefer him. This is a 4/10 for me.
has some great songs, most are just weird, though
Can't believe I'm saying this but y'all should listen to less Neil Young
Pretentious and boring
I don’t know what I was expecting with this one but definitely not that As always with folk music, relatively pleasant to listen to. I think there’s some cool imagery being evoked and the theming’s pretty strong compared to some other folk albums we’ve gotten Same complaints I always have about the genre; boring, basically nothing interesting going on with instrumentation, and a pretty critical lack of variety. I wasn’t particularly impressed with the overall quality, which is kinda expected since it’s more of an indie album but I don’t think this is one where the lower quality plays in its favor. I hate to say “white man guitar” but that’s kinda just what it is I feel like I probably should like this more than I did, and I do think it’s interesting to see music like this show up in the 2000s and actually gain traction, but I just don’t care for this genre and that opinion is getting stronger and stronger with each album we listen to
Pleasant enough I guess. But I'm unlikely to listen to it again. I tossed White Winter Hymnal on the playlist, but not sure it'll stay.
Not really my thing. Started it was ok. Then it was annoying and went back to mildly ok.
Helt okej, men blir lite typ långtråkigt och stundtals ledsamt. Får lite typ Jose Gonzalez-vibbar men inte riktigt där heller. Blir 2 av 5, kanske pga dagsform.
3 - BAD
Not really for me. Found it dull and samey.
Probably a good folk album, unfortunately i don't really care for folk. Very samey and easy to not pay attention to.
Not for me.
Lovely production and arrangements, but the songs aren't particularly special.
Drivel
probably chill and etc but not my vibe at all.
Pretentious hipster shite. Not the worst thing I’ve heard on this list, but I won’t be listening again.
This might as well be the poster child for Indie bands.
really droned on, and all the songs sound the same
flojardopolis.
millenial music but not the good kind i'm sorry it did make me feel like i was in a celtic forest for a bit just a boring one
This was nice. Not sure I'll go back, but glad Ive gotten it at least once
weiß net, hat mich nicht abgeholt. Klang irgendwie alles gleich
Pastoral and gentle, beautiful melodies, wonderful production. This album has about as many edges as a ball, though. It's wonderful music, but it's very safe and gentle. It's also very predictable, which makes it forgettable. The biggest surprise was the acapella ending to "Oliver James". And then they ended on it. Good for a debut, I hope they do better. My Rating: 2/5
More less.
its nice, but very twee. Very 2008, quite boring
I like Fleet Foxes and already knew a few songs from this album, but the whole thing didn’t feel like extra special or remarkable to me. Just something you’d have in the background while doing something else.
Found it to be very average
Probably I need some time to rate this album. But right now it's only 2 stars. One of those in advance.
Millennial tedium.
I put the Fleet Foxes into a bin marked '2000s indie landfill' a long time ago so they're up against that with me. I will conceded that listenining to it whilst working on a complex coding problem was probably the wrong context, as it definitely has the air of 'headphones music'. I knew _White Winter Hymnal_, it's a song I've heard before and has never done anything for me, and whilst the album sounds well produced, it largely passed me by and on top of that, I find his voice a bit annoying. I feel 2 stars might be harsh but I don't want to give it 3
It was okay. Nothing special nor memorable. A bit quiet at times
I’m definitely biased because I already knew don’t like this particular subgenre of folk music. Maybe this group was the first or at least an early contributor to this wave, which makes the album more interesting from that perspective. On the other hand this sounds extremely similar to a ton of 2010s folk music so it’s difficult for me to be objective. 2/5.
Boah ne.
A : 2 ,White Winter Hymnal; If i lived in the woods its a 5 JL : 2 , Heard Them Stirring
Fleet Foxes just wasn’t for me. I can appreciate the beautiful harmonies and understand why so many people love this album, but it never really grabbed my attention. It’s well made, just far too folk-oriented and laid-back for my taste. I kept waiting for it to build momentum, but it never quite got there.
Very pastoral sounding album. Too ok to be bad but too boring to be good. Not my cup of tea.
I think if I were in the right mood I may dig this a bit more but today it just felt a little sleepy.
I mean, it’s chill. Too chill even.
I remember buying this when it came out, and being really into it. Don't think I ever saw them, but I was into other similar bands or artists at the time (The Tallest Man On Earth, Bon Iver, probably towards Mumford and Sons). It doesn't really age well - feels very silly, very twee, faux-peace and love stuff. Doesn't have the edge of My Morning Jacket (introduced to me by American Dad, Yim Yames, he makes Enya sound like a Russian couple arguing at a bowling alley). Nothing is as good as White Winter Hymnal, despite their best efforts. Perhaps I needed more hallucinogens to find the music deep enough to enjoy, now I can see right through its transparency.
Sounded beautiful; put me to sleep.
This is folk music, but despite my usual preferences, I didn't really like this. The album did feel like it could have come out in a previous decade, and it had a nomad-like feel. However, there wasn't much variation in the songs and I didn't feel like it went anywhere. "Meadowlarks" was more my speed in terms of a song I liked, though.
This was an unremarkable album.
I had to change my Spotify settings to listen to this because I have Fleet Foxes blacklisted. Looking from as objective a lens as I can, this isn't truely horrible, just annoying and pretentious.
Camp counselor camp fire music
not bad. needs more listens 2.5/5
There’s plenty to admire in the music department but I cannot get past the endless, annoying, droning vocals
'Stomp Clap Hey' stuff like this and Mumford & Sons irritates me. It's really close to styles of music I love, but it just feels smug, like privileged middle-class people cosplaying as proper folk artists. None of the songs on this grabbed me in any way or seemed to have any interesting energy.
These cats have all the makings of a really awesome group. The only thing they lack is good songs. Sorry but way overrated
I was never a fan. I found it whimsical and too polished and not in a good way
Extremely meh
I skimmed a few I HAD TO
They can't be blamed for the fact that they were one of the harbingers of 'Stomp Clap Hey'. I was definitely in their intended demographic in 2008 and I remember White Winter Hymnal. Now almost 20 years later I'm trying to separate all of the baggage of that era while appraising this. People that weren't around or paying attention during that time have to remember that all at the same time there was this, Grizzly Bear, My Morning Jacket, etc. I don't know how much of it has to be considered 'essential listening'. I don't know if any of it qualifies to be honest. The reverb, it's simply too much. Especially when the acoustic guitar is mixed fairly dry and then you have vocals coming in like the guy is standing on one end of an empty VFW hall with the mic on the other. What are we doing? There's like one part of 'He Doesn't Know Why' where the vocals break a little bit that I kind of like because it's like the one lyric that feels genuinely expressed. Also the drums from this era of floor toms and tambourines and probably using those little soft mallet things on the cymbals. Sometimes taste comes from moderation.
2.5
Pleasant enough, but won't be making it onto my regulars.
Folsky woodsy banal drivel about peasants and mountains as performed by some Seattle city-slickers. No feeling no meaning just the sound of bored suits buying different instruments and effects libraries.
Very boring to me.
Meh
This feels like an album steeped in folk traditions, with nods to the rustic folk of the 60s and 70s as well as chamber folk. While its influences are clear, it never rises above them. It's often very pretty, especially when it leans on vocal harmonies. I like the "tell me anything you want, any old lie will do" part on "Ragged Wood," but the lyrics are usually not all that striking. The songs can be a bit busy - I'd rather they focus on one guitar line than have all these backing elements. "Blue Ridge Mountains" stands out as a song that evolves and really opens up, but many of the others just settle into one zone. This one got a lot of hype upon release and it's hard for me to tell why. It's a comfy retreat to classic folk sounds, but artists like Joanna Newson and Sufjan Stevens were doing much more interesting things in the genre around this time.
i cant even remember what this album looked like let alone sounded like / 5
надо понимать о чем поется тогда наверное зайдет а так атмосферно и приятно не могу оценить
Listenable
This probably goes so hard if you run away to live in a forest
Dull af
Just okay
Decent folk, but kinda bland.
estuvo bueno pero me aburrio un poquito. capaz porq era muy lineal y no le di mucha bola 2 estrellas y media
Bon album pour le monde qui mettent yinque un p'tit peu de poivre dans leur assiette sinon c'est trop épicé. C'est bien exécuté mais je peux pas m'empêcher d'avoir le feeling qu'y'a quelque chose de malhonnête. 2.49 étoiles de manger fade bien cuisiné.
See why its so popular, but honestly sounds like the most bland, mainstream appealing form of music to me, without any rough edges. Was looking forward to finally having some indie in here, but was sadly disappointed.
Some good sounds but it really doesn't speak to me.
Bucolic, pleasant in places, but didn’t really interest me. Quite bland.
Good harmonies and in places a good sound, but the singing was a bit like chanting that, for me, got a annoying/boring. The music wasn't unpleasant.
American folk? I was expecting CCR meets Poco but got this bland drivel, it very quickly became background noise. It had no real saving graces.
This sounds like the time hipsters, pale ale, moustaches on fingers and pulled pork were in. It's not awful, it's well produced, but it's so far removed from my tastes that it just sounds like boring music from what I remember being a terrible time.
Two duds in a row
Is this considered stomp clap hey music? Not sure. This was very popular in the early oughts indie circles when other indie folks artists broke out big like Bon Iver and Wilco. I probably haven’t listened to this in over a decade so let’s try. It’s fine. Good vocals and cute production. A bit forgettable throughout but fine. Two stars I guess.
Listens: 3 Standout Tracks: ? Compared to some of the stuff I've had on the List, this album has, on paper, good listen counts. I know those can be juked, but I tend to take it at face value if we're not talking top ten most popular artists in the world. My point being, people seem to like this. It clearly has wider appeal than, for example, Fugazi's Repeater, who I just listened to a few albums ago. It's also not Beatles material either, but for an album from 2008, it has 7 songs with over a million listens. I do not care much for this album. I don't hate it, but on just about every song, where I think something interesting is going to happen, or when I hope the song is going to go in a particular direction, it doesn't, and I'm left disappointed/deflated and wanting more. Most of the songs are short, so by the time you start to get a "lift-off" moment, the song is just about over. It's just not captivating to me.
This was pleasant enough, but I don't see going out of my way to listening to it again.
It got off to a rough start as I really disliked the first song "Sun It Rises". Then, I kind of loved "White Winter Hymnal". Eventually, it all started to sound very samey, and I lost interest. Not terrible, but nothing I'd ever return to... except "Hymnal".
Well-produced, but, well, boring. 🥱 4/10 Acceptable
It has shades of mountain folk music but it seems like the people who made it are cosplaying mountain folk? That's kinda lame.
What happens when people who own live, laugh, love artwork decide they want to listen to interesting music. This must be what purgatory is like
I zoned out for most of this.
Not my cup of tea.
White winter hymnal always makes me think of when pretty in plaid (an all girls a cappella group at alma, Sam) did it at a Christmas concert. Specifically, Grace Sutherland. I wonder what she’s up to. Probably a wonderful mother to three strapping young dairy farmer boys. Anyway, I really don’t like indie at all
This is commercial folk. It's pretty, with lovely harmonies, but there is little substance in the instrumentation and each note is too perfectly placed. It's wannabe pastoral, the anthem of every millionaire family that opens a gentleman farm to connect with nature. It's inoffensive, and if you like it, that's fine, but not for me
Proper twee girls stuff but in the worst way.
Feels like the whole Girls soundtrack basically. A bit too wishy-washy for my taste.
I did not think it was very interesting.
Music for a funeral
Way emo kinda boring.
not really my style. it sounds very likable: clear lyrics, basic instruments and relatable themes. but nothing strikes me. i enjoyed it but it’s just “any” album
Liked the acoustic well enough but the vocals in this wore on me pretty quickly.
Bored by them then, bored by them now. White Winter Hymnal is an aberration though. In love with that one.
Has a certain bland quality
2 out of 5 I was going to give it 1 star only because this genre is not for me. Too slow and emotional. But then a few songs sounded pretty good and reminded me of Hozier.
This was an interesting listen. I REALLY enjoy the reverb and effects on the vocals, felt very Genesis or Yes like. The first half kept my attention, then the second half put me to sleep. Wow was that repetitive. Album art alone gives it an extra half star.
Not my Jam!!!
Most albums, after the first song you've got a pretty good idea where they're going with the music on that album. Fleet Foxes here offer no surprises. Not that surprises are necessary or desired, but... I got bored. I had missed this album when it came out in the oughts, but now that I know, can't say I missed much.
So this is a weird album for me. When I listen to it it reminds me enough of My Morning Jackets It Still Moves album that I think I enjoy Fleet Foxes. They both have the vocal ranges and recording method for vocals. I do enjoy My Morning Jacket. I don't enjoy Fleet Foxes. I think I want to but it's just not there for me. My wife said it's a good album for a rainy day where you don't do anything more than read and maybe the dishes.
this style of music is to folk what metal is to punk. it sounds kind of similar but it’s a bit baseless and the lyrics are nonsense. it’s fine but it lacks substance
Pleasant, but like a lot of music from this era, absolutely unexciting. I’m old enough that most music from this era either passed me by or I may only be vaguely aware of. In this case I’ve heard the name of the band, but never knowingly listened to any of their music. And, well, meh. I didn’t even think about a second listen this morning.
Folks old country to me.
cleeres sans la magie
Middle of the road softness for the elderly
Sounded like every other folk album. Harmonys mixed with boring guitar. Nothing unique.
Not my thing
I didn't like it when it came out. I still don't like it.
Nice background music for woodworking or if you’re a soft handed beard grooming, cobbler shoe hipster.
cute
Started off interesting 3 stars but was zoned out of it by the end.
So bissi Country Gejaule irgendwie Idk xD
a person can listen to this, I guess.
This one really made an impact on me when it came out, but I suppose at any given time there’s some sort of Folk Revival going on, sweeping up young men who are convincing themselves they are getting old. At times I like the way this is produced. It’s got its moments throughout. Mostly just a relic though.
For some reason, I've always confused this band with The War On Drugs, even though musically they have virtually no connection. Probably because I just find both bands boring. Here's their self-titled debut album, which journalists raved about — and there you have it, an 87 on Metacritic is no joke. It's less than forty minutes long, but those forty minutes felt like over an hour to me. Perhaps it's because all the songs follow the same pattern — acoustic guitar, bass drum, and drawn-out, church-like chants. The cover art also conveys this mood; listening to it makes you feel like a lumberjack living in the 16th century. Mumford & Sons, if they were dull, basically. It's probably a decent release, just not my thing.
meh