Reviews (page 5 of 15)
The harmonies throughout the album are so satisfying to listen to. Overall a great album, not sure if this is folk or indie or whatever genre, but it sure is lovely and easy to listen to. White Winter Hymnal is phenomenal.
Oh, the harmonies. And the White Winter Hymnal, of course, is astounding. I like the album cover as well.
8/10 Best songs: Sun It Rises, White Winter Hymnal, Your Protector Someone in another review states it quite nicely: "mainstream Appalachian affectation." The album is choral folk music - lots of vocal harmonies, country influence, sounds like it could be played by a group of camp counselors around the campfire. That's not to say that I don't like this album - because I do, it's great. I never listened to Fleet Foxes at the time, despite being very into indie music, but they've stood the test of time.
me lembro um pouco The Lumineers
they know what they’re doing but too folky for me
Chill, choral folk music that sounds like it was made in a government lab.
generally speaking i am put off by music that sounds like it takes place by a campfire, within earshot of a log cabin, or in or around a mountain. for some reason this is good shit though. maybe i dont get enough folk exposure so this mainstream appalachian affectation feels authentic to me? i think the album is missing some kind of wow factor or big standout moments for me to really adore it but as is it's a consistent and special vibe for mostly the whole runtime. I've heard Blue Ridge Mountains a hundred times and it's still great but He Doesn't Know Why was surprisingly lovely
Awesome album. I thought it would be a situation where the hits are amazing but the rest of the album mushes into the same samey thing, but nah this whole thing was actually great and distinct. Blue Ridge Mountains great song 8.6/10
I really enjoyed this one. Hauntingly beautiful, poignant, and reflective for me.
muy cuquito, disco para escuchar con una chimenea delante y una mantita para protegerte del frío. además, investigar sobre este disco me ha traído cotilleo de father john misty así que estupendo
Pretty chill
I'll search for comprehensive information about Fleet Foxes' self-titled debut album to provide you with an in-depth review covering all the aspects you mentioned. Now let me search for more specific information about the album's critical reception, production details, and musical analysis to give you a comprehensive review. Now I have gathered comprehensive information about Fleet Foxes' self-titled debut album. Let me provide you with an in-depth review covering all the aspects you requested. --- # **Fleet Foxes** (2008) — In-Depth Album Review ## Overview Released on June 3, 2008, **Fleet Foxes** is the self-titled debut studio album by the Seattle-based indie folk band. The album emerged from the Pacific Northwest music scene and quickly became a defining statement of the late-2000s indie folk revival. Recorded primarily in band members' homes and basement spaces with producer **Phil Ek** (known for his work with Built to Spill and The Shins), the album represents a remarkable achievement in DIY production values meeting ambitious artistic vision. --- ## **Music & Arrangement** ### Harmonic Architecture The most immediately striking element of *Fleet Foxes* is its **vocal harmony arrangements**, which draw heavily from **Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys'** layered approach, as well as **Crosby, Stills & Nash** . Frontman **Robin Pecknold** developed his harmonic proficiency by obsessively studying Beach Boys box sets and outtakes, practicing stacking harmonies for hours on his four-track recorder as a teenager . This technical dedication manifests in the album's cathedral-like vocal textures. The arrangements are **complex and unconventional**—songs often shift through multiple movements and time signature changes rather than following standard verse-chorus structures . Tracks like "Sun It Rises" and "Tiger Mountain Peasant Song" demonstrate sophisticated fingerpicking patterns and modal tunings that create an **ancient, almost medieval quality** while remaining accessible . ### Instrumentation The album features a rich acoustic palette: **12-string and 6-string acoustic guitars, mandolin, pump organ, keyboards, and sparse but effective percussion**. The band placed guitar amplifiers in Native American tipis for aesthetic purposes during recording , signaling their commitment to creating a specific atmospheric world. The instrumentation serves the songs' pastoral themes without ever feeling merely decorative. --- ## **Production** ### The Phil Ek Factor Producer **Phil Ek** played a crucial role in shaping the album's sound. Having first met Pecknold when the singer was just 16, Ek helped the band record early demos and used his industry connections to shop them to labels . The album was recorded over the course of a year in various domestic spaces—Pecknold's parents' basement, keyboardist Casey Wescott's living room—before Ek mixed the results . Ek's production philosophy emphasized **natural sounds captured through judicious microphone positioning rather than heavy EQ or compression** . The album is drenched in **EMT plate reverb**, creating the cavernous, cathedral-like ambience that became the band's signature . However, Ek later admitted that some tracks on the debut had "a little bit too much reverb," which sometimes clouded Pecknold's voice rather than enhancing it . ### Recording Context The album was entirely **self-funded** before label involvement, with band members recording between shifts at their day jobs . Pecknold suffered from illness during the sessions, which affected some vocal takes, and he continued rewriting and rearranging songs up until the final mixing session—completing the album at one point, then entirely revising and re-recording it . This perfectionism resulted in a remarkably cohesive final product. --- ## **Lyrics & Themes** ### Pastoral Romanticism Robin Pecknold's lyrics on *Fleet Foxes* are characterized by **a yearning for a long-vanished, perhaps entirely fictional pastoral way of life** . Nature functions as a unifying character throughout—mountains, rivers, seasons, and rural landscapes serve as both setting and emotional metaphor. The lyrics have **"the look and feel of mid-century American poems—direct, conversational, and flecked with an emotional urgency verging on the surreal"** . There's an inwardness to the songs, but also an awareness of others and a fear of navel-gazing. The speakers are wary of being perceived as putting on airs . ### Key Themes - **Transience and mortality**: Lines like "Young today, old as a railroad tomorrow / Days are just drops in the river to be lost always" (from the *Sun Giant* EP, which shares this album's sensibility) capture the Pecknoldian obsession with time's passage - **Isolation and memory**: Many songs hinge on the realization that the speaker is alone and the past is a place to which he can never return - **Nature as sanctuary**: The album offers "a hot bath for the brain" with limited mention of modern technological life, serving as an escape from contemporary anxieties ### Lyrical Highlights - **"White Winter Hymnal"**: A circular, winter-themed song with vivid imagery of blood on snow and turning seasons - **"Tiger Mountain Peasant Song"**: Narrative-driven lyrics with a mysterious, almost mythic quality - **"Oliver James"**: A haunting closer that references earlier songs in the album, ending with just vocals that "leave the listener in awe" --- ## **Influence & Legacy** ### Impact on Indie Folk *Fleet Foxes* is widely credited as **"a true introduction to the indie-folk genre"** and a "definitive statement in the burgeoning indie folk scene" . Released from Seattle, it helped establish the Pacific Northwest as a center for this sound alongside artists like **The Decemberists, Iron & Wine, and Sufjan Stevens** . The album's success—receiving **"universal acclaim" with an 87/100 Metacritic score** —paved the way for the mainstream breakthrough of similar artists like **Mumford & Sons, The Lumineers, and Bon Iver** in the following years . ### Critical Recognition - **The Guardian** described it as "a landmark in American music, an instant classic" - **Mojo** awarded it the seldom-given "Instant Classic" label - Ranked on multiple "best of the 2000s" and "greatest debut albums" lists - **Uncut** magazine awarded it their inaugural Uncut Award for "the most rewarding album of the past 12 months" ### Artistic Influence The album's visual aesthetic—using a section of **Pieter Bruegel the Elder's 1559 painting *The Netherlandish Proverbs*** as cover art—established a template for merging fine art with indie music packaging . The painting's depiction of peasant life with hidden proverbial meanings mirrors the album's layered lyrical approach . --- ## **Pros** ✅ **Harmonic Innovation**: The vocal arrangements are genuinely breathtaking, representing some of the most sophisticated harmonies in modern folk music ✅ **Production Atmosphere**: The cavernous, natural reverb creates an immersive world that feels both ancient and immediate ✅ **Cohesion**: Despite complex arrangements and multiple recording locations, the album maintains remarkable thematic and sonic unity ✅ **Songcraft**: Tracks like "White Winter Hymnal," "Ragged Wood," and "Tiger Mountain Peasant Song" have become modern folk standards ✅ **Emotional Resonance**: The lyrics balance abstract imagery with genuine emotional urgency, creating songs that reveal new layers over repeated listens ✅ **DIY Achievement**: The self-funded, home-recorded nature of the album makes its polish and ambition even more impressive ✅ **Gateway Quality**: The album serves as an accessible entry point to deeper folk traditions while remaining contemporary --- ## **Cons** ❌ **Vocal Reverb Overuse**: As Phil Ek himself noted, some tracks suffer from excessive reverb that occasionally obscures Pecknold's voice and lyrical clarity ❌ **Lyrical Opacity**: While poetic, the abstract nature of many lyrics can make emotional connection challenging—"you never quite find the same thing" when returning to songs, which can be disorienting ❌ **Repetitive Textures**: Some listeners find the album's consistent mid-tempo, acoustic-heavy arrangements cause songs to "blend together" after extended listening ❌ **Lack of Variety**: The album largely operates within a single emotional register—pastoral, contemplative, harmonious—which may feel monochromatic to some ❌ **Preciousness**: Critics have noted the album can feel "inauthentic and plastic" to some listeners—"folk music for people from the suburbs that want to cosplay as working class" ❌ **Limited Dynamic Range**: The constant beauty and harmonic richness can paradoxically become exhausting; there's little rawness or ugliness to provide contrast ❌ **Accessibility vs. Depth**: While immediately beautiful, some argue the album prioritizes surface-level aesthetic pleasure over deeper conceptual or experimental ambitions (something later albums would address) --- ## **Conclusion** *Fleet Foxes* (2008) stands as **one of the most accomplished debut albums of the 21st century**, a work that revitalized harmonic folk music for a generation. Its synthesis of Beach Boys-inspired vocal arrangements, pastoral lyricism, and Pacific Northwest indie rock sensibility created a template that influenced countless artists throughout the 2010s. The album's strengths—its **breathtaking harmonies, immersive production, and cohesive vision**—far outweigh its weaknesses, though its **uniform prettiness and occasional over-reliance on reverb** can limit its emotional range. It functions best as a complete experience, a "comfort album" that offers refuge from modern chaos through its constructed world of natural beauty and harmonic richness. While later Fleet Foxes albums (*Helplessness Blues*, *Crack-Up*, *Shore*) would expand the band's sonic and thematic ambitions, the debut remains their **purest statement**—a perfectly realized vision of indie folk that sounds as fresh today as it did upon release. It earns its place in the canon of essential 2000s albums not through innovation alone, but through the **sheer quality of its execution** and the **emotional world it creates**. **Overall Rating**: 8.5/10 — A modern classic with minor flaws that don't diminish its achievement.
Офигеть.. этот альбом мне прям подошел по настроению. Одновременно акустика и гармонии. Спокойствие без криков и всё такое. Без барабанов агрессивных , зато там был тамбурин офигеть
A little slow but lead to some vibing jams. 4 stars
I had to listen to this one a few times to decide how i feel about it. Turns out I really like it for studying/working in the early mornings. It's nice, light, almost airy sometimes. It's varied and not sleepy, but easy and chill. Big like.
I really liked this it’s just something about the vocals
Favorite track(s): White Winter Hymnal, Ragged Wood, He Doesn't Know Why, Blue Ridge Mountains
I had heard several of these songs before and was pretty excited to listen to this album. Unfortunately, I had really already heard all the songs worth listening to. Fleet Foxes just have this wonderful sound that kind of washes over you. Not as excellent as I hoped, but still a great album Favorite Songs: White Winter Hymnal, Ragged Wood, Blue Ridge Mountains
I loved the guitar work throughout the album, it really scratched my brain. This album is somber and melancholic, but beautiful. The music pulled my attention in close for the first half od the album, but I got lost somewhere towards the end. It was still enjoyable, but it didn't stand out as much. I would not recommend listening to it if you are already feeling sad because otherwise you may end up curled up in your bed with little desire to do anything except be sad.
Red As Strawberries In The Summertime 1001 Albums Generator 222 (2/6/2026) Of course, I know White Winter Hymnal. I have also heard their album, Helplessness blues, which was a beautiful exploration of that moment in your early 20's when you realize you're not a kid anymore. The world is not what you imagined it to be, but you must needs adapt to it. Now, I could talk about that album all day, but today, I have Fleet Foxes' debut, self-titled album. I was surprised at the rock elements and almost stomp-and-holler style indie in the first half of the album. The opening song, Sun It Rises, is one of my favorites, featuring the reverb-laden vocal harmonies that I love, with a progressive song structure and interesting chord progressions. White Winter Hymnal is Fleet Foxes' biggest song, and I can understand why. It's super catchy and simple, but the vocal harmonies, again, are amazing. Honestly, I have no notes about any of the first 6 songs, which showcase the best of Fleet Foxes, from their folk rock leanings to their more pure indie folk sound. While I still think the second half is weaker, it grew on me with repeated listens, especially your Protector and Blue Ridge Mountains. Overall, I still like Helplessness Blues a bit more, but Fleet Foxes started their career quite strong. 4/5. Favs: Sun It Rises White Winter Hymnal Ragged Wood Least Fav: Heard Them Stirring
pleasant
A lovely debut album with a great medieval art cover. WWH has always been a favorite and I've only heard a few other songs from this album in the past. It definitely deserved the hype when it came out but sadly this band peaked here.
Bangers
This was fun
Intriguing. Initially I thought it would just be another indie album, but the medieval vibe of the harmonies and the interesting arrangement choices give it something special. Honestly, it was 'nice' rather than amazing, but I appreciate them doing something different and doing it well, so it gets a 4.
Sort of a modern indie rock fairport convention. Love the tone
overall very pleasant, warm, and cohesive // strong old folk / americana feel, especially in vocal harmonies // simpler emotionally and structurally than some earlier folk traditions, though a bit more complex than something like the kossoy sisters, for example // clear roots-revival intention rather than reinvention // songwriting leans heavily on pastoral imagery and familiar progressions // beauty comes from texture and harmony more than risk or surprise // occasionally feels too reverent // careful preservation instead of exploration // i enjoy it, but wish it pushed further or introduced a clearer new idea // contemporary folk done well, just not particularly adventurous
The book I'm reading referred to Mumford & Sons as "Butt Rock Bon Iver."* Fleet Foxes would have been more fitting, though not as fun to say. It's hard to be mad about all the stomp-and-clap this helped launch when you listen to the record. The layered harmonies, the arrangements; I think you'd have to be pretty broken inside to not feel some joy listening to it. (I myself am not broken at all.) Still, while it's clear Pecknold (at like 21 years old, by the way) had talent coming out of his ears, and the taste to make this type of music not feel TOO much like a costume, he later built on his talent and taste with a singular songwriting perspective. That's where the music became not just joyful, but deeply cathartic. I don't begrudge this album being here, especially for its influence. But it's hard to forget how much better Helplessness Blues is, and it isn't here. *Such Great Heights: The Complete Cultural History of the Indie Rock Explosion by Chris Deville. Great little pop culture read.
Lovely voice. Lovely instrumentation. Lovely production. Just an overall lovely record.
i like it
I have this on CD and think it's a great easy listening indie album
solid album, i dont know why i liked it but i did
I enjoyed this record more than expected. I wonder if if feels, at times, a little insincere in terms of lyrics. The music was pretty good for this kind of thing.
Album Review 060 Fleet Foxes by Fleet Foxes (2008) Rating 4/5 Fleet Foxes is a quite lovely album but one I need to give full attention to appreciate. Perfect listening for a slow Sunday morning in winter. It’s hard to believe that this is their debut as it sounds so accomplished and complete.
Such a beautiful album to listen to. When you think of albums to listen to on a Sunday morning, this album comes to the top of the list. The harmonies wake you up just as the sun is coming up. This is one I can listen to regularly. Biggest Hit - White Winter Hymnal Biggest Miss (if I had to choose) - Meadowlarks Hidden Gem - Quiet Houses
Winter Hymnal is incredible
This is a good album. not sure it should be in the 1001 but I enjoyed it.
I lerrrrrrv this album. Simple and gorgeous every minute through
I’m quite excited for this album! Something that was released when I was alive, so I count it as modern. I’m quite excited to listen as I don’t think I’ve listened to folk since I had a friend who was obsessed with it in middle school. Starting off, I love the guitar! That folky melody played on electric at the end of Sun it Rises was so so cool! White Winter Hymnal had some cool effects, and while it wasn’t quite my thing, I enjoyed what it was going for. Ragged Wood was so good! The marching drums the whole time were awesome. It’s very early 2000s indie, and for once I appreciate that. Lyrically, Tiger Mountain… was really gorgeous. Music wise too, I just really noticed the lyrics. It’s been going in and out on whether I enjoy the vocals or not, but I think this track has made me decide I like them. I liked the sound of Heard them Stirring. This album reminds me of Springtime where the snow is melting and life finally feels free again. Maybe it’s just that it’s finally above 0 degrees today and decent out, but I think it’s the album. The more somber start of your protector going back into that faster rhythmic guitar was a good listen! Meadowlarks was alright, but not my favourite. Blue ridge mountains was alright. I didn’t have too many feelings about it. Oliver James was a decent closer, but I didn’t feel it was exactly right for the rest of the album. To wrap up, 4/5 ⭐️, 7/10. I thought this was a very good album and a fun listen, especially in a genre I hadn’t really listened to since my preteens. I enjoyed some of the early 2000s indie sounds, and thought that it was a very cohesive idea! 29/1089
I really enjoyed this. I'd read about them and in my mind they were not as good as this album turned out. It's not really my cup of tea but it was good.
Folky, Proggy goodness.
The embodiment of hipster music, pretty good tho
First time listening to this group. Love the harmony!
My coworker didn't show up for work today; I found out partway through this album that her father is close to passing and she took the week off to be with him. The second time I was listening to this album, one of my best friends was existentially contemplating the mortality of his mother. My first proper Bear Trap of the list; just a day or two before, I had predicted this album's presence on this list, and here it is! I had heard Helplessness Blues before, but I don't remember it much, and most of my knowledge of Fleet Foxes can unfortunately be boiled down to "the band that Father John Misty played drums for once." Listening to this album, I think Fleet Foxes are one of many bands which end up becoming victims of that which came after them; the twangy indie folk sound Fleet Foxes are doing so well on this album has been ground down by countless bands in the near-two decades since. This is not to discount the band, however; their nature-focused poetry combined with these near-choral folk instrumentals make me feel like I'm standing in the middle of a meadow. The album is beautiful from top-to-bottom, with a lot of memorable songs that stick with me; it just takes a second for me to get back into the vibe this album is dealing in. But if I'm ever walking through a forest with sunlight filtering in through the leaves, this is the album I'm playing. Highlights: White Winter Hymnal, Ragged Wood, Tiger Mountain Peasant Song, He Doesn't Know Why, Your Protector, Meadowlarks, Oliver James
I've heard this a lot before. I didn't like this at first as it's the chamber pop element and the fact that it is too samey in production and vocals. The production is still a problem. It's too produced. But this time was my most enjoyable listen. Can't fault it for atmosphere, even if massively produced. And lots of the melody is beautiful. Your Protector remains the standout. But He Doesn't Know Why, White Winter Hymal etc are lovely too. Agree with another review l that this is "safe" folk for the suburbs. It's folk in the Mumford and Sons mould. But this is at least far more enjoyable to listen to. And (presumably) less full of dick heads.
didn’t know them before, another great new find from this list
I do like this a lot. Very folk Americana style. The soundscapes are lovely and it all fits together nicely. Nicely might be my main complaint though. I think I prefer my folk to be a bit riskier, a bit of an edge to it. Tell me a story about failed love, or murder, or both. There is longing in this, but the nice arrangements don't really give the emotion I wanted I guess. I disagree with some reviews comparing it to Mumford et al. It was a similar time when folk became a bit mainstream again, but this feels more like a folky animal collective to me than the stomp stomp clap of other bands at the time. I feel like if you want a British band equivalent there are elements here that the coral do well, but the coral are more whimsical and therefore I'd argue more interesting too. Pretty solid, will put on again and get lost in the soundscape if not the emotion.
Fleer Foxes makes me nostalgic for a time I'm not sure I was even a part of. I guess listening to them just evokes a sort of bliss, and happier less stressful times. Their music also makes me think of some of my favorite people who I know love them. An all-time indie folk record that is endlessly listenable.
This was a surprise. Good album.
• White Winter Hymnal is a really beautiful sounding song. I don't think I've ever heard the original version before, but the acoustic guitar and booming drums really elevate the vocals. • Ragged Wood is another nice sounding track • The vocal harmonies have been amazing throughout the album. Quiet Houses feels like the culmination of that • He Doesn't Know Why's chord progression feels familiar, but I'm not sure where from • Heard Them Stirring is a nice (mostly) instrumental While I got a bit tired of the album towards the end, it was a really nice listen. The vocals are the obvious highlight through the whole thing, but the gentle instrumentals are all very pleasant. This is only the second album I've gotten from the 2000's, but I think it'll stick out as one of the more unique ones of the era. Favourite song: White Winter Hymnal
Beautiful, simple sound. Kind of like Beach House, but more acoustic, makes me feel all warm and comforted inside :)
Fav tracks: sun it rises, white winter hymnal, ragged wood, tiger mountain peasant song, your protector, meadowlarks This album was a pleasant listen as this winter storm barrels down on my town. there’s curious whimsy and melancholy intertwined, yet it also feels soooo tumblr-hipster 2011 like crazy. Nostalgic and warm, I didn’t realize how folk-inspired this album was. The rhythm/percussion section is evident in their folk roots. Glad I had the time to really listen to this album !!
Solid 4
The harmonies riddled throughout this album are a blessing to any person's ear. While sometimes it can be overtly poppy (Ragged Wood, Quiet Houses) and overtly vocal (many points throughout the entire album), Fleet Foxes self titled debut delivers a feeling of nostalgia to anyone interested in humanity's folksy past of living off the land somewhere deep in the woods with nothing but some oxen, a pig and whoever else belongs to your religious cult of choice. Post Script: I once had the pleasure of getting stoned in an art studio while someone loudly unwantingly sang "He Doesn't Know Why". I haven't seen this person in over a decade, but I'm still annoyed.
7/10
This is very great, but the inclusion of this album is funny to me. Fleet Foxes went on to make Helplessness Blues, which is an even better album. That album has way more memorable songs and better arrangements, by a long shot. Yet this is the band's (only) entry on this list, which is just weird.
Muito interessante. Gostei. Sonoridade leve e suave, não me sou agressivo aos ouvidos. Surpreendente
Wonderful vibey album. Winter. Mornings. Coziness.
Love ‘White Winter Hymnal’ Easy listening! Nicee
I loved the album when it came out and played it incessantly. I still listen to a few tracks somewhat regularly. A classic.
Great album, not my favorite from fleet foxes but there were a lot of new listens for me in this one. Very whimsical and upbeat.
Je m'attendais à rien et même j'allais insulter l'album car je déteste les albums qui portent le nom du groupe Et au final c'était un super album !
Très bonne surprise !
White Winter Hymnal // Ragged Wood // Quiet Houses // Blue Ridge Mountains //
BOM e honesto album
Pika
4.5
Indie rock honesto
Still like the album, but I feel like this one was overproduced. A few mistakes and/or feeling would move this up from a four to a five star album for me. It just sounds too clean!
This is a delightful album - a springtime paradise of breezy indie folk, alternating between more melancholy songs and absolute bangers. Very much appeals to many of my musical sensibilities.
Thought this was an instant 5 from previous listens but unfortunately I believe it is actually a 4. There is a spot in the middle of the album that I think is fairly weak and I actually found it feeling a little samey in places. Still great.
What sets Fleet Foxes apart from their contemporary folk groups is that the compositions they write and production is actually interesting. I do wish some songs were better shaped though; Tiger Mountain Peasant Song for example has an amazing progression and melody throughout the verse, but approaching the chorus it ruins it by too harsh vocals and a bland vibe. Will be listening to more of them though. Album art is fire
a classic that I used to listen to in college! Love this album except for the last song lol
Pretty solid Winter Hymenal was the best song
it's wonderful. very cozy and perfect to have listened to while walking to the library this morning in the 30-degree weather. White Winter Hymnal is a classic, none of the other songs stood out as amazing but the entire album as a piece of art is great and so cohesive
it was hard to not give this a 5 based on pure reactionary tendencies. i saw we rolled Fleet Foxes, i got so excited, i fucking *love* this band, so i wanted to click 5!!! it is a great album!!! but then i remembered that for me, Helplessness Blues is a 5, and I like this one less, so it can't be a 5. sad. but it's ok. a 4 is still great. not to be annoying about it, but this was one of my Formative AlbumsTM. i had a close friend in high school whose older brother introduced me to Ragged Wood (and by extension the rest of FF's catalogue). he also introduced me to St. Vincent, so that's cool. i must have listened to this album backwards and forwards a hundred times in the coming months. he drove me home one night and was like "u gotta hear blue ridge mountains dude it'll change your life" and like yeah that's dramatic but it also isn't incorrect Ragged Wood became one of the first songs i learned how to play (with my friend's brother no less) that really filled me with some zest while playing. other songs i was like yeah cool okay here's how to play this, but Ragged Wood was just so much fucking fun to jam out to, especially with another guitarist in the room! the energy is this album is, to me, fairly unique. each song taken individually isn't doing a whole lot to raise the roof, but taken together, i think this album is full of momentum, dynamism, and compelling instrumentation that ranges from church hymnals to folk to alt rock. this band is so talented.
I really liked this one. Taylore always plays White Winter Hymnal and I think that song is gorgeous, which led me to listen to this album for the first time about a week or two ago. I'm also a fan of Oliver James. I normally do some reading about the artist or the history surrounding the album when listening to them, but this time around I did not. That being said, idk much about this album or artist but I really enjoyed it.
Because of Bob Weir's passing, I've been thinking about bands I enjoy that are influenced by the Dead. Fleet Foxes came to mind pretty quickly (I feel like they were unfairly left off of the 'Day of the Dead' covers album from 2016). There are some pretty obvious allusions to the Dead throughout this one. RIP Bobby. Side note, my brain gets overtly confused by the seasons this album makes me think of -- it's part winter, lots of spring, and a little bit of summer all in one.
One of my personal favourites of all time, it’s not perfect but I don’t care. Only 4 instead of 5 as it does get a bit samey towards the end.
Everything old is new again. Some stellar songs in here.
I enjoyed this sound, mix of old and modern styles.
Very good sounding album with great songs. No real bangers though, but I definitely had a good time.
Wasn’t sold after the first track, Ragged Wood piqued my interest pretty quickly though, as did He Doesn’t Know Why. Quite liked the majority of this, even if it isn’t something I’d listen to normally.
i wasn’t expecting to like this as much as i did, lots of fun and i forgot the main singers name but he has a great voice, i might listen to one of their other albums
god it feels like everyone is wearing flannel and a beanie again
Did not expect i would like this, but i was wrong. This album really surprised me
Gostei.
Started of really slow and i thought i wasn’t gonna like it but it gradually started flowing. The lyrics we’re really good too
Trodde jag skulle vara rätt uttråkad, men icke. Tycker det här är väldigt vackert. Jordigt och 70-taligt, de hatar inte Crosby, stills & Nash. Blir fan 4a igen här.
var besatt av det här albumet 2010…. såg dem live på way out west och blev fullkomligt trollbunden…… femma då, fyra nu
who knew I knew more than one song!
I've saved songs from this album in the past. Overall, I like it but it's not something i'd look for daily
This is a bit of Harness. Low 4 from me. (Mostly) enjoyed it.
Listened to it twice. Enjoyed it
3.95
Great way to close out 2025 and year two of the list. Love the fleet foxes, but I think helplessness blues is a better album.
Yes.
I loved my sister's take: this is nature in music form. LOVED this album, need to own it!
Really good album - enjoyed it - mellow, tuneful, folky
7/10 zbog ovakvih albuma sam poceo da radim ovo mix medieval + folk + pop + mystical deluje kao da je soundtrack za neki film nmp isk sta pricam al je bas crazy da su ljudi pravili ovakav album 2008, nije mi nesto predobar al respect
Reminds me of being in my car in the winter smoking cigarettes - album starts strong and trickles off at the end
While indie music can be relatively hit or miss for me, Fleet Foxes do a good job constructing a vibe. As I've listened to this over the years, the highlights have only gotten better and the lowlights have stayed "meh". 3.7/5 -> 4/5
First time listener to fleet foxes. I think they could only have come from the USA with this sound. Layered guitars and layers vocals. When the keyboards came in, I was reminded of the keyboards in Peanuts/Charlie Brown. I mean this all in a positive way! I think the lyrics may be less uplifting than I’m feeling from the music on first listen.
I used to be into this hipster folk stuff... It's not bad though, but there was some garbage albums from that era.
Great harmonies, kind of folksy.
This is a great album that would hold up in any decade. I'm not sure I want these guys with me in a gang fight, but I'll sit calmly and listen to them any time.
Vibes: 5 Instruments: 3 Production: 4 Emotional Value: 3 Storytelling: 5 AC: 1 Stand Outs: White Winter Hymn, Oliver James Overall: 4.2 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I feel like I'm dancing in the forest through this album. Though the individual songs feel somewhat unremarkable, I kinda vibe with it.
Fantastic album! I love fleet foxes! So good!
Just good old fashioned background music with one banger
Et album jeg hørte på da jeg først begynte å utforske musikk, og ikke har hørt siden. For det første; for et albumcover! Det fortjener fem stjerner i seg selv. For det andre; for en vakker samling av sanger! Jeg er normalt sett ikke særlig begeistret for folk, så Fleet Foxes fortjener ros for dette. Top 3: He Doesn't Know Why, Blue Ridge Mountains, Ragged Wood/Your Protector
Sweet and soothing without being saccharine, makes you think of times and places
Sunday morning vibes. Hannah gives it a 4
I like it. very chill
Så fint album elsket det
If I could do decimals, this is a 4.2. I like it, good music, put me in a good mood. How often will I go back to it? Not sure
love albums that feel like fall and this is one of em. i listened to this a lot back in 2008-2013 or so, and it holds up imo.
Already loved this album, perfect for a chill day
Saw these guys at Winnipeg Folk Fest a few years ago now, sat in the rain with my poncho and mini lawn chair with my mom and a family friend out in the fields of bird hill park, had a great time even though I was soaking wet! It stopped raining by the end of the show, and was able to dry off back at the campsite. Anyways that was a good time, and so was this album. I may have searched for some of their music back then, but never sat down with an album. Which I definitely should have sooner! Would be an even better album within a certain chill setting, maybe involving some rain or a cloudy day, next to a fire of some sort, maybe cup of tea in hand. Who knows! 8/10
Very calming and relaxing. It has a peaceful, earthy, and warm feeling that I really appreciate. The harmonies are stunning, almost hymn like and the acoustic guitar has such a natural texture that it feels as though the music was recorded in an old wooden cabin in the mountains rather than in a studio. The album feels folk inspired but also modern indie. There’s something very comforting about it, soothing but not boring, mellow but emotional. I can see how influential this sound became later on for indie folk bands in the 2010s. If I had to describe the overall feeling, it’s the perfect album for a rainy day, hot chocolate with the heater on, and the rain tapping against the window. It’s like being wrapped in a blanket next to a fireplace while it pours outside. Very calm, and beautiful. The album cover is beautiful. It captures the folky, pastoral vibe of the music, very rustic, and almost storybook like. It feels like a piece of classic art you’d find in an old European gallery, filled with tiny scenes and characters you could stare at for a long time, just like the song “The Fairy Feller’s Master Stroke” by Queen. My favourite tracks are White Winter Hymnal, Ragged Wood, Tiger Mountain Peasant Song, Quite Houses, He Doesn't Know Why, Your Protector, Meadowlarks, Blue Ridge Mountains.
such a good album cover. There’s so much to look at. The harmonies are beautiful, this album is produced and mixed to perfection. Everything sounds so atmospheric. There’s some really great moments in this album, but also some that fall flat. There were certain songs I HATED, but other songs that I added to lots of playlists. I don’t know if I’m the biggest fan of the modern folk sound so I think this is 3.5 stars
Sun It Rises: 4/10, I like the vibe of this song, it reminds me of a renessance fair WHICH WE NEED TO GO TO. White Winter Hymnal: 9/10, I love the guitar in this song and how all of the instruments fuse together, it makes me want to connect to nature more Ragged Wood: 5/10, I don't really like the start part, it's too much noise that doesn't really go well together in my brain, but after 2:50, it really slows down which I like Tiger Mountain Peasant Song: 3/10, it's giving vegan moss skipping in the grass sitting in a tree reading a political book Quiet Houses: 8/10, funky:), this is a really good feel good song that reminds me of childhood in a way made me tear up a bit, I like the little piano solo near the end He Doesn't Know Why: 3/10, sounds like 2 other of the songs in this album, like cmon dude switch it up a bit? this song is giving Joy Division mixed with hatred and love Heard Them Stirring: 8/10, Tarzan? I like the big drum and how they fade into soft singing, it reminds.me of church hymns. it also sounds like Arkells somewhat? Your Protector: 10/10, I think im floating, im speechless. it's going in the liked songs for sure. Meadowlarks: 2/10, it sounds like Clay Pigeons by Michael Cera for a bit, which is why I gave it a 2, but it's a kinda sad song which I don't quite like Blue Ridge Mountains: 4/10, changes from slow to fast too much and I overall just don't like this song Oliver James: 0/10. nope.
Felt like I was whimsying through a forest
I enjoyed this. Good chill out album
6/10
Does it feel a little "indie-folk-by-numbers" sometimes? Sure, but that's because they were the originator of a lot of that! Even if these songs aren't always the most memorable, they've got harmonies that are almost on par with those of the Beach Boys! Easily one of the prettiest indie albums there is.
i forgot a bout thus!
Food album, folky. 4/5
etheral forest trippiness
Extraordinary debut with such well developed sounds and songs.
I haven’t listened to this in a long time. Beautifully written and unique
Det var inne med stämsång å skägg vid den här tiden. Gillade det då och märker att det håller förvånansvärt bra fortfarande. White winter hymnal och your protector är i en klass för sig men även övriga spår låter sig lyssnas på utan att det gör ont. Stabila fyra solar.
Just all around good.
Cosy!
Paying attention to this reveals a lot of finely crafted melodies. It's also not produced in an overly clean fashion like some of the following folk rock of the nest decade will be.
Väldigt bra sånginsatser. Fina melodier. En fyra
Sometimes the hipsters are right about things. A perfect album for fall going into winter. Favorite track: White Winter Hymnal 3.5/5
Good, but not as good as the critics thought
very folketale-ish fits the album cover art
This was so good!
The pacific northwest has birthed a few bands that capture exactly what it's like to live there. Mellow, with a sharp and dark undertone.
Very relaxing. Good stuff
I loved this album in highschool so I have a pretty soft spot for it. I think it felt very exciting in the time it came out, but I also think it has kept itself pretty firmly dated. I enjoy this album most when it uses negative space, I think Oliver James rocks
Vraiment cool ! Vibe chill, pop rock entrainante, des morceaux un peu plus calmes aussi
listened to again really wonderful
The Fleet Foxes' album of the same name features very relaxed folk pop, enriched in places by nice vocal arrangements. A good example of this is “White Winter Hymnal,” which makes it sound a bit like a Christmas carol to me. I was already familiar with “Tiger Mountain Peasant Song,” but I didn't know who wrote it. Otherwise, I like the Johnny Cash vibe in “Your Protector.” Fleet Foxes isn't my everyday kind of music, but today it was just right.
Found out I already knew one of their songs. Sounds pretty and good for autumn. Glad I found this one!
love this album! Its so calming and sweet
Like Arcade Fire meets the Moody Blues meets a church choir. Nice suprise
Lo escuche anoche y ahora no lo recuerdo, pero me gusto. Gustó de volver a escucharlo con tranquilidad. Aurally me resulto interesante.
Very nice, listened twice, atmospheric and soothing.
This album really surprised me, I really enjoyed it
Among my current faves. Amazing music. Nice to see it here.
awesome album. unknowingly knew a lot of the songs already. throwback to college for me.
I like what they've done here, lovely harmonies and generally just a nice ambiance they've created 3.7?
This kind of folk music definitely oversaturated the market for awhile and I was initially inclined to give it a 3. However I do think the songs are well thought out, beautifully sung, and the album has a cohesive feel overall without each song sounding the same. So despite the fact that I'm personally still "over" this music, I gave it a 4 as it's not their fault everyone and their mother decided on the same style at the same time.
Takes me back to being 26 and having no idea what I truly liked. This is not my style, but I have a soft spot for this album and its harmonies.
(4/5) ["7.5/10"] Favourite song: White Winter Hymanal. Least favourite: Tiger Mountain Peasant Song.
Liked this. High production values. Good harmonies. It works. Digital folk.
Man, this album was pretty good. Fleet Foxes was always one of those bands that I wanted to get around to, and I'm glad I finally have now. I love a good harmony and electric/acoustic stringed instruments playing off each other is a welcome aspect (although I wish there was more!). I like the nature-themed lyrics, they're a nice change of pace from a lot of other music I've listened to lately. I really felt like I was in a snowy forest or mountainous landscape during my listen. I wish the album kept up the pace and tone it set in the first few songs; I don't know why but I felt really excited about it at first then things just got... samey? really quickly. I think this is an album that needs several listens to really digest each song and find each one's strengths. Standouts were "Sun It Rises" "White Winter Hymnal" All in all, pretty good! It's a slower paced contemplative piece. I put a few songs on a playlist and would listen again. Fleet Foxes gets a solid 4, a little more variety throughout, and maybe change up the echoey vocals every now and then, and this would be an easy 5.
Aged well
Ooh we like this album. Classic Fleet Foxes. White Winter Hymnal is an excellent song, but so are many others on here. Both soothing and atmospheric.
This was so nostalgic. It just had that quintessential circa 2010 indie folk feel and I was all about it.
This album threw me back to a version of myself that I forgot. A version of me that was surrounded by different people, loved different things, experienced so much music so presently. It was quite nice, and in some ways painful. But I love it for that. Music that made me feel.
Warm, glowing, and kind of ancient sounding? A beautiful little world, just 39 minutes wide. Excellent debut for a band I somehow missed. Spins: 2 Playlist Additions - Sun It Rises - White Winter Hymnal - Ragged Wood - Blue Ridge Mountains
A few months ago I experienced the strongest feelings of homesickness I've felt since moving to Argentina. And it was triggered by a Fleet Foxes song. I don't feel homesick very often so these guys must have captured something real. This listen didn't give me such a sensation but I've got to give these guys a solid rating for their ability to provoke so much emotion.
Great album. Not super into folk music but the mix of modern instruments and enjoyable melody made it an easy listen (for the most part). My only gripe is that, as seemingly a quality of folk music, songs didn't really have a melody that kept constant, so while I may like the first half of a song, the second half doesn't usually match that.
Really enjoyable. Lovely melodies and lyrically strong.
good folk
I have listened to this album several times over the years since release. I really appreciate Pecknolds voice, I like what the band is doing and I like it in general but the album kinda just settles into a calm chill folky state and it’s a cozy album. Their follow-up may actually surpass what they did on this one, but both are worthwhile listens. Fleet Foxes won’t blow ya away but they’re great company for when you’re looking for warm tones. It’s a great album. 4 stars
This is a fantastic album, I bought it when it came out - really captures the indie-folk sound of the time. Music for the winter
Ça bang toujours, très doux et mellow
Gostei muito.
Good album from my youth
I really enjoyed this. The voices and the style. Pleasant and relaxing. Listened three times.
I liked the singles and the last track and the whole album on the whole was a very relaxing vibe.
Still hits
Nostalgia. Honestly was probably more into the girls that were into Fleet Foxes than I was into Fleet Foxes. Still fun to sing along tho
8/10
The history of western pop music is just filled with folk revivals. Ultimately, music is made by people and traditional forms that can recognizably be made by people (not yer beeps and boops and fancy drum loops) come back into vogue. Plenty of tunes survived the Baroque period or Lisztomania, so folk music popping back up contemporaneously with the British Invasion or Deadmau5 is really not something that should surprise us. But it always does! At this time in history, see also Mumford & Sons's first album or the first couple from The Lumineers. Or a ton of others -- all of whom, like Fleet Foxes, are still making good music, it's just fallen out of vogue. This is kind of like the recurring popularity of workwear-derived fashion (or, arguably, the modern phenomenon of athleisure) -- the sort of music that people are making anyway becomes fashionable once every ten or twenty years, lately. And then we go back to 'what other weird sounds could be music?' This is a really popular example of the form. Folky friends held this in the highest regard among its Aughts Folk Revival peers and I'm glad to have had an opportunity to spend time with it. The harmonies are delicately beautiful, the compositions are largely pretty straightforward -- neither terribly traditional (every song is an original Robin Pecknold composition) nor pop (no weird song forms and all instruments that have been involved in western music for at least a couple hundred years, depending on whether the electric-ness of the guitars bothers you). It's a good one, though it doesn't stick with me. I'll come back to see if it starts to, but I like my folk a little sadder, angrier, more foot-stomping or all of the above. However, that's still a 4/5 from me.
Very pretty album. Kinda folky. Lovely singing. Favorites: Your Protector, Blue Ridge Mountains
This was a little spot of joy. White Winter Hymnal is part of our Christmas tradition, far better option than the usual Christmas music fare. It's a bit twee but I don't mind that. Good album for a long drive to a secluded camping spot - this is the sound of nature and simple pleasures.
I love a good folk vibe. This is the perfect album for fall when you start to feel a chill in the air. It's very good, very beautiful, just sort of boring to me. I think I love Fleet Foxes for relaxing background noise. I'd love to listen to them at a cafe while I read a book. That would be perfect. But that's not a 5 album for me. A 5 album has me HOOKED. So it's a 4.
Out of all the bands operating in this genre of melancholy folk, Fleet Foxes were ahead of the rest. A beautiful, pretty, polished album. Not one I want to listen to every day, but it’s solid.
I first encountered Fleet Foxes after seeing their performance on "Later with Jools Holland", a BBC TV show in the UK, and was immediately impressed by their musicianship and vocal arrangements. The band's self-titled debut album delivers a full, layered sound that blends folk, pop, and gospel influences. The production is consistently strong, creating a timeless, pastoral feel. The vocal harmonies are impeccable and are a core part of the album's identity, often evoking the sounds of Crosby, Stills & Nash and The Beach Boys. The band also uses dynamics to great effect, allowing songs to build from quiet, intimate moments to sweeping crescendos. While every song is well-crafted, several tracks stand out, including "Sun It Rises," "White Winter Hymnal," "Ragged Wood," "He Doesn't Know Why," "Your Protector," and "Blue Ridge Mountains." Overall, the album is a consistently good and beautiful listen. While it may not resonate with me as strongly as it did with critics at the time, it is undeniably a very good album that successfully achieves its ambitious, grand sound. Four stars. 1- "Sun It Rises" - (5/5) 2- "White Winter Hymnal" - (5/5) 3- "Ragged Wood" - (5/5) 4- "Tiger Mountain Peasant Song" - (3/5) 5- "Quiet Houses" - (3/5) 6- "He Doesn't Know Why" - (5/5) 7- "Heard Them Stirring" - (3/5) 8- "Your Protector" - (5/5) 9- "Meadowlarks" - (4/5) 10- "Blue Ridge Mountains" - (5/5) 11- "Oliver James" - (5/5) Total - 48 Average - 4.36 100/1001
Some excellent tracks and a cohesive album overall. Nothing exactly mind blowing but still highly enjoyable 8/10 12/09/25
I am familiar with Fleet Foxes, think they were hyped up on some end of year, decade etc metacritic list and grabbed my attention so I have definitely listened to this before. Nice and easy listen. A folky Beach Boys sound. Finding it easy enough to link a lot of the production and stylistic decisions on this album to Pet Sounds. It's just not as impressive in 2008. This music is too inoffensive across the whole album so never really impacted me. Certainly an impressive debut and the album cover is very cool but it's just too "nice" for me. 3.5/5. Raising to a 4.
Merry christmas
This is how you do 2000s hipster music. Actually nailing the music instead of being cringy fashion chasers. A good listen. Harmonies were gorgeous
If the Beach Boys moved to the forest and made a folk record dipped in the deepest reverbs, it might sound exactly like this.
Renaissance Faire music for the modern audience, and a lot better than the 60s albums of the same type I have gotten so far on this list. It sounds like a mix of CSNY, Simon and Garfunkel, and The Beatles. I liked it a lot more than I expected to, but it's not quite up to a 5.
Da pra ver o que esse album inspirou. Se eu tivesse ouvido em 2008, talvez seria 5/5.
It’s not going to sweep the boards at the dance awards, but it is quite a beautiful listen
This one goes out to all my hipsters in the mountains. Gentle and delightful. A real chill listen.
Pretty Good!
Love this band.. all the harmonies. haunting.
ma che figata! bello, molto bello, mi sentivo in una dimensione fatata fatta di campi sconfinati, praterie, cavalli, gnomi e fatine. una sorta di prateria del West americano ma che ospita anche una colonia di creature fatate. conoscevo già White Winter Hymnal perchè i Pentatonix ne avevano fatto una cover strepitosa, ma veramente anche le altre super piacevoli. ottimo, ottimo sottofondo
Very good emotive songs, he has a familiar sounding voice, I think a lot of people making pop music now have tried to imitate him, mostly failing to make it this good. Some of these are a bit more rockier than I was expecting, but there are obviously the more folk/acoustic ones are where I think they shine the best. The backing vocals are great, but I do think sometimes they are oversoaked in reverb, but maybe they recorded in a huge room or something. The mood generally evokes a very specific midwinter mood - I think something about the vocal melodies reminds me or interpolates Christmas Hymns, which make it feel quite nostalgic even though I've never heard these songs (I've gotta relisten in the Winter) It does feel a bit 'safe', which is a bit of an unfair criticism, beacause they clearly found a style and stuck with it. Favourite songs: pretty much all. Overall around 7/10
Great album/genre
Wasn't expecting much but honestly, this turned out great. It leans heavy into the vocals which may turn off some but I though it was quite nice. It's peaceful, solemn, and spiritual. Though there is something that I can't quite put my finger on that makes me want to be more critical of this album, eh either way this was a great listen. Very replayable! Top 5: Sun It Rises, White Winter Hymn, He Doesn't Know Why, Ragged Wood, and Blue Ridge Mountains no bad songs 3.75-4.25/5
This album was pretty good. It was sort of like psychedelic blue grass? Kind of like a 70s family band with the vocals but probably do medium drugs. Really enjoyed white winter hymnal and blue ridge mountains. Lots of really great vocal harmonies and a key change in almost every song.
White Winter Hymnal
Harmony and vocals are worthy of revisit. The sound is so pure and yet complex. The vocals are "shut off your phone" and pay attention to how beautiful everything is balanced and tonally rich. I didn't think I'd enjoy this album but it was lovely.
its very pretty and good :) i shouldve been listening to this in middle school instead of alt-J but oh well too late now
Hard to go wrong with really any of fleet foxes discography. Gorgeous album with ethereal harmonies
I'd never heard this band before, and what it sounds like came out of left field for me--in a good way. They really committed to the chamber-folk-choral harmonies thing, and I don't know if this is a very saturated genre or not, but it feels pretty unique to me. The music felt pastoral, peaceful and earthy...and yet evocative of a cathedral or temple, uplifting and inspiring me with its many layered, ethereal harmonies.
A real nice album of Folk Rock. Although not without its imperfections, hut they really don't ruin the experience. 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I'm such a sucker for building a song off of a droning note. I find it memorizing, haunting even. They often will hit a chord and sustain it to harmonize in and out of it. Playing with melodies with every instrument available. Because it's such gentle music my mind keeps wanting to say it's simplistic in it's greatest form, but this is not simple music. They are masters of building and releasing tension, and toying with dynamic sounds to direct a song. My only complaint is that I'm not sure what to do with my body as I listen, id love to know every word and song along to the ethereal harmonies but let's fact it, that's not my level. It's not really a head bob kinda album, dancing seems tough, unless it's like an Irish jig. I must see them live, not only to witness what they are actually able to accomplish on stage, but to see what fans do. Maybe general hand waving? Smile gently and rock your hips back and forth? Sit criss cross apple sauce and wait for it to end? Does everyone line up and dance like they did when white wigs were all the rage? Meditation? I've rated it 4 but we both know it's 4.5
Atmospheric but with good melodies and harmonies. Hippy Folk? Very short. Lacking a real singable song. 4.0
A little slow for me, but still a great album.
Very easy listening album. Good melodies and nice vocals.
Fantastic, a great nostalgic listen. 2008 was a good year.
Idk. I liked it
🪕
Amazing that is was a debut
American folk. Pretty, floaty vocals. Joyful harmonies.
Pleasant indie rock
Really cool album, I’m surprised I never heard of these guys back when Mumford & Sons and that type of music was big. I really like the genre, I’m excited to listen to the music outside of this album too.
This album actually aged really well.
Love it!!!
fun folk album, fleet foxes always manages to make me feel like i'm going on an adventure I prefer Helplessness Blues over this album, but still an enjoyable listen!
The vocals in the album are quite a treat. This album feels very warm and pure. Maybe it is because winter is starting to end where I am from, but it really is fitting for the warming of the spring. I really like the variations between very soft instrumentals to more forward instrumentals. They also vary the layering on the vocals a lot which keeps them sounding fresh.
This album has a sweetness to it that is irresistible.
Never heard of these guys before so i didnt expect much, nonetheless they are now on my playlist thats for sure
Écouté dans la voiture avec Alix lorsqu’on allait acheter notre voiture !🚗 Très chouette 🦉
Sound of my late 2010s. Reminds me of Three Rock, Mountain Biking, Sally Gap, writing papers for undergraduate, the college library, the Dublin coastline. Brilliant folk rock, a near 5* musical experience. High 4*
I liked this one when it came out - fell off my playlist - which is unfortunate 4/5 #Musicsky #albumsky
That was nice and sweet
I've never really given Fleet Foxes much of a chance; I liked this quite a bit. It was reminiscent of CSNY at times, but with a songwriting style that's entirely unique. Would definitely listen to again. 3.5/5
Good discovery
Glad i gave this 2 listens, definitely clicked with me on the second one. They clearly have their distinct sound with the rich, shiny folk sound and constant use of harmonies (which got a little old). The guitar sounded really nice and was layered nicely with other guitars, pianos and backing vocals and what i assume to be percussion played on guitar a bit as-well. The album cover is a highlight as well and really matches the feel of the album. Production clearly a strong point too, felt quite immersive, although some of the songs got a bit repetitive and felt like repeats of some of the others a little, wasn’t a fan of the more acoustic based songs like meadowlarks and Oliver james as it felt too stripped down for their sound, the harmonies don’t work as well without being layered with instruments. Favourites: Sun it Rises, White Winter hymnal, Ragged wood, Tiger mountain peasant song, He doesn’t know why and heard them stirring. Overall, 7/10.
liked it
Enjoyable listen. I knew and loved White Winter Hymnal. That was the only song I knew on this album, but I know other songs by this band. This is very much my style of music.
Ein atmosphärisches Meisterwerk, das Indie-Folk neu definierte. Mit himmlischen Harmonien, pastoralen Texten und einem Hauch von Nostalgie entführt das Album in eine klangliche Landschaft zwischen Waldlichtung und Berggipfel. Highlights: „White Winter Hymnal“ – hypnotisch und geheimnisvoll, ein Ohrwurm mit Choralcharakter. „Tiger Mountain Peasant Song“ – melancholisch und intim, fast wie ein modernes Volkslied. „Blue Ridge Mountains“ – episch und emotional, mit dramatischem Aufbau. Gerne mal wieder 😊
Exactly what I thought fleet foxes would sound like. Fun album.
Good 4/5
A mellow listen sort of reminiscent of folk groups from the 60's sort of like Pentangle or Lindisfarne.
While it’s not their best in my view, this album was in my view the pinnacle of the folk resurgence that came in the 2000s. No other band emulated that sound better than early Fleet Foxes. This record is filled with utterly beautiful harmonies, immersive medieval passages and choruses that are immensely fun to sing. White Winter Hymnal, Ragged Wood, TMPS, Your Protector, Oliver James are some of the best folk songs of the modern era. And they only got better with their second album.
Super folky album. Kind of campfire, winter wonterland vibes in a way.
Degelijk folk album dat door folk fans waarschijnlijk gehaat wordt, wat het misschien nog beter maakt. Warme stem, warme sound. 4.2
Fleet Foxes is only good vibes. not always in the mood for these guys but today it was perfect.
Pretty good. Great vibes overall. A time capsule. White Winter Hymnal is a great song.
Haven’t heard this one in ages. Very pretty! And yeah. That’s pretty much it. But I mean very. Very pretty.
very very very very pretty album. i likey
It's hippy music for the modern era. It's pretty chill
Приятный альбом, у вокалиста очень красивый и спокойный голос, больше половины песен весьма хороши и точно многим понравяться
The perfect blend of folk and rock. 4.5/5
En ting e at det va nokka æ likte å høre på i 2008, men det æ tenkte på da æ hørte det nu va at det bare ga mæ mer lyst til å høre på Ha Ha Tonka, som gjør en lignanes greie, men på en mye mer fenganes måte.
I don't really know much about Fleet Foxes, so I went into this album not knowing to expect. It feels like this era was big on that folk pop sound. It reminds me a little of early Mumford & Sons, but still unique and different. There is some interesting mixing happening here, like with the panning in Sun It Rises. I'm glad to discover this album, it was such a cool vibe and it might become a new favourite. I find myself thinking of Mumford & Sons, but there is also some influences from much older folk artists. There are just some interesting mixing and instrument choices and that is the real highlight of the album Standouts: Sun It Rises, White Winter Hymnal, Ragged Wood, He Doesn't Know Why
The only thing Investoren listened to before from Fleet Foxes is "Mykonos", I think. Which I very much liked, but I never went further. So listening to the debut in full, I knew what kind of style was waiting for me. Beautiful chamber rock, soft, melodious, relaxing. I have to say though, on full album length, it starts to feel a bit samesy, beauty notwithstanding. There are still highlights like "Ragged Wood", "Your Protector" and "Blue Ridge Mountains", but as a whole it does not quite reach the top for me.
Not exactly my cup of tea, but it is an undeniably good album. Amazing vocals, but I can't say I like the vocal harmonies and the (perhaps excessive) use of reverb. The instrumentation is amazing, though; no notes on that. The lyricism is rather great, specially in songs like Ragged Woods or He Doesn't Know Why; the use of visuals is top notch, but sometimes it feels too abstract and misses the balance of storytelling and visuals. Overall, a good album, with some small caveats from personal taste.
Liked it
Lucid dreaming—don't wake me
I have loved and still love this album.
pretty one note but it’s a pretty one note
i love this album so much it makes me feel like i’m flying
Flower frolicking music
I irrationally hate white winter hymnal but the rest was v good
Fantastic stuff - adore the harmonies. Important record in late 2000s folk revival but can't hold that against it!
I've been going back time and time again to this album for many years now - it fits very nicely into my musical taste. But is it a five star album, along with the likes of The Stone Roses etc? I'm struggling to justify that, hence the 4*.
Not my typical bag. Captivating, which means a lot coming from me. Sags a bit in the middle, but overall has a lot of depth and allure through the harmonies, and the warmth of the singer's voice. Reminds me of an acoustic Boy & Bear. Ultimately this demonstrates what the list of 1001 should do. I would play this for 4 out of 5 people.
Good folk? How?
3.5
I've always been told to give this album a listen, but for some reason I never have. I absolutely really love this album. And even though it does somewhat suffer from the millennial vocal wispiness that i'm not the biggest fan of, I really found the folk instrumentation just absolutely gorgeous and the harmonies on here are absolutely heaven. I'm going to give it a 4½ for now with room to grow. (9.5) ★★★★½
4.5
Cool calm evening album
Beautiful album, v nostalgic for anyone growing up in the 00s
chill d cojones, m encanto
Some classics on here that still sound great, not my usual listen now or on release, but worth a 4-star rating from me.
Wasn't 100% sure about it at the beginning, but got into it toward the end. White winter hymnal is a song I have heard before and love!
Like the folky vibe a lot
Ah the hipster days. Love Robin’s voice and I’m a fan anyway.
Un clásico del indie de los 2000 y un álbum por el que siempre he sentido debilidad. Indie folk, pastoral y gospel a ratos, lleno de instrumentos y texturas, aunque muy calmado, y con unas armonías preciosas. Música muy compleja a la vez que sosegada y plácida, muy atmosférica y de fácil escucha. Uno de mis álbumes favoritos dentro de ese “chamber indie folk”, por llamarlo de alguna manera, junto con algunos de Beirut. Una obra maestra, un álbum majestuoso aunque quizá algo monótono como para darle cinco estrellas, al menos hoy mientras lo escucho. Hay que estar con el ánimo adecuado para apreciarlo, y hoy ando un poco estresado.
This was one of the best vinyl purchases I made around the time this album came out. Sub Pop packaged the record along with the Sun Giant EP, the perfect companion piece to the record as a whole. This is a great example of a record that sounded fresh but "old" at the same time, like you stumbled upon an old forgotten relic, yet it somehow sounds familiar. I've listened to the records Fleet Foxes have made since this one, but this is still my favorite.
mun betra en mig minnti. ennþá tilgerðarlegt og full krúttlegt en fínar lagasmíðar, spil og söngur.
Hard to describe but very pleasant to listen to and plan to listen to this album a few more times. And great vocals!
big love für fleet foxes – noni vill lieder kännt aber die woni känne findi super, white winter hymnal isch es 10i – hüt hani paar neui dezenti 7i's & 8i's dezue gfunde mis indieherz hetti vor paar jahr richtig freud gha – hüt hani aber au es bizli freud muess aber au säge: das album hetti amne früsche herbsttag no chli meh ghittet trotzdem gids 4 flotti füchs aus dem hause hertzog
It was a surprisingly enjoyable album
Really like this! New to me.
Lush and layered. I love this album but too nostalgic for me. Reminds me of living in Sydney and living in Norway.
They sing well, but the echoey hall and everybody singing at once got extremely overdone in this era and I’m so over it.
Fleet Foxes is one of those bands that I've heard of but never listened to. Wasn't sure if I would like it as it can be hit or miss with these folky types of bands but pleasantly surprised. Some of the slower songs can lean a little on the twee side but overall really enjoyed it. Love the harmonies. Favorites: Ragged Wood, Quiet Houses, Your Protector, Blue Ridge Mountains Would I listen to it again: Yes
Solid album
that was nice
So good. Listened to it three times in a row and then checked out the rest of their catalog
Very solid. Very enjoyable.
It was an album of the moment and not really to my taste, but this is pretty good.
Fleet Foxes arrived like a breath of fresh air in 2008, making folk-alt music cool and trendy again. Listening again...it's still a gorgeous album of music for a sunny weekend evening spent chilling in the garden. Recommended.
Is it possible for an album to sound paradoxically timeless and completely and totally "of its time"? If so, I'd say that description is perfectly apt here. Fleet Foxes were at the forefront of that hugely popular turn in music that would soon bring us Mumford & Sons and The Lumineers, with a sound strongly influenced by traditional folk with a mix of features that seem to go all the way back to the Renaissance. "White Winter Hymnal" is an amazing song, with a video that's probably the most heart-breaking animation you've seen since the first ten minutes of Pixar's "Up."
Very beautiful album. The incredibly clear production makes this a really pleasent and relaxing listening. It is also filled with wonderful instrumentation and powerful and catchy vocal lines, specially in songs like 'Your Protector'.
Had a clear 70’s vibe. But with a My Morning Jacket twist.
Beautiful driving music.
Folky, pastoral loveliness.
I ended up liking this more than I thought. It was a little soft, but I still enjoyed it. Some probably dislike it a little since it can get a little samey. 4/5
a bit bland but pleasant - 3.5 rounded up
- tolles und entspanntes Album, werde ich definitiv nochmal hören - durch 101 jetzt nicht mein "erster" Berührungspunkt (vor 101 kannte ich gefühlt nur Mykonos), aber genau wie "Helplessnes Blues" einfach catchy
85/100. Fleet Foxes’ self-titled debut is an amazing folk record, full of soothing harmonies and calming melodies. It’s the perfect album to wind down with, offering a sense of peace and warmth throughout.
The are some classic gems in the album, very classic 80s album.
This is probably one of the best albums from the early 2000s. Fleet Foxes took the religion out of gospel and the Sacred Harp vocal style, and they mixed it all with modern indie rock. The result is gorgeous and lush, like flying over a pleasant green, sprawling landscape. But like the deceptive cover art, there's a lot going on when you look closely.
Something really comforting about this album. Tiger mountain peasant song was a favorite. Harmonies are great 4
Been over 10 years since I've listened to this album. Wondered quite a bit how much Father John Misty has been influenced by it. It's so atmospheric and enjoyable to listen to.