Fleet Foxes

Low key and mellow throughout. Nothing absolutely brilliant, nothing bad either.

Not really sure what they were going for. Like it felt like they were going for weird but got too poppy. Im not saying its bad. It would be wrong to say its bad. Just not accomplishing much.

This was very good. I enjoyed the songs and the groups sound.

I was surprised to not hate this. My brain had a negative association with this band but I couldn't have told you why. It turns out I had the misfortune of hearing the first single and wrote them off after that. The song writing and production were actually really good even if this still isn't something I'd ever choose to listen to.

This sounds like the soundtrack to Lord of the Rings.

The late 00’s indie acoustic music is very far away from my wheelhouse for music - that said, this was some of the better music from that genre. Rather calming, and I appreciate the music on this album. Just not for me.

Folk classique, bien arrangé mais les voix sont pour ma part très lassantes.

Mer min stil, men ändå lite tråkigt

Det är lite duktigt, präktigt nästan men det är inte dåligt. Tycker Winter Hymnial är störig men resten av albumet är faktiskt inte så dumt. Genom hipster-stämmorna hörs ändå en kärlek till 70-talet på flera sätt. Trummorna låter för jävla bra!

decent, good to get into the work day and mellow me out a little bit. it did all sort of blend into one, though. i wanted a bit more, it got a bit boring and samey and at times i thought i would end up loving some tracks just for them to not reach a peak

Listened to the tracks and they had a nice new sound for me. Overall the album was fine not really my kind of sound but some of the tracks definitely were added to the playlist in the future.

I had heard a lot about this album, specifically good things and rave reviews, but hadn't listened to it, or really anything by Fleet Foxes, until encountering them on this website. My first impression is that it's a folksy, gospel-inspired sound, which isn't necessarily bad, but this is also a sound done by so many other artists I imagine it's hard to stand out or make something uniquely good. The first track didn't really capture me, but White Winter Hymnal is amazing, and helped me lock in, until Ragged Wood outstayed its welcome, and the rest of this album continued to disappoint me, save for Heard Them Stirring and Blue Ridge Mountains. It's not the most complex or lively sound, the music is moreso mellow and simple, without sounding trite, and at rare times beautiful. At the end of the day, I don't see why this lit up so many lists and garnered such rave reviews, as I don't think this is anything revolutionary or new, it just simply sounds good and doesn't do anything that could be seen as offensive. Maybe my ears are broken, or maybe I just don't like this brand of hippie folk, but I likely won't listen to this again. Solid 6/10 thanks to 2 really good tracks, and one pretty alright one Favorite Tracks: White Winter Hymnal, Heard Them Stirring, Blue Ridge Mountains Least Favorite Tracks: Tiger Mountain Peasant Song, Your Protector, Meadowlarks, Oliver James

Quite boring but I can appreciate the musicianship in the tracks. Album is at least listenable. I won’t be revisiting any of these songs, too folky for me. Lead singer has a decent voice too. Despite the sleepy and uninteresting lyrics I’ll bump it up one from 2/5.

A little slow, but i dig some of the songs

Don’t think I’ve finished it, but was pleased to find some familiar tunes. Very mellow and nice background music

Fleet Foxes are a band that I like listening to but never consider putting thought into actually choosing to listen to them. It's just kind of there.

I liked this one!

Found it a bit boring.

Arcadian

Really liked it. Was surprised I had not heard of them or this album. Nice acoustics and calming vibes.

Bello peró perchè scegliere questo e non un altro album folk degli anni 2000? Cos’ha di speciale??

Folk My Morning Jacket should really work but kinda didn't. 5/10

Soooo 2008 - it’s been a long time since I’ve listened to anything with this specific sound, enjoyed revisiting it a lot, but not sure if I’d go back any time soon. I would’ve liked some of the highs to be higher, some extra variety would have gone a long way.

modern folk

3.5

Decent album, nothing hard to listen to, but also not much that makes me want another listen.

I like it. The only major issue with it is that with every good thing there is to say, there is always a "but," statement. It's gorgeous, but you can find this exact sound in so many other albums. It works, but I would never reach for it when there are other albums that capture these exact emotions in a more powerful and captivating way.

Was expecting a lot more from this as I know some very cool fleet foxes fans and the album cover is gorgeous. I was underwhelmed.

I wouldn’t be surprised if this music was playing in an elevator somewhere

Occasionally threatens to be interesting. The things they reference are nicer. Sort of soft folk(ish)

Pretty stellar

I really liked this one. In all honesty I did listen to it in three bites and probably would have found it a bit samey if I hadn’t, but it feels like a good little find that is now in my rotation.

Kinda mixed on this one. I feel like it's that quintessential alt folk sound, hell they might've even created it, but at some point it felt a little repetitive. How many times do you need a few guys harmonizing in a hallway? It was fine, I enjoyed the White Winter Hymnal, and I'm not even sure if that's their hit but feels like it might've been. Moving on

i could see how this would hit on a mountain roadtrip white winter hymnal will always be iconic

Good I guess. I wasn’t wowed by any of the songs or the album as a whole. I’m not sure why it made the list but alright.

Fine. Feels like id listen to this on a road trip staring out the window at the sunset. Not something Id explicitly come back to.

Very comfy one. It reminds me of sunshine on tree leafs while i was laying on my hammock reading a fantasy book. It also has medival vibes which is great. On the other hand i wouldn't call it a masterpiece. Song's have rather repetitive main theme, however some are really unique. I will definitly come back to this album and add it to my reading-music. Overall 5,5/10

It's okay. A bit too folky for me, no doubt inspired people like Mumford or Mountains/Men. All a bit samey.

White Winter Hymnal was already a favorite/the reason I’d heard of Fleet Foxes. Together Mountain Peasant Song and Blue Ridge Mountains were other standouts and this was a pleasant listen overall.

White Winter Hymnal has been turned into a scary tik tok sound. Interesting album!

Nice. I already liked this album from around when it came out. It's got a great relaxing folksy sound to it. Only one song that's very catchy though imo.

A folk/classic rock hybrid with a splash of prog makes for an interesting if slightly long LP from the Foxes. One of those albums you might pull out occasionally especially of you like chiming melodies and harmonies. Worth a listen.

This album was pretty... pretty boring! Honestly, it was both beautiful and monotonous. White Winter Hymnal is of course really catchy and enjoyable, and it's not often you hear a round on a contemporary album so I'll give Fleet Foxes that much. By the end of the album, though, all of the tracks had sort of blurred together.

Can appreciate the album but ultimately this genre of music is not for me

I moved to Washington a little over 10 years ago and I've surprisingly only heard the name "Fleet Foxes" come up two or three times since – certainly not enough to pique my curiosity and make me dive into the Seattle band's music. That said, I was happy to finally have an excuse to check them out and went into their self-titled debut album with an open mind! I honestly can't think of a ton to say about this one. It wasn't unpleasant to listen through, but the songs rarely spoke to me. I'd certainly prefer listening to more of this over some of the "stomp clap hey" indie acts of the early 2010s and the sense of melody/harmony came across quite well (reminded me a little bit of Simon & Garfunkel and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young), which is probably the best thing I can say about it! Spotify auto-played "Helplessness Blues" after it ended and that made me kind of wish that song were this album's closer. Weirdly, the album also made me think about how far Imagine Dragons has gone downhill since their first album – probably because Robin Pecknold has similar vocal inflections to Dan Reynolds here and there. Perhaps they'd be making albums more similar to this one if "It's Time" ended up being Night Visions' biggest hit? How wonderful that we get to live in the timeline where "Believer" has over 3.5 billion streams. Sigh... Highlights: Ragged Wood, Quiet Houses, Your Protector, Blue Ridge Mountains

Pleasantly interesting but did not hold my attention to the whole album

I liked it. like a 60's Mumford and sons.

Pretend folk music. Almost a little churchy. I might actually like the album if there was some depth to it. 2.5 but rounding up to three.

6/10 Favorites: Your Protector Oliver James

This is a very ‘ nice’ album. Nice music, nice vocals, just nice! I think the first half is better than the second as it seems to wane towards the end. Also I do prefer Birdy’s version of White Winter Hymnal. Overall it’s quite good, a nice listen. Haha

Helplessness Blues is infinitely better. But White Winter Hymnal is so damn good that it makes the whole album worth it.

I could see getting into this album a bit more. I have heard one of these songs before. It's not the vibe for me right now.

My understanding is that this is super high-quality modern folk. Technically, I get that: we have good production, decent arrangements, and relatively skilled musicians. It's just so boring, though. Any yes, folk is generally boring, but none of CSNY would recognize this as folk. This band has nothing to say (to a non-WASP, suburbanite audience at least). It's kind of as if a Stepford wife made a folk album. Just really boring. Influence 3. Quality 3. Intangibles 1. Sleepy go night-night 1. I'm giving it 3* because this album is so middle-of-the-road in every way imaginable.

I should love this more than I do. Interesting melodies, sweet instrumentation and wonderful echo to the production. It also sounds like all of the other "retro folk" groups that came out around this time. Great background music while cleaning the house.

3.5/5

Ah nice. Always a bit novel to see the modern end of the list and never really given these a concerted listen across an album… It feels such an original sound, and especially at its release. But there is also something of it being a little repetitive or variations on a theme. Pretty good songwriting and great atmosphere and depth, but the songs can sound pretty similar and ultimately using the same sound and approach. Was pretty done by the end and got the gist (3.5)

Pleasant listen, but nothing mind blowing. This era of highly produced indie-folk always feels a bit insincere.

5.7/10

Listening with no background knowledge whatsoever. Let's see how I do. Folky start. 60s Steeleye Span feel. To start with at least. Production seems too clear and even to be 60s though. 60s band loved to overuse Stereo didn't they? Ok so how wrong am I! For a start they are American. And it's 2008! Quite mellow. Nothing I want to 'move about' to or that makes me want to listen to again more deeply. Could be any folk band of the last 50 years. Not bad though.

So nostalgic of 00s indie

Decent. Not amazing. Early on, I thought this album was pretty boring. Some nice harmonies and decent music, but nothing spectacular by any means. Later on, I though this picked up a bit. Heard Them Stirring and Blue Ridge Mountains were my favorites off of this. A good record, worth the listen. Not anything I would come back to regularly though.

The epitome of "Stomp Clap Hey" music- part of the wave of Folk re-re-revival around 2010. The album is good for a debut- they have a nice sound and it'a pleasant to listen to. Overall- 3.5/5

Jag gillade detta skarpt när det kom. Hade det som trea på årsbästalistan. Normalt är jag inte så förtjust i stämsång, men här funkar det för det mesta. Några starka låtar (White Winter Hymnal och Ragged Wood) men också flera rätt trista spår, särkilt de tre avslutande. Inte lika förtjust idag som 2008.

A solid outing in the indie-folk renaissance of the late 2000's/early 2010's. I prefer Of Monsters and Men and Mumford and Sons, but Fleet Foxes was a pioneer and is still pretty good stuff.

Is this considered Americana? It’s a good album

Really enjoyed.

Fleet Foxes is perfectly pleasant, but it's like being in a coffeeshop with good vibes, and you enjoy sitting there with your book and never ever look up who's playing the music. 3.5

3/5

Been ages since I’ve heard them. Time for a revival?!

Occasionally more Pet Sounds than Pet Sounds. And almost more CSNY than CSNY. I should love this album but it somehow doesn't quite make an emotional connneection. So as it stands it's notable mainly for those pub quizzes where you have to name 3 drummers who can sing and write songs...

Bit boring

This isn't really my bag, and a lot of kind of runs together for me, but it's will done, and a really good sound. It's pleasant enough, but I doubt I'll ever seek it out.

This album was wonderful background music to the day. I can’t say any one song stood out. Just solid all around.

Pretty but kinda boring

3.5

This definitely reminds me of a pre-21st Century album. Quite folky, a little pop tossed in, and often times, too quiet. Overall, it's fine on a cold, gloomy Sunday morning. Favorite Track: "Quiet Houses".

A name I may have seen or heard around but had no idea what they’re about and what a pleasant surprise it was to listen to this! Although I don’t normally gravitate to folk based music, the way this music is put together is very interesting. Great arrangements and vocal harmonies! I’ll definitely be checking out their other albums and I’m already thinking about asking around to some of my friends to see if they know of this band or not. I’ve been a little dismayed by some of the albums I’ve had to listen to lately, a lot from around this era, but this one gives me hope that there actually are some great albums I don’t know of and to not give up on this project.

Oftentimes, one thought will crystalize in my mind after a few listens of an album. This is because I can only keep one thought in my mind at a time. With the debut self-titled studio album by Fleet Foxes, that thought was 'Music for Commercials.' Now, I realize that "White Winter Hymnal" has been used in commercials, so this is not an original thought. However, it felt original to me. Do not get me wrong, the album sounds nice. Many things sound nice, like the chime my washing machine makes when it is finished. However, I do not seek out that chime. Since I do not sell products or make commercials professionally, I do not think this album was meant for me.

I thought this would be better if I’m honest. Liked a couple the rest were forgettable Simpsons: No

Nice! Cute. Don't listen to this type of music often but this would go hard at a summer camp or something.

Je ne sais pas si j’ai aimé ou non…

Ça ne m'a pas marqué, mais visiblement j'ai liké Blue Ridge Mountains donc partons pour un 3/5

It's ok Moody but not exactly my cup of tea

Das Cover ist dem Mittelalter entsprungen, oder stellt es darf. Die musik ist jedoch anders. Gute Rytmus und Gesang. Würde ich kaufen

Several times while I was listening to this I actually completely forgot I was listening to this, which bumps this up a star.

Very non-threatening. I enjoyed it. Like all the background music that this list has provides.

Its apathetic music, sounds almost sad and mournful with a hint of pop. 4/10

Meh

Sure, this type of modern folk music isn't my go-to genre, but this is perfectly listenable. I enjoyed its peace and complexities and had the album on repeat during the day. There were no real highlights - Quiet Houses and Blue Ridge Mountains maybe being the most prominent in my mind - but the songs were consistent and I never felt a need to skip any. I will check out more Fleet Foxes material when in need of a calm day.

Pretty good, not my favorite genre but very well done. Didn't realize they wrote White Winter Hymnal

- Beautiful harmonies

Nice background music. Not sure it's going in my regular rotation though ... ok, it's not. But it was a pleasant listen.

Pleasant, booked out folky warbling. It evoked pastoral strolls, campfires and romance. The pitch was high, everyone was proficient musicians, the harmonies were tight. Unfortunately, it's not really my thing though. I got a bit bored listening to it.

This LP had a unique sound to it and I liked the vocal harmony.

Good

Started out pretty good. Retreated into a lot of sameness.

Muzica indie

Interesting stuff in there. 3 but a good 3.

3/5 seemed pretty good soft n gentle have to finish

Remember when everyone sounded like this. This album made me fondly realise that those times are long behind us. There is a nice atmosphere to this album, it’s a bit long. A bit over-laboured? (Boring) 3.0/5.0 Best Song: Ragged Wood

It’s quite a boring album let’s be honest. White winter hymnal is a pleasant song, but I think that’s the best this album can be, pleasant.

That was fun, though I don't really know if they do anything particularly unique.

Definitely a polished style and carefully crafted. Probably belongs on a list like this.

It was a nice change in genre, not all songs spoke to me but the vibe of the album was nice. 2,5/5

the first era of folk i remember being there for. i like this one

Didn't love it but didn't hate it either. Vocals very reminiscent of My Morning Jacket and some decent jangly guitar

I like this one. I think it’s missing something to consider it a four for me but still a pretty good time.

Très joli, moins mon genre de musique

Joli et appaisant mais l'indie folk c'est un style très stacked et y'a beaucoup mieux que ca.

Good, not my favourite but I can recognize that it is a good album. I love White Winter Hymnal. 7/10

This album is very fun, all the songs feel like I'm in a dark forest and I hear this over my dog dying or something, which is a particular vibe... Favorite song on the album was for sure Blue Ridge Mountains.

It's not bad music, but I never got on this late 2000s/early 2010s craze of pop folk music. It was short-lived for good reason, in my opinion. I hate on it, but it's not unlistenable. Just makes me think of all the pretentious buttholes in high school.

Couple of goodies sprinkled in. Wasn't into the slow ones.

These boys sure do love reverb! I might’ve been in a poor headspace when I listened to this album, but I kept finding myself getting bored and distracted. If I had heard this album in high school I would’ve either loved it or pretended to in order to impress some hipster girl.

I have a neutral-positive opinion of Fleet Foxes. I don't know anything about them really but have listened to songs of theirs since I was a teen. The songs I do know, I have always enjoyed, but I've never really sought them out, so this was my first time listen to an album of theirs in its entirety. Got off to a decent start, Sun It Rises felt like an album opener, WWH is a song I've known and enjoyed for years, really enjoy the vocal melody and performance of it, and it's great to sing along to. Lyrics are simple and I enjoy them but I don't really know what's going on. As I keep listening, I'm brought back to my days as a teen where I wanted to be a really cool (lame) folk singer, and wrote really cool (corny) lyrics. I think the album is nice overall. It's not something I'd listen to often, but there are a small handful of tracks I'd save on Spotify at least. 3.49 / 5 to round down to 3, it's not a 4.

I always think Fleet Foxes is going to be enjoyable. It's such an indie name. I made the same mistake when a friend suggested them to me. "Thanks for the tip, John Philipson." (nice guy!) I said. I bought the first EP, and found them incredibly boring, uninspiring and was really disappointed with my recommendation from a cool (and, let's not forget, nice!) person. But, hey! I was twenty four then. I'm older now. This could be the ticket. I didn't feel like much had changed in the sound (or in my opinion of it). There were a few catchy melodies and some cool harmonies. Overall, it felt like quarter of the albums I've had on this list; more of the same. Same, as in the music doesn't vary much from a set vibe dictated in the first song. I came home from work, put it on and did try my best to actively engage in it. And while I didn't find myself not enjoying it, it really could have been anything. Sorry, John Philipson (did I mention he's a really nice guy!), I really did aim to like this more. Also, Fleet Foxes! Great name (this coming from a guy who playing in 'Gold Wolf' - another not-so-monumental member of the 1 word + animal club). 3 Stars.

This album is like going for a hike with your friends on a bush trail. The walk was only meant to take around two hours, but you've been walking for longer than that already, and there is no sign of the end. Did you make a wrong turn? There was that fork in the road a while back but the other path looked so worn down, that couldn't possibly have been the way you were meant to go. You press on. You happen across a small glade, where a group of people are gathered. You wonder if you should approach them to ask for guidance, and a guy wearing mustard corduroys, a worn green linen shirt and a brown, unbuttoned hemp waistcoat gets up and beckons you over. Everyone gives you a warm welcome, but you can't shake the feeling that they are not just saying hi, but instead welcoming you as if you are a new member to their group. They all speak in soft tones, and instead of giving you directions to the carpark, they suggest you should join them for a while. You are a bit tired from walking, and everyone seems nice, so you have a seat. They are discussing times in their lives when they were feeling at their lowest, and how through spirituality they were able to get back on their feet. Not spirituality in a religious sense, in fact they are actually quite vague about the details. Yep, you've walked in on a cult. You press for directions home. They tell you that you could walk down the path over there (turns out you were on the right path after all ffs), or you could stay for a bit longer, cos Quentin over there is just brewing a pot of tea using leaves he grows at home. You politely decline and leave. You don't want to run, but you also don't dawdle.

Not bad, not real great. Just kind of dull songs that seem to be on repeat. No real hooks. Middle of my road, so 3.

Every time I hear Fleet Fixed, I imagine then trying to come up with a concept for the band and someone going, "How about ethereal male harmonies?" and everyone else going, "Yes! That's what the people have been waiting for!" I do actually like their sound, but I've never locked in with them or their quivering forests. Hard to say why -- maybe it's a little feeling that the whole thing is a schtick. Like, they're not exactly exploring the style so much as showing off that they can do it?

I like this band, and I enjoyed the album. I’m not sure why it is on this list, though. I’m also a huge sucker for songs with themes similar to Montezuma, and I think it is beloved within the fanbase. It was fine. Spotify started playing Death Cab after the album, which was nice (for me).

You'll be shocked (shocked!) that this didn't really click with me. The production is pretty though.

Great vocal driven music. Lovely harmonies.

Good work music but i am not sure i would listen to it outside of that

I was never a fan of the indie/folk sound in the mid to late 2000s, but I enjoyed this album more than I thought I was going to. It didn't make me a fan of the band or sound by any means. But I have a better understanding of it. Or maybe that's the nostalgia this sound invokes talking.

That default 2000s indie rock sound: fingerpicked guitars, a pretentiously soulful vocal delivery, girls swoon, boys get sad.

I found this album to be a bit boring overall. I was excited to see something from the aughts and was intrigued by the opening of the album, but as it went on I kinda lost the ability to distinguish any one song from any other. It wasn’t a bad album by any means, just easily turned to background for me. Meadowlarks is the standout track for me.

I’m happy that this is so loved by people. Great to listen all the way through.

I don’t know anything about the musicians, but every time I hear this, it sounds a little churchy. Maybe not church but what I imagine hippies sounded like during the Christian revival phase. This is pretty music but something about it makes me feel wary.

from the very first song, I'm hooked amazing sound quality and... HARMONIES?? people still do those? I have boomer taste in music (I love the beatles and beach boys) this just sounds really pretty and fully holds my attention with its sound I need more very good

Pretty good

It's a nice album with great melodies and vocals. However it only really has one standout song - the magnificent White Winter Hymnal. 6/10

Meh. Pretty background music but otherwise uninteresting and unmoving.

Pretty great original folk sounds from the oughts.

Boring.

Great album, but not my favorite from them

Solid 2000’s indie rock. Mumford n Sons lite

Generic Millenial whiney rock. Fits somewhere between Bon Iver and Mumford and Sons. You know this is currently popular but will be forgotten in ten years. 2.5/5

Bem mais interessante do que eu achei que seria, no começo fiquei até com preguiça mas continuei ouvindo e foi me agradando é o folk padrão do começo dos anos 2010 mas ainda é interessante, e a capa é incrivel

Good! 3 or 4/5

Pretentious, indie folk rock that I wanted to hate but enjoyed a tiny bit.

If the Beach Boys did bluegrass, it would sound like this. It’s been a while since I listened to this album. There is something that I really like about Fleet Foxes, although I can’t say that it’s my kind of vibe. It’s clean and crisp, the harmonies are rich and warm, but it can become a bit relentless and wearing about it. Nice to hear it again.

Pleasant

Love the cover, very wimmelbilder White winter hymnal is a banger

I like the album. It was calm. It was clean. The musicians are great and would be good for work or long drives. The only thing about the music that I noticed was nothing stood out as incredible or remarkable but everything was consistently good. 10 years ago I would’ve been all over it Right now. In my later 40s it’s fine just doesn’t resonate like it used to.

An interesting album. I’m not sure if it’s a 2 1/2 or 3. Might try to listen to it again.

Cute listen, but it loses steam towards the end.

This one was okay though. Enjoyed it a bit

Nostalgia! I remember loving white winter hymnal, and I don't remember blue ridge mountains but I like it. All the rest kind of blends together for me.

Nice in places. He Doesn't Know Why particularly nice

Meh, I guess it’s good at what it does. I just don’t particularly like what it does. I enjoyed the more Brian Wilson sounding parts, less so the overly whimsical and folksy bits. Two would be harsh. Four a distant stretch.

Not bad

It's fine

Good balance of intrumentation so far. It’s giving Boy n Bear. Good Songs: Sun It Rises, White Winter Hymnal, Ragged Wood, He Doesn’t Know Why, Your Protector, Blue Ridge Mountain Mid Songs: Tiger Mountain Peasant Song, Quiet Houses, Heard Them Stirring, Meadow Larks, Oliver James Bad Songs:

Classic folk

Meh. It's not bad by any means. Just don't really care one way or the other about it.

Ok they can definitely sing, and definitely can harmonise. But their tunes are a little dirgey and one-paced to really fly for me. So a generous three stars, certainly not more.

Indie folk overdose. Definitely a sound i can appreciate but this wasn’t my favorite. Still good but not an album I’ll go out of my way to listen to again. Ragged Wood and Your Protector were my favorites but not going on my main playlist soon. 5/10, 3 stars.

Lowkey, melodic, and well arranged. - 3/5

very 2000-2010s, its alright

Folky/choral harmonies, Top track: White Winter Hymnal / Your Protector

didn't finish.

I couldn't really get into the music. It's not bad, but I don't feel compelled to listen to it again. The initial boredom developed into mild annoyance as the album progressed. 3/5

Now this is a good vibe for today. Calm, sweet, but interesting. Sometimes at risk of sounding a bit repetitive, but still engaging and a little dreamy. Not a great album, but a good one.

Probably inspired a lot of really bad 2010s indie folk music. Still enjoyed it though

It's well done, but it's not for me.

Very interesting album I like the style and how different it is however I feel most songs sound the same and don’t stick out. Still cool album. Highlights: white winter hymnal, ragged wood

Ok

Indie hipster rock music

meh, not for me

It's hard to judge this one. On one hand, this album takes the folk-pop genre into the new millennium; on the other hand, despite all the differences between the songs, they somehow sound the same. Oh, and I've never heard of them before.

Not for me

First few songs sound a bit like Animal Collective, then it becomes a more typical indie-something, which I liked less

quite okay. cute even. daint

An album that I should love. Have listened so many times over the years and still only really think it’s average. Don’t know why but I just don’t get it for some reason.

I have heard these guys on compilations but never listened to a full album. Post-listen: I like this album! I wouldn't want to listen to these guys all the time, but I enjoyed it. I'm struggling with the rating to give it because it seems better than a 3-star but not quite a 4-star for me. We need half-stars! Favorite song: "Blue Ridge Mountains" (mention my home in a non-derogatory way and you get points!)

Some highs and lows but ultimately an easy listen album that would do better in the right setting. Trying to not hold the style against it as it's been heavily overplayed by now.

Folk music isn't really for me. This has an interesting twist of indie rock that gives it some colour, but it still lacks something. I tried to find some delight buried deep beneath the surface, but the surface is thin and watery. Samey and slightly unimaginative.

Pleasant. Harmless.

I've never been much of a fan of folk music, but this was definitely a great album for what it was. The production value on it is great, and every sound is crisp and has a very clean feel to it. The vocals were great, and I loved the storytelling in the lyrics. I have to give it props for being, by far, the best folk album I have got on this generator thus far. There was a unique quality to it that made it a very interesting listen, although I can't exactly place my finger on what it is. It has all the aspects of a folk album, but something about it sets it apart from other albums of the same genre. That being said, as I mentioned before, it isn't a genre I am particularly fond of.

You like this more than you think.

1. Sun It Rises - 4 Banjo and guitars sound good but lyrically it's a forgettable track. The kind of track that just mellows out into a background sound, like the type you'd hear in a department store fitting room. 2. White Winter Hymnal - 5 It's exactly like the first track in terms of the critique I have. Instruments are a little heavier this time, including an electric guitar, but the structure is exactly the same as that first track. 3. Ragged Wood - 7 Much better sound both vocally and instrumentally. All around a decent track, even with a more mellow tone from the start of the song that leads into the bridge, which builds well. Solid stuff. 4. Tiger Mountain Peasant Song - 6 It's an okay song. Vocally it's great, instrumentally it's very simple. Lyrically it's good. Not anything that will rock your socks off. 5. Quiet House - 1 It's way too repetitive. By the end of the three and a half minutes you are almost begging for the track to turn over. 6. He Doesn't Know Why - 8 The piano at the end feels unnecessary but it still sounds nice and overall this is a good sounding track. Vocals on it are really enjoyable and the highlight of the song. 7. Heard Them Stirring - 7 It's a hymn and there are no actual lyrics. Having said that, the sound is quite pleasant and the beat of the drum is the highlight of the track. Enjoyable even if overly simplistic. 8. Your Protector - 9 The vocals are solid on this track and the drum has an amazingly quiet role in helping push the song along in a very good fashion. The strums of the guitars sound excellent. 9. Meadowlarks - 10 Lovely song. Lyrically strong, instrumentally a brilliant tone that sets the mood for what is a grim metaphor. Best track on the album. 10. Blue Ridge Mountains - 8 Fun sounding song but the tempo pace between the quick parts (which are brilliant) and the slow parts tend to suck the life out of the song a little bit. It's not that the song shouldn't have them, but they're too frequent and sudden that it becomes hard to enjoy just how good the full crescendo of instruments are. 11. Oliver James - 2 Vocals dominate the track but lyrically it doesn't hold up. The track is confusing in its meaning and does not have much instrumentals to offer as a rebut. Those instrumentals also cut out before the vocals at the only thing left to lead the track. Weak song to end the album on. Average Rating: 6.09 Adjusted to a 5-Point Scale: 3.05 Rounded Down: 3 Stars

Surprisingly didn’t enjoy the experience of a whole album listen even though i love individual songs.

When I started this challenge I decided to limit the scope to these categories: punk/post punk/new wave/britpop/shoegaze/indie. I like other genres of music but I thought this would help me to avoid things that I have no interest in. I've had a lot of 80's pop (presumably passed off as new wave) but I'm genuinely not sure where this fits with my selection. I'm doing another challenge at the same time which I restricted to country/folk and this album came up there too which makes more sense. I gave it three stars and I stand by that.

its alright

Really captures the raw talent of Baker while Fela demonstrates all the positives of fusion music while completely missing any pitfalls of the genre. Others come off as boring and pretentious trying to pull this off but Kuti paves his own way. Masterful! Pure energy. It is somehow both an album you could have a dance party to or have on in the background while having a chill dinner party

30/1001 :: Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes Heard before? ✅ Would I revisit? ✅ Rating: 6.5 Fav Tracks: Your Protector, Ragged Wood I ummmm think I’ve heard this before. I’m pretty sure that I have but not many times. Maybe once. As you guys know I like a lot of folk music so I should love this but for some reason I’ve been having a tough time getting into them. It’s a dynamic folk album. Feels old world (hence the cover art) and biblical at times but done in a modern way. I think there’s something about the voice that’s never landed with me. That said, I enjoyed this listen and should/will probably revisit.

Zuhause, Heidenheim, Deutschland. Gefällt ganz gut.

I recall listening to this when it first came out, wanting to like it more than I actually did. I feel that way with most of the folk/roots rock movement of the 2000’s and 2010’s. Some bands and albums are better than others, but I’m apparently not their audience. This is well made and well performed, but I only really liked a few songs.

Some of the best folk songs I've heard in a while but with lyrics that are predominantly depressing and morbid. No happy tunes here.

nice......nice......not thrilling............but nice

Not bad. A little too echoey for me.

Songs better heard in a playlist, a little too much harmonizing song after song

Not really for me

Fleet Foxes popped onto the scene during the time roots music had its big moment with Arcade Fire and Mumford & Sons gaining huge popularity. So around the late-2000s-mid-2010s. Fleet Foxes had a nice little run as the little brothers of those two. My Morning Jacket kind of jump-started this trend about 10 years before it got huge, and frankly, MMJ does it better. This album is full of great harmonies and folk mixed with a dash of rock. As I’m listening back to it now, I’m finding it more enjoyable than yesterday’s listen. I enjoy this type of music, but I need to be in the right mood for it. The whole time I listened to this album yesterday, I thought, “I need to listen to more MMJ." Standout tracks for me on Fleet Foxes' self-titled debut are Sun It Rises, Ragged Woods, Tiger Mountain Peasant Song, He Doesn’t Know Why, with my favorite track being Your Protector.

very melodic, songs seem to blend into each other, great album to take a nap too

I had high hopes for this record having heard some Fleet Foxes. This record was a lot more downbeat than I expected and I can respect not relying on hooks, but it is hard to distinguish the songs. I like the instrumentation and they certainly achieved the unique sound they were going for.

When it started, I thought "Oh great, another indie folk album I'm gonna hate." But I didn't hate it. I think it's an interesting album. As a recording, it's interesting to study. It's pretty in spells. It's obviously influenced by religious choral music, with the rounds and harmonies and organ accompaniment, but placing those influences in the context of acoustic American folk music makes each more interesting, I think.

had to take a long break before listening to this but I actually enjoyed it more than I initially thought I would. I enjoyed the first half more and my favourite was definitely white winter hymnal.

Modern folk vibes. Mid

Love the harmonies and white winter hymnal is a personal favorite. Some of the middle tracks started to fall a little flat for me though so not a perfect score on this one but still enjoyed it. Would be a good album to listen to on a hike.

nice ambiance but not many real showstoppers, stronger front than back half of the album highlights: Sun It Rises, White Winter Hymnal, He Doesn’t Know Why, Your Protector

a little repetitive at parts, but for the most part very good and i like the vibe

I appreciate the sound but it’s boresville to these ears

I like how relaxing it is. The vocal sound fits well with the instrumental sound Edit Apr 15 2026: 4 --> 3

I've always been kind of lukewarm on Fleet Foxes. A lot of my complaints about Sufjan Stevens also apply to them -- there's this layer of preciousness that kind of takes me out of their music a bit. They kind of remind me of a less rocking, more precious My Morning Jacket. Still, I think there's a couple of great songs here in "White Winter Hymnal" and "He Doesn't Know Why". 3.5 stars.

Poor man's Neil Young

Det svinger nu meget godt.

Folk-revivalen i slutningen af 00erne, må være en af de mest spøjse trends i musikverdenens historie. Hvor kom den fra? Og hvor blev den af igen? Var det en modvægt til Garage-revivalen der havde skyllet ind i starten af årtiet? Eller var det en reaktion på vækst, pling og plang og begyndende finanskrise? Musikalsk fungere det fint for mig som radiomusik. En sang med Mumfords & Sons her, en melodi fra The Rumour Said Fire der og lidt Fleetfoxes i ny og næ, er helt okay når det mixes med andre genre. Men et helt album bliver sgu lige lang nok i længden. Det tror jeg kun er Bon Iver jeg kan klare.

I've never really been able to get into this album, I gave it another try today and it played softly in the background while I got on with other things, not horrible but not exactly arresting either. A pleasant listen but I don't feel like it's a particularly memorable one.

Takes me back. Was very into this for a while.

Sounded good, very well produced and every note seems to placed in there with intention. Some of the songs were kinda catchy. But overall, it all seemed to be very... safe. Not precisely what I would enjoy, but not something that I would hate either.

Some very nice harmonies and a few catchy tunes. But for the most part this is background music. It may encapsulate a time and place, but this album is probably a sleeper for most. It's fine. Not bad but not amazing. Probably did not need to hear this before I died.

Very good, but this band never quite met their true potential in my opinion

I’ve always found FF to be quite bland, and nothing has really changed for me on this listen. It’s borderline co-worker music. White Winter Hymnal is nice. 2.9/5

Im lost with these guys. I can’t really pin down their sound. They are sort of a slow Coheed and Cambria, mixed with the Mars Volta and Spiritualized. I really like the music but the vocals and words lack for me. Choice cut: Tiger Mountain Peasant Song

Nonie vo dere Band ghört aber ganz e sanfti und netti Überraschig gsi. 1,2 lieder gspeicheret, aber au fast bizli z herzig für min gschmack. Wills ahgnehms gesinge isch gits trotzdem 3 Fleet Foxes für Fleet Foxes by Fleet Foxes

Good Album, I don’t know if I will hear it again though.

Not the best album but the Foxes have a really cool sound. Inspired me to check out more of their stuff

Borders on douchey at times but was ok

-White Winter Hymnal -Ragged Wood -Quite houses -He doesnt why

Honestly not bad. I was expecting it to be a lot worse. It's honestly a step up from most folk-ish music that gets popular, so good for FF for crafting something with substance. That said, I don't know how often I'd come back to this.

Meh

Nice

Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes I liked this one, the folky indie feel is very pleasant and the vocals are very good. The album does blend together a little but the songs by and large are very good and have a calming feel. I’m around a 3.5 but that’ll get rounded up to a light 4/5

Leuke Beach Boys-invloeden. Heb het al vaker geprobeerd met deze plaat, maar het raakt me nooit helemaal.

Nice album without a real leading song 6/10

Some moments that I enjoyed and overall an album I liked. But it does feel like try hard folk music at times. 3/5

Tranquilo para poner de fondo

Fey Millennials

I mean cool… I guess, just some indie with pretty nice harmonies. 3 stars

Ikke hørt siden en gang på Platekompaniet rundt 2010. Veldig behagelig lytt, men ikke så mye mer. Kanskje noe farget av all musikken som kom i årene etter (stomp, clap, hey).

Chill vibe, nice songs, but they kinda all blurred into one.

Yesssss

Kinda disappointed on this one. Its just too simple and boring. Like if this is your jam I bet its really your jam. Ain't mine

2008. Chill indie folk album that was popular back in the late 2000's.

dali rade

This was surprisingly nice, fairly chill stuff.

good for background listening

Enjoyable record but at a certain point reverb is just autotune for folk bands. Love some of the guitar picking though

Not bad, but a little soft and round for my tastes - considering the genre and the stir this album caused in the press at it s release that's a bit surprising. There is one song from it on my "liked" list.

La música evoca lo mismo que la portada

I have always had disdain for this type of ethereal indie music. Some if it definitely has to do with being 18 when this was released and being resistent to anything not 90's rap or classic rock. I do think the general sound is a bit pretentious - while we're down here on earth groveling they're floating above the rest of us with flutes and just the right amount of reverb. I think Noah Kahan is the new version of this. All that being said - it does sound pretty nice. "He Doesn't Know Why" bops. I think for my personal taste its a 2 but adding a point as a counterweight for my repressed teenage angst.

I enjoyed it more than I thought. Vocal harmonies and song structure were really.cool. nit exactly my style so probably won't come back to it but wouldn't mind listening again. 3.5, I round down 1=Crap that shouldn't be here 2=I didn't like it but get why it's here 3=I thought it was ok or even like it, get why it's here, but won't revisit 4=I like it, will revisit 5=This is some of the best music I've ever heard and will continue listening to it

easy listening, feel like I should listen to this driving through the mountains

Woodsypilled. Previously only listened to 1 song off of this album (White Winter Hymnal) that I also had to perform and learn for an a cappella group I was in in high school (hated the song when I learned it; grew to enjoy it as a fond memory) Wrote down the following note on my spreadsheet: "just pleasant background noise; relaxing (i also can totally see why this would have been a big deal when it came out; this sound had such a chokehold on people when I was growing up, wonder why)" Favorite Song: Ragged Wood

Not really digging this one Not too much of Indie/folk

Nice enough, I'd listen again

Bought this album when it was released and not listened to for a good few years. Some good tracks, White Winter hymnal, Tiger Mountain Peasant Song being my favourites. Too many musical interludes for my taste which become a bit overpowering and annoying 5/10

Hmmm not my taste but good

This was a beautiful record that was very well produced, and I hear a lot of similarities to The Shins. Some songs were a bit boring, but I can’t deny the polish and arrangements on display here.

Pretty, but this is a classic “background noise vinyl” record for me. The songs sound great but don’t move me in any particular way. White Winter Hymnal is still a banger.

Testing, how does this look? Probably just gonna text you -kz

Vocals and production was very good just overall its not really what I like. Bit droned and didn’t really feel like there was any emotion to it.

Interesting album listen. Would not have picked this, but has peaked my curiosity to dive into their discography.

Bought this when it came out based on the reviews and it should have been right up my street. Despite repeated listenings it never really connected with me emotionally and tended to just fade into background meanderings. Favourite track White Winter Hymnal.

Todellakin sateisen päivän tunnelmamusiikkia. Parasta Fleet foxesia (harhaudun aina suosituksista kuuntelemaan enkä syty). Tällaiselle akustiselle hymnifolkille on paikka mun sydämessä. Vois olla nelonen, mutta koska ajatus harhailee kuunnellessa, puolikas tähti tippuu.

Pretty good, I'm guessing this was the origination of all the stomp-clap-hey songs that released in the few years after this.

It's kind of quintessential '00s indie music. Even though that kind of independant music became quite mainstream at the time. It's not bad, but it's pretty inoffensive and lack some edges. Probably why it got so popular back then.

It's an alright album.

Better than expected.

nice folk album

feels holy and something you listen to in summer while driving through grassy hills

Fleet fox doesn’t dazzle often but is constantly well executed and beautiful … white winter is a great track

Meh, it's nearly invisible background music.

Not my style.

every track on this album sounds like a song you'd hear on a toyota commercial and be like "hey what's that song" (respectful)

another album so cohesive it just feels like one long song. and that's fine! the song is okay

I thought this was fine. My other half asked me again what the criteria are for being included on this list, reminded me CSN&Y already exists, and called it "a bit derivative" - hard to argue.

A sunny sundaymorning with a cup of coffee , this album and a good book...

This was very intresting. Very folksy.

pretty good, a little too soft for me but still lovely

Nice music to start the workday with. Easy on the ear but not too distracting. Too bad there isn't really a hit in between

This album was not one of my favorites!! I just couldn't get into it.

that unmistakable life is strange 2000s teen indie vibe

nice

Maybe I’m not hipster enough to like these guys. Maybe I need to grow a beard.

This is my first time hearing this. It was pretty good, so I listened to it again. Although it was enjoyable, there was nothing that really stood out. "Your Protector" and "Blue Ridge Mountains" were particular favorites.

Good for a lazy sunday afternoon

Some chill indie music, ive never really listened to any indie so yeah

Actively avoided this for years because I thought it was some Arctic Monkeys adjacent Indie land fill but was pleasantly surprised to find that it really wasn't that. Not totally in awe of it but could get into with a few listens

This was pretty good folksy stuff.

This was my mom’s shit when I was in high school and I can’t listen again lol

I didn't dislike this album, but I wasn't over the moon for it either. It was super chill and laid back and folksy - but didn't quite hit the spot for me. Either way, I'm glad I've listened to it! 3 Stars only because it wasn't my general taste in music!

Beaux arrangements, belles mélodies et harmonies, lumineux et doux

Indie pop rock fizzes

tell me why i had no idea they sang “white winter hymnal” 😭 i only knew the song from the pentatonix cover because my family and i used to play that during christmas time, but wow. i knew it was a cover, but i just never thought it was some indie early 00s song—but what do ya know. i really underestimated this album, but robin’s voice—wowww. so freaking good. such a feel-good, going-on-a-nature-trail kind of vibe with this one. this album kind of reminds me of middle school me, when i would play indie video games like life is strange, and they would have folk indie music in the background, like when the artist daughter played. that being said, i liked “white winter hymnal,” “he doesn’t know why,” “heard them stirring,” and “your protector.” i will have to say, though, “ragged wood” and “tiger mountain peasant song” were just 👌 overall, i do not really know when i will listen to this again—maybe when i am feeling very adventurous or maybe in the spirit of winter. 💚

I liked it … but not rushing for a second listen

It lacks of substance, but not terribly bad. 5/10

Very pleasant autumnal record with gorgeous vocals and harmonies. 'White Winter Hymnal' is the obvious highlight - the circling, hypnotic verse builds and builds until only the gorgeous vocals remain. While everything else is a step down to this, the album is still atmospheric and consistent to keep you engaged. Best Tracks: - White Winter Hymnal - Your Protector - Blue Ridge Mountains Worst Tracks: - Meadowlarks Rating: 6.5/10

Very nice album - beautifully recorded folk rock. 3.5 stars

i’m not a particularly folksy person, but i enjoyed having this on. not something i’d come back to though. 3.5

The higgeldy piggeldy cover worries me. Opening strains aren't promising, but once they get going with the harmonies it is really pretty. An exception the the general rule that less singing and more instrumental breaks are better, here I am enjoying the vocals more than the music. Overall I find the modern greensleeves vibe offputtingly pretentious but not entirely unpleasant to listen to. "Your Protector" would not be out of place on a White Lotus sound track. I can imagine situations where I might come back to listen again. I think Fleet Foxes probably deserves a spot on this list.

Może być, nie mój klimat, jedna piosenka mi się podobala

When it came to put it was one of the leading albums in the nu-folk wave that came out in the mid-2000s. It felt so new and different, on a more recent listen I can appreciate the musicianship, vocal harmonies and production, but it didn’t catch me like I remember. There are still some standout tracks - White Winter Hymnal being still the most compelling - but it seems that there are parts of the album that fade into one another. A more average album than I remember…perhaps I just wasn’t in the right mood…

I feel like when I was 22 I really liked this album.

I've definitely heard this at some point. Maybe a MWE pick back when that was a thing. Don't really remember literally any of the songs. It's like ridiculously pretty music that I just don't really care about that much. "Blue Ridge Mountains" kind of a banger though.

This is different. It is sort of folk, sort of contemporary soft pop, I think it is actually called progressive folk or the like. It is both interesting and emotional, maybe a bit too experimental in certain instances, maybe it doesn't matter. It is as if I keep defaulting to "it is different." It gives a range from background music to deeply meaningful with bits of "I could do without that little section there." I think because of the complexity of it it does not fall easily into "this is really something special" category and remains as an "I need to listen to more of this, to understand it better" sort of thing. I would like to give it quite a high rating, but I will be a bit more cautious. I do recommend it, but I think it requires a few listens to "find" in a way.

It has some stellar songs, but some just don't do it for me. As some have beach boys like harmonies, while others sound like stuff the lumineers would sing. 3.5

American folk revival without the hey ho? Heyll yeah. Some of these tracks make me sleepy

I didn’t hate or love this one, and it turned out to be a chill album on a Friday morning. Overall it was a fine album, but not one I’ll remember down the road.