Reviews (page 9 of 15)
A really nice debut album. I think this is one of the more effective records of the age where artists were looking back to genres and moods of the past and really building on them in an interesting way. The vocal production and harmonies are top notch. It also feels interesting how much dynamicism is permitted without someone stomping on a distortion pedal
Simple, airy, gotta like. Apparently I have some kind of soft spot for this kind of folk stuff. More power to singing harmonies and this 4 stars would have been reality. Now only 3.
My interest in folk music exists, but it is very selective. I had never heard of this particular artist before, so I eagerly anticipated pressing the play button. However, within the first couple of songs, disappointment was already palpable. Too slow and too atmospheric. This band was described in spotify to be part of late-2000s indie-folk boom. Also it was described as folk-rock. I found very little folk or rock there, indie maybe. Once again, maybe this is part of this list because it sold so well. Few songs started in an intriguing way but then there was nothing else.
Very much not my kind of music. I remember when the music critics were hyping this up, but I've probably brushed it off and didn't really pay attention, since this was new to me. I wasn't at all surprised to fing this was a Sub Pop release. Popish folk with a very artsey touch feels very forced.
the actual listening experience borderline refused to let me develop "thoughts" because i was just melting and the only thing i could break from the experience to articulate is "thats a godly melody huh"...attempting to reconnect with my semi rational mind in the aftermath, i think the closest thing i have to an interesting observation is how disconnected from Time this feels to me? folk music is proudly anachronistic, which is generally something to either be embraced or subverted , but more than anything else ive heard in the genre this feels almost absent of either history or perception of contemporary taste. ig that sounds like a criticism and tbh the effect is almost unnerving, but it feels like it comes from a direct cutting across those things to something more eternal...the sound that springtime itself has Always Had. rly special amazing record and a band i should rly sink my teeth back into
A great blend of contemporary and old, with its unique use of country, elements of pop and almost medieval sounds, reminiscent of early 2000s video game scores.
I really enjoyed this, definitely has a Mumford and Sons/issue movie feel to it. A feel good easy listening album. I feel like it would make a decent road trip album.
I love this kind of music. The Fleet Foxes create a haunting atmosphere with this kind of gospel that's truly out there to transcend and tell the story. The ongoing hall effect - it's just great. This kind of folk music is what I want. Why not 5 starts? The album is great but often I wished for some more interesting instrumentation too. They could've simply done more with their already great base.
I was so hoping to like this more than I do. But for me it’s so 21st century polish, a little too earnest and a little sterile and soulless Some on here have likened this to CSN(Y) and S&G, I just don’t think that they belong in the same sentence ( well later 1988 CSNY maybe) - other than pale hipster attempt at... In itself it’s ok, pleasant enough in passing and I listened a number of times, and maybe I’m just shocked and had higher expectations because of how highly this seems to be held and all the awards it seems to have garnered , for Fuck sake not even just the music, it won a best vinyl cover in 2008 for a painting that was done in the Netherlands in 1559, if I stick a picture of Michelangelo on my ceiling will I win interior decorator of the year?
gorgeous
Vague.
The first time I heard White Winter Hymnal by Fleet Foxes was on Mop Mix 2008 track-8. The last time I heard it was a week and a half ago when both my local middle school and high school covered the exact same song. It’s funny how sometimes such a simple song could end up creating such a lasting impact now over two full generations. Fleet Fleet Foxes were always the perfect early morning album. Their soft melodies and ephemeral rhythms were a perfect calming way to start a good day. I actually forgot how good this album really was. It has a beautiful way of offering huge production that simultaneously is coffee-shop personal. Key songs for me for Ragged Wood, and Your Protector, though I have to admit next time I listen to it I’ll probably pick two different songs. This is definitely a Must-Listen kind of album.
I've been keen to Fleet Foxes from the beginning. This whole album is total vibes. Stand out tracks: "Sun It Rises", "White Winter Hymnal" and "Blue Ridge Mountains". I'm not sure why an indie folk "rock" album should work so well but it just does. Just sit back and enjoy the lush harmonies and chill vibes.
Not a big fan of this.
Nisam slušala nikad, okej mi je album, ali možda malo dosadnjikav. Nakon prošlog albuma, ipak mi je osvježenje. Rekla bih neka sredina maybe. 3/5, 5/10.
Kao krene dobro i ima nekih dobrih trenutaka, ali realno mi je ovo dosadno i niti jedna pjesma nije spremljena za kasnije. Nije mi totalna katastrofa, ali nije ni puno jače od 3/10
3/10 Na preskokce sam ovaj album poslusao jer mi ovaj tužni ali hopeful hipsterski indie rock/folk, pogotovo kod njih, nije dobro ostario. Vokal zna biti zanimljiv u nekim trenucima, ali mi ne pase ovakva muzika vec dugo. Mykonos mi je svojevremeno bila dobra od njih, no nije s ovog albuma. Velikodušna trojka jer me The Who dosta ubio u pojam. Tako daa, ajmo mi next.
Loved it
Soft
I've been an admirer of Fleet Foxes' sound since I first encountered it. It's a lovely bit of 21st century folk music. The real question is- is "White Winter Hymnal" a Christmas song?
Mellow, beautiful, somehow left wanting a bit more whilst also not knowing how.
Not my thing at all. Really didn’t like this. Bit slow and boring - didn’t make me feel anything.
2/5 not for me
These harmonies? *chefs kiss*
I was so in the tank for this record and the Sun Giant EP when they were contemporary. It's been a while since I've given the album a listen. It's not as great as I remember; but it is still very good. The harmonies, arrangements and production are reminiscent of the Beach Boys, Crosby Stills & Nash, and Simon & Garfunkel. It was unique and fresh at the time; but in hindsight, the album is kind of stuck in one (very good) gear. Hearing it again reminds me of 2008, for better or worse.
This is peak frolicking music. Hate on this album and I’ll harvest the copper wire from your walls.
Decent
Ist ganz okay. Aber würde ich nicht wieder erkennen und bin auch nicht hooked. 2 Sterne. Cooles Cover.
Today was a lil emotional but oh my god did this hit! Every beat, strum, and harmony made a hair raise. Genuinely made me feel the magic of music so deeply. Gorgeous!
Feels kinda corny and lame but in like a tasteful and cool way. A true paradox! I liked it
the kinda music that just makes me wanna turn it off the moment i put it on ... i like joy and pleasure but there's something just stomach turning about this music to me and i especially hate the album artwork ... whats insane is that i dont even think its bad it just makes me physically ill BUT i do wanna try the hunter biden special (getting a lap dance while smoking crack cocaine to this music)
Initially wasn’t thinking I’d like this but in listening it wasn’t half bad. Good background music.
Fun, folky rock
The throw-back harmonies are really lovely and the overall sound is so full and resonate.
You can frolic about in the echoey indie sounds of this album, but most of them will be forgotten to the whimsical sands of time.
I have a soft spot for this style of music, and Fleet Foxes in particular
A calming yet fun and whimsical folk treat for the ears of any music lover.
Ensimmäinen ja kolmas kuuntelukerta semisti tuskaista, toisella kierroksella jaksoi fiilistellä mukana. Sopivasti haastava levy.
Ihan toimiva, mut tietynlaisen, rauhallisen tilanteen ja tunnelman vaativa
Cheerful American folk/Indy music not really for me but well done.
Noget af det lyder meget godt, men jeg tror jeg synes det er lidt for kedeligt, har svært ved at bide sig fast. Har ikke så meget at sige her
1000000000000/10
Liked it a lot more when I wasyounger then I do now.
One of the albums growing up that made me realize I like music
Ah man that did not hit. I see what they’re going for and I don’t approve. Maybe it held up better when it came out
My Sophomore roommate in college was obsessed with this album. I, on the other hand, am not a big fan. Overall, I just don't like Indie Folk. I like music with a little bite and this is just soft as vanilla pudding--the most bland kind.
I don’t like much folk music. And ~ 2010 there was plenty of terrible folk pop pumping through the radio, like vanilla pudding in my mouth. This, however, is solid. I didn’t like it when it came out, but have had repeated listens over the past 10 years and it has grown on me (or maybe…I’ve grown?). Agreed that it is a great fall / winter album.
Vanilla pudding, not much else to say really
Gorgeous album and perfect time of year for it. This is one that I used to listen to a lot so there’s some nostalgia around it, but it more than holds up. Might only be a 4 in the summertime, so good job 1001albumsgenerator.com on the timing.
Warrants a re-listen
horrible
indie, folk, rock, 2008 -> 3
Good (I guess?) but not for me.
Enjoy the melody and music notes.
12/6/24. Really good modern folk here. I've heard of Fleet Foxes but this is my first time listening, will need to check out the rest of their work!
A fun an whimsical time
I think I need to give this album another spin to give a good review of it. I like folk music, but I found this album a little slow and artsy. First review is a :star::star:, but I suspect that a few listens may be required to fully enjoy this.
Indie folk-rock that explores the intersection of pastoral and somnolent. Like a lot of things, how much I like it depends on my mood. I loved it today but could totally see myself smashing the OFF button with glee if I were a little more stressed or cynical. My son said it sounded like Lord of The Rings Holiday music. More specifically, like what you might hear at a Dwarven Castle Keep.
Another nice mystery band and album from this project. At times they seem a little too earnest in some ways, but I like the kind of baroque take on folk music that sounds a bit like a 21st-century version of (European) medieval traditional songs. There's definitely more than a hint of bands like The Lumineers/Mumford & Sons/Of Monsters and Men, but not enough to seem like a Black Keys sort of homage band. I also enjoyed the somewhat odd claymation video for "White winter hymnal", despite that both it and the bizarre Jesus-and-some-of-his-disciples-in-a-manger-with-a-LOT-of-goats video for "He doesn't know why" made it actually harder to understand each song's intent (and quite the Godspell vibe with the latter video). Regardless, an impressive debut album from a bunch of hairy Seattle lads.
Listening to this, I felt like I was at a local music festival and was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the local music. After listening, I immediately listened to Mountain Man's "Boat" to hear something similar but much better. Not sure why this album's on this list.
3. 5
I like the instrumentals. But the lyrics prevented me from totally enjoying it. I will maybe go back soon and feel different. Lets see.
Nice and pleasant. Well produced, especially for a debut. It sounds intimate but the slight reverb on the vocals helps give it a bit of a larger and more dramatic sound. A nice use of different instrumentation and creative harmonies too There is just something that's not quite grabbing me and compelling me to listen repeatedly though. I would've liked maybe slightly less emphasis on the vocals (which are good, mind you) and more instrumental sections to provide a bit of variety, give some breathing room and break the album up a little bit. Still good though 3.5 Highlights: Your Protector, Quiet Houses
love this one
All the songs on this sound the same. I wouldn't say it's a terrible album, but I disagree with it being on a notably list, and I wouldn't seek it out.
This was a fine album to listen to, but also pretty forgettable
good album not my taste
Unique harmonies? Unconventional song structures? Buckle up for some late-2000's indie! Fleet Foxes aren't unfamiliar to me, in fact they have a distinctive sound when comparing indie acts from this era. "White Winter Hymnal" is one of those songs that just about everyone around my age has heard at least once. The hymn and gospel-like sound is almost entrancing and hooks the listener immediately. The rest of the album flows along and takes on a folk-like persona in most parts. It's soothing, but I can understand those who would be annoyed by the overall "mood" I guess. I tend to prefer more "energetic" indie rock personally, but this had some beauty I could appreciate.
The Good: If we shorting the band name to FF, than we are forewarned about needing to fast-forward the songs… The Bad: the fact that the band name wasn’t Singing Koalas Into Porn. The Ugly: The look on the koala’s face… I mean, really? This is folk? Or Indie? Or Rock? This is none of the above. This is shit. This was a total waste of my time. This is what has been wrong with society for a while, thinking it is something which it obviously isn’t… Poor koalas deserved better… 1*
Very solid debut album. Refreshing call-backs to traditional american folk music but it isn't afraid to push the classic sound in innovative directions. Cozy album for log-cabins and cool mornings. 8.2/10
Börjar exakt som jag förväntar mig att ett band som heter Fleet Foxes ska börja. Jag gillar det. Fint och melodiskt. Kommer säkert lyssna igen. Bra julmusik.
Fleet foxes har jag lyssnat på en del. Gillar verkligen soundet. storslagen folkpop. Skivan är behaglig från början till slut.
Hade aldrig hört talas om dem förut. Fin och väldigt välproducerad. Växte med flera genomlyssningar. Förstår inte riktigt storheten med White winter hymnal som verkar varit lead single och har överlägset mest spelningar på Spotify. Föredrar exempelvis Your protector, Blue ridge mountains och He doesn’t know why. Stabil fyra, även om den är mer jämnbra snarare än att ha låtar som verkligen sticker ut.
Igual es porque de por sí estoy un poco bajón, pero me hizo llorar. Una portada muy linda; transmite muy bien el sonido del álbum, producción impecable; un sentimiento de arropo muy fuerte (me hizo acordar a Churupaca en eso), y lo mejor para mí: las armonías, suenan súper limpias y orgánicas (me recordó mucho a Aurora). Necesitaba escuchar algo así, definitivamente voy a escuchar más de ellos.
Great! Thoroughly enjoyed it. Hard to fault other than maybe a touch same-y.
It's a very pleasant listen but I'm a lyrics listener and it didn't really register on that level. I knew White Winter Hymnal pretty well already and it's a lovely song, but that kind of folky Christmas energy is through a lot of it. Also I love the artwork.
Not an unpleasant listening experience but as someone commented to me it’s basically a sound with no substance. So sounds good but not a classic
Smashing darling
Some really beautiful songs but didn’t keep my interest the whole album
Snooze fest. Maybe that’s what they were going for?
I may give this one another try in the future...
A beautiful, almost medieval love story immersed in a woodland atmosphere. 'Sun It Rises' may not have been a strong beginning, but 'White Winter Hymnal' and 'Ragged Wood' carried the album, and 'Your Protector' was a particularly strong point. It was a little uninspiring, but overall, it was a very pleasant listen.
Not genre breaking, but well written indie folk. A good listen on a cold autumnal morning. 4/5
Sleepy and inoffensive.
Not exactly my thing, but not bad. A little bland.
looks like shit. sorry sun it rises- 6 white winter hymnal- 6 ragged wood- warrior cats. 5 tiger mountain peasant song- booooooo 3 or 4 quiet houses- "come to me" 🤨. 4 he doesnt know why- 4 heard them stirring- 4 your protector- 5 meadowlarks- 4 blue ridge mountains- shenandoah river. life is old here, older than the trees. 4 oliver james- booooo 3 it wasnt that bad, just boring.
nunca comprei fleet foxes, indie folk (pra piorar com essa pegada meio barroca das ideia) não me desce legal não. inclusive eles influenciaram pra caralho uma porrada de banda que eu detesto. no final do dia eu sonho pelo esquecimento do indie folk como gênero, eu NÃO quero ser uma dríade alternativa dançando nas florestas do norte sob as folhas do outono.
é isso aí. não sou o maior apreciador de folk num geral, mas não detestei completamente. gostei de blue ridge mountains, achei singela. mas assim, a proposta me irrita bastante. música com poucos elementos, instrumentos chiques, um tom bucólico. vai tomar no cu, ou. vai arruma um emprego tá ligado, mó música pau mole
The whole album has a single vibe. Decent enough mixed into a playlist, but gets boring over a whole album
I’ve always had a little hard time with this band. On one hand they have some really decent moments but they also come off a tad pretentious. The harmonies are good but are a little overbearing every track. It seems roots sounding but a little contrived. This is a band who I enjoy seldom but I feel they still get a solid 3/5 even with my reservation. It’s not my thing totally but kinda understand it’s high praise. Definitely got better on later albums Ps - this also came out in a time when I was in high school and this was a real “Hipster” band. In the end Fleet Foxes real problem might be just bad timing of when I was introduced
It wasn’t bad but not really my style.
This is the kind of Indy I think I like. Pretty solid! Would give 3.5
Nee. Schrecklich.
Something I have often see at boot sales, but had never taken time to listen to it. Great for in the background, would I buy it next time I see it? Don’t think so at this point.
I feel cozy and warm while breathing in the clear mountain air, snow softly and slowly covering my porch, while the fire crackles in the fireplace - the album. On a more technical level: Indie Folk Pop, but really well produced. Leaning heavy on the gentle choir and acoustic sound, and tends to build up to a climax that occasionally doesn't come. The soundscape is also not particularly varied, but the album is short enough to not become boring. Where it does excel, in my opinion, is in conveying this mountainy feeling and invoking images. All in all, an excellent debut.
Lacking feeling
it's OK, not sure why it's on this list.
Feels like Ren Faire music. Easy listen.
Sounded like autumn to me. Was pretty good
Beautiful. I have a massive soft spot for folk. I only knew White Winter Hymnal going in, and always meant to get round to listening to more but never did. Now I wish I had sooner.
Beautiful album and band.
My beloved...
Nice and calming
Sort of alright. Nothing bad but very bland and forgettable.
I really wanted to like this. It possibly seems like one of those albums you have to listen to a few times to get.
cute
ok but not very interesting
pretty good
First time listening to Fleet Foxes. Quite like their brand of harmonic, folky, slightly psychedelic sound. However, didn't hear much that will stay with me or make me want to hear more from them. Okay I guess
Folk. Legalzinho
I liked the blend of soulful americana and indie pop it was a good introduction to this band that a lot of my contemporaries like
First song pretty good, couple of other decent ones but too folky, 2.5/5
Gran álbum!! Precioso, mucho folk americano e inglés y ecos de Zeppelin, Beach Boys, The Byrds y Simon y Garfunkel. Tratamiento pop pero con toques progresivos y psicodélicos a veces. Los juegos de voces simplemente magistrales.
Yup. This is the kind of album I need from this list. Not only it hits all checks my taste-wise, but it's the band I've never even heard of. The music is great. There is no other way to say this. The guitar reminds me of Mike Oldfield's playing. All-around great experience.
Good album. Aged well. Gets better with more listens.
A fine folk pop album. A little boring, not much differentiation between tracks. At least the album is brief and does hold a consistent theme. Sounds like the way a suburban parent wearing Patagonia looks.
sounds like a mystical chamber folk movie soundtrack. definitely not offensive, but probably not what I’m going to jam while working or driving or making dinner (the three most important music listening activities)
Pretty good sound
No. 275/1001 … Sun It Rises 3/5 White Winter Hymnal 4/5 Ragged Wood 4/5 Tiger Mountain Peasant Song 3/5 Quiet Houses 4/5 He Doesn't Know Why 3/5 Heard Them Stirring 3/5 Your Protector 4/5 Meadowlarks 4/5 Blue Ridge Mountains 4/5 Oliver James 3/5 Average: 3,55 Really cool laid-back folk rock album.
I had never heard of Fleet Foxes, and TBH I wished it had remained that way.
This is #day80 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... what's the hype about? It's my first time listening to Fleet Foxes and quite possibly the last one. While I'm okay with some '60s-70s folk as you might have noticed in my previous reviews, this is way too much modern indie to my ears... Many songs blend into each other, and I can't tell the difference between them. I'm not a fan of this upbeat, positive-folk style either. That's not what I would choose to listen to before I die. Back to low scores because it's a 2 out of 5 this time. Looking forward to #day81.
Très bonne découverte.
Very enjoyable. The echo voice was a bit trying, but the music was pleasant.
I really enjoyed this album? I had heard a few of the songs, but never listen to the whole album. Good all around.
Some very comforting songs on here but I'm left thinking its just for comfort, not for expression. Does he really live his raps? For all the albums so far that lack the proper context for me, I can hear every Shins, Animal Collective, Grizzly Bear, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Fleetwood Mac antecedent that went into this Sub Pop product. Might be better as an EP?
4.5
Fleet Foxes slipped through my fingers during their most active years. Whispers of them here and there but always just sort of outside of my acquisition. Being familiar with a lot of the circle they traveled in makes hearing this album quite resonant with references near and dear. It didn't capture my heart immediately so it's not a five star review but it's a record full of promise to grow into that appreciation.
Meh, thought I was going to like this, but it's way way to folky.
was only familiar with them vaguely but this was pretty - think it'd be a great summer sunny outdoor album. although it felt like a less-good lord huron to me.
Snore fest!
Bit weird
I can’t think of another album I’ve gotten so far that I could so perfectly summarize as “Not for me.” I hate this era of twee, faux-woodsy, fake Bohemian, quaint, sparse, nothingness folk music. I hated it when it was popular, I hated everything it influenced in the 2010s, I hate it today. I find it not only disengaging, but also annoying and snobby. To me, it feels contrived. And everything about Fleet Foxes and their debut falls under this argument. I have no desire to listen to it ever, and I became actively angry as I listened to it, because it kept giving me nothing. Yet, I’ve heard way worse albums here, and I can’t deny that this is, from a crafts perspective, well-made. I can see glimpses of moments where I could’ve maybe latched on to something here, they just never materialized into something fully fleshed out for me, instead committing to a sparse and thin aesthetic that I can’t get behind in folk music. And while that’s not enough for me to praise it, it’s also not fair for me to deny its value. In so many words, Fleet Foxes by Fleet Foxes is very much not for me.
I was just never a huge fan of this kind of late 2000s folk rock.
Fleet Foxes are one of the bands that I just never got around to listening to for some reason. I have a lot of friends who love them, so I was excited to see this pop up this morning. I didn’t really know what to expect from this one... I remember reading a tweet or something celebrating the mercifully short-lived reign and welcome death of 'stomp-clap-hey' bands from the early 2000s and couldn't agree more. Fleet Foxes are definitely a stop-clap-hey band. This record is anyway. And while it isn't really to my taste, I do like this maybe a little better than some of the other bands that sounded just like this for a few years. Nothing about this really stood out for me except that it was recorded and produced very well. It sounds great. But I mean if that's the best compliment you can give, that's not exactly high praise for an album. I appreciate the musicianship, I just don't really like the music. I'm not sure I would really seek this particular album out to listen to it again, although I might listen to some of their other things. Maybe listen to some of their more recent records to see how (if?) they grew as a band and what kind of sound they have now. I'd be a little disappointed if it was more of the same but I suspect, as is the case with most of these 2000s indie folk bands, it probably is. 2.5/5 and I guess I’ll round up because rounding down doesn’t really seem fair.
I love this album. It was big for me when it came out and it holds up.
Är ju bra men så jäkla deppigt bara
Do you like indie music?, Well then this album is for you. I like this album, the songs have good rythem and good beat. The voice of the singer is pretty good. The lyrics are pretty weird on the song but it sounds good. Would I recommed this album the songs sound good.
I give it 2 out 5 doesn't really hype me up its okay its not bad I like the beat the instruments. I don't know what lyircs are saying at all and its confusing.
have you ever heard and thought it was calming thats what I thought about the album montezuma it has good lyrics and I like the instruments with the heavenly voice that plays with the lyrics why I like this song is because its got good lyrics and instruments I would recommend listening to this album.
I do NOT like this album. I HATE the songs and wouldn't say I like the singer's voices. I highly recommend that you don't listen to this album.
Do like upbeat music? Well, then this is the album for you! I like the song your protector because it is upbeat and the singer has an amazing voice! I also like the instruments because they are amazing too! SO that is why I recommend this album.
folky, smooth, sitting by the fire with some hot chocolate in hand. Nothing really bothers me about this album and it's an interesting debut album but also nothing really gets me excited. I'd listen again for a relaxed vibe, particularly for the Blue Ridge Mountains song
Dull indie rock for coffee shops
Chill early 2000's pop-folk- rock. 4/5
Like it
Great when it came out, great now.
soort van upbeat gregoriaans... 1 a 2 songs OK, maar dan slaat de verveling keihard toe
Para nada el tipo de música que escucho pero en general está bien, punto extra por la portada y "Quiet Houses"
old school melodies. recognised the second song and the voice.
love <3
Never heard of these folks before and what a chill smooth vibe. I'm here for it.
This was a nice, cozy surprise. It might not be the most inspiring or groundbreaking, but it is just good music, very well produced and performed.
Pretty good. 2.5
Really enjoyable listen, I will be revisiting this one
Not a very interessting album, but perfect for putting on in the background on a cold winter day.
A really full-sounding album. I liked the songwriting but the standout is the immersive colour of the sound they create. I thought I knew the White Winter Hymnal because of the Pentatonix, but much prefer the original, much less bland! Charming soundtrack to painting a little pumpkin haha
It reminds me very much of The Last Unicorn for some reason. I'm enjoying it, as it's very restful.
Beautiful songs of the woods
lost me by the second millennial whoop…
Not my cup of tea; maybe since I’m sick of the second song on here thanks to hearing it so often in the circles I was in. My favorite part was when they just played, then I got caught on the repetitive riff that is their distinguishing riff in the second song….is the riff in every song where ever they couldn’t do other ideas. 2/10
This band is strange for me. They have a pretty cool sound but they very rarely do anytyhing with it! It must all be in the same key or something, because are their songs have the same feeling, but they just do basic soft guitar picking and harmonies. There's only one song I like and I think it's the only one to have drums.
Great for a the season. Easy to listen to, but the start of the hymnal annoys me because I’ve hear it so much haha
Quintessential indie of the 10s
Loooooove White Winter Hymnal, the rest is fine and not memorable for me.
Always loved this. Great that so many influences cohere into something so distinct and beautiful. 4.5 🌟
liked, but a whole album of them is a bit much
Not quite too my liking, a little sonically drab.
I'm a bit drunk but there's something quite spiritual (and autumnal) about this album. It entrances me me like Bon Iver and Mudlakes Occupanther.
I quite enjoy this style of harmony-pop. They sounded like the American version on Mumford and Sons without the banjos. Which is a good thing.
I have some friends that think very highly about Fleet Foxes, so I came in with high hopes. I wasn't disappointed, but the band sounds exactly what indie-rock in the mid-late 2000's sounds like. To me they have a sound somewhere between Arcade Fire and the Decemberists, kind of a folk-rock, eclectic sound that isn't too wild and commercial enough sounding to appeal to a wider audience. This isn't unique in any way, there are similar sounding bands, so it's hard to dislike this, but also difficult to love. The music feels good and it's a soothing listen, so it's interesting enough to perhaps hear more from the discography.
#360. Just more hipster folk drivel, that just sounds exactly like all the rest of the hipster folk on the list. The album cover is pretty cool. I really like that. 2/5: meh Song added to playlist: White Winter Hymnal I've created a playlist on Spotify that consists of the best and/or my favorite song from each of the albums in this book. This list can be found here if you are interested: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7MAXDGLWlwLkFLb8veGfkA?si=FqkQQPgZTFWG0jAUJXLFZA&utm_source=copy-link
Notes
By no means essential. Not bad, but quite boring. Your Protector stands out and save 3 stars
I guess I just don't get folk music. It wasn't bad, but I didn't think the guy could sing very well and the music wasn't that interesting. 2.5/5
I very much like this mix of folk, indie, Americana, etc -- and some beautiful harmonies going on throughout this album as well.
Loved the vibe, the sound was really indie folk goodness. The lyrics were surprisingly dark and melancholic but it was a nice listen!
Bought it when it first came out based on reviews, never listened much. Now I know why. Damn this record is boring. Not a hook in sight. Beach Boys influenced? Nothing they ever produced is this boring, and I’ve listened to M.I.U. I might be overstating the case, but regardless this album is what purgatory must feel like - 39 minutes that feels like forever, trapped under a dome (echoes!) in the world’s worst renaissance fair.
Musically this album is just divine. The use of orchestral instruments like a real bass drum (not one part of a drum kit) in Sun It Rises and the flute in Your Protector kicked things up a level for me. Also the almost Gregorian-type chanting was really cool. I think it's hard to use these types of instruments and themes throughout an album whilst still retaining a real folky vibe.
Folksy abandon A mythic magic runs through Spellbinding beauty
I loved revisiting this! So much of what indie folk is today comes from this. I don’t think it has been done better by anyone expect for sufjan. This is perfect running in the woods and finding a picnic spot music and the lyrics don’t have rhyme to be good like the smiths. However knowing the albums that start in this list it’s an easy 7 but closer to a 6/10 so
Only liked 1
Hard to explain but something about this album left me just a bit cold. The ingredients are there; good harmonies, nice, well-crafted indie-folk-but-not-quite, but I've been playing it for a few days and every time it starts again I don't feel like finishing it. Somehow less than the sum of its parts.
Not bad. Reminds me of Band of Horses.
Sonically, this album is amazing. What’s even crazier is it’s a debut album and sounds so polished. Honestly could have came out today and I wouldn’t think twice. I will say, it’s a little slow for my liking, and after 2 listens, I don’t see too much replay value.
Contemplates death in a melodic fasion
mccombo regular con papas fritas regulares
Está cactus de cerati
Dios bajó del cielo y dejó este disco
Songs written with a lot of heart to it, even if I felt like I was being preached to by a Christian choir group.
I was wondering how long the first song was so I looked and I was on the 4th track so there's that. Not bad tho, pretty relaxing, I got no issues :)
Nice folky stuff. Makes me wanna buy a phone and run to the beach at the break of dawn in 2012
I really want to give this a 4 because I did enjoy it, but no individual song actually stood out to me, it was all just the same folk drivel. Song after song I found myself not being able to tell when one stopped and the other started, but maybe they have some good stuff spread out across their other albums.
Boring
Love white winter hymnal, so I'm excited to get into the whole album. A lovely album, 5*
That is some debut
Peasant music
Nice sounds, but didn't really do anything for me at an emotional level. Go background music for an autumn day.
I enjoyed the last half of the album more than the first half but can't say I'd listen again to their music. It was good, but not my favorite.
Yeah. I remember this band. I didn't need to be reminded that they existed. I get it. It's not for me. Sounds a bit similar to itself.
Right from the words "indie folk," I'll admit, I was a little worried. See, I tend to have this association in my mind between it and, like, insufferably pompous and hipster twee shit. The kind of stuff contemporary critics will just eat up for one reason or another, but for everyone else it's just a nuisance. Now, of course I went into this project with hopes that that line of thought would be proven wrong. I'm not **that** cynical. I just... Had some doubts otherwise. After listening to it, on the one hand, I can hear where I was coming from. "Lookit us with our flannel and our mountain-man beards–aren't we so **cute**?" That sort of sound. If someone upchucked hearing this music, I'd completely get it. However, looking at the other hand, I gotta admit: I'm happy my doubts were largely proven wrong. I tolerated it way better than I thought I would–heck, I wouldn't even say I "tolerated" it. I actually liked it quite a fair bit, thanks largely to this kind of "beautifully dreamy" atmosphere it has. It reminds me a lot of The Beach Boys' PET SOUNDS. I jus' kinda sank into it, and, well, while I never had that same feeling of "Damn, this is the greatest music of all time" I have with PET SOUNDS, it was just so nice to float along this thing's current. It's not too dissimilar to what I get out of some of my favorite dream pop songs. So, yeah, I gotta hand it to Fleet Foxes. I went into this album expecting it to be a "3 at **best**" deal, but listening to it here in the dark as I write this review... Goodness, no, I may just hafta give this thing a 5. It just hits such a wonderfully good mood for me. I can't say "no" to it. And I guess I should take back what I said about their beards, too. Not the flannel, though. Flannel's a bit much. Like, I'm sorry; I know it fits your aesthetic and all, but that's just how it is.
Absolutely breathtaking folk music. Easiest 5 I can give.
I’m at a 5. I’ve been sitting here for the past 15 minutes, and much like I was after Leonard Cohen’s “You Want It Darker,” I’m struggling to find the words to say about this album. It does evoke art in the classical sense to me, much in the same way that album did, but not in terms of a life long lived that I can’t carry the weight of, nor does it feel like I’m staring at the Mona Lisa in a museum or anything. Instead, this feels more like a family portrait in a living room, and all the stories that can be told about the individual members. This album is rich with variance in its soundscape, its storytelling, and its vocal stylings, and it just evokes the same feeling of a family reunion to me, being regaled by stories of places I’ve never been and people I’ve never met, but making them sound grandiose in their own way, whether it’s from a bright point of happiness or making it sound deeply sad. I can carry those stories with me, much like I can digest this album far easier than Leonard Cohen's. I’m smart enough to recognize that not everyone will feel this way – I can easily see someone giving this a 2 or a 3 for being “overplayed 2000s indie rock” and being deathly bored of this general style, which is entirely fair. For my tastes, however, this just clicked beautifully for me – I think every track was great, the vocals were fabulous (especially when layered), and even if a few tracks aren’t “lyrically interesting,” there’s still something to the instrumentation that gave them such depth and charm in a way that can really only be captured and felt while listening to it. I deeply, deeply enjoyed this. It’s an incredibly easy 5 for me.
This is such an uplifting album. The production is lush and the harmonies are beautiful. I think there's a lot of depth to this album that I'll discover on subsequent listens. Liked Songs Added: - White Winter Hymnal - Ragged Wood - Blue Ridge Mountains
I liked this one a lot more than I thought I would
Ok-ish, dull music that sounds very similar to other bands
I am not a fan of folk music at all, mostly because I never grew up on it but this album is fan fucking tastic. the production is awesome, the vocals are amazing, and the total vibe of the album is unmatched. debut album too. incredible.
Honestly, while it's very beautiful music with some standout moments, I struggle to find any urge to listen to it.
I enjoyed this decently well, which is interesting, as I wouldn't say that I am necessarily a huge fan of the genre. I'd probably do a 3.5 if available, but since that isn't an option, I'll round up because of liking it despite the genre.
This was a cool little mellow melodic album. I was humming the entire time and it was over before I knew it. Not really my preferred genre, but I appreciated it for what it is. Three stars.
I’ve had a couple of people recommend Fleet Foxes to me over the years and I’ve never taken them up on this. Now, I realise I wasn’t missing anything special. In fact, I hated this. There’s few genres I hate more than “indie folk”. I resisted giving it one star because there are some moments which are not terrible.
Good folky
Oh, Fleet Foxes, I really like u! I absolutely love White winter hymnal, but most other tracks in this album just couldn't keep up. That is why this is a 4 not 5.
Very interesting style, reminds me of old styles mixed with new.
It is a fine enough album is what I will say. I like that they call out in the write up that they are a "nature band"
Pleasant listening. Very nice on the ears. Sounds like adventure the whole album. I dig it
Mmm mmhmm thats some good boom stop clap shit. Mmmhmmm right thurr. Fleet foxes on shuffle is perfect flannel and moccosins music. Realitively uninspiring, but quintessential "pick me, I'm different" music. But at its core is still really warm and diverse in nature. This is a fine example of that aforementioned boom stomp clap music. I like it a lot but can't rank it too high. Its generic, nothing to write home about.
lay me down lay me down
Holy shit why have I never listened to these guys before?! I'd heard of Fleet Foxes a lot and for some reason just never looked them up. I have been missing out though because I loved this album! 5 ⭐️
Great sound and vocals. I like their harmonization. Overall, not a bad album and I enjoyed most tracks.
Vocals are nice, and the instrument arrangements are interesting and bring in a variety of instruments. I can understand why the album is rated high critically. That said the album didn't really pull me in and I found it a bit sleepy at times. Maybe I need to give it a few more listens to better appreciate it.
That was nice. This is a nice album. I like it. I'm cool with it being on the list. It's different from other things. It's a folk album that has clear classic roots but also feels modern at the same time. That's a good thing. The sound is very pleasant to listen to. I love it. It makes me happy. The singing is similarly nice. I like the harmonies. The writing is quite good too. This whole album makes me feel cozy in a way. This album makes me want to go outside in the fall. It's not quite fall yet, but at some point in the future, I would love to spend a fall day in the forest listening to this album and then come home to binge watch Over the Garden Wall again. That would be nice. This album's great. I wish I had more to say. High 4/5.
If your in the mood for moody atmospheric indie music. This is your jam
# Playlist track - White Winter Hymnal # Notes - Technically good, but super boring. - I do appreciate the harmonies, but this is a dull album and doesn't really do much unless you really crave some sulking around.
whatever....again, through no fault of its own, this record suffers from an inherent datedness in my mind due to the timeline of my own life, but i did find this quite tiresome by the end of it. i was like shut the hell up with that pitch please oooh woooooaaah a cappella choral harmonies!! the songs that stuck out to me this time were the ones i also liked way back when, so revisiting it now didn't really alter my opinion of the album. fav tracks: white winter hymnal; ragged wood; blue ridge mountains
This is another one that just isn’t really my style, and exposure to this album didn’t really pique my interest in the band/genre. It sounds to me like a lot of the other indie folk that I’ve heard (through no effort of my own) throughout the last ~15 years and I’m not necessarily saying this to write off the album; I’m assuming it’s very possible that since this is considered one of the best albums of the 2000s / best debut albums of all time that it’s a trendsetter, and that so many things sound similar to it because of how influential it was. However it’s not something I’d ever reach for other than two songs at the end that particularly stood out to me as more unique sounding than the rest and very beautiful. Fav tracks: Meadowlarks, Blue Ridge Mountains
Meh. This isn't my genre. I'm sure Loudermilk would be raving about it, but non-critics like me find it meek and effeminate.
Well I'm a sucker for 00s-10s indie folk, so this one is right up my alley. The lyrics, the instrumentals, and the harmonies are just so good.
Very unique sound, thought I was listening to the beach boys for a second, the harmonies and music are just breathtaking. Thoroughly enjoyed.
Stands out as one of the best debuts from the 2000s wave of folk-rock inspired indie bands, with a touch of neo-psychedelia. Recalls bands like The Shins and Arcade Fire. Beautifully-arranged, well-written and produced songs.
It’s a nope.
Listened to 6 tracks. Felt less interested the more that I listened
Not for me. Couldn't get past 3 tracks
A LOVING AND NOSTALGIC ALBUM
это альбом 2008 года - я ахуел от этого факта
I want to like it more. I tried to like it more. I don’t hate it. But it just suffers from a banal sameness throughout that keeps me from getting overly excited about it. Almost a 3.
One good song does not make a good album
Well I listened to this approximately 6 times in a row on Friday, so I think I’m rounding my 4.5 up to a 5. White Winter Hymnal has been a favorite for years but I wasn’t familiar with the rest of the album. New favorites include Ragged Wood, He Doesn’t Know Why, Your Protector, Blue Ridge Mountain, and Oliver James.
This was lovely, languid and dreamy. Knew of them, but not sure if I was familiar with it. Will listen to more of them.
Wore this (mp3) album out in 2008/09. If I recall correctly, they got rockier on the second album and kept moving in that direction, but I could have done with another album or two of folk music and harmonies. (I mean, the only point of “heard them stirring” is to flex those harmonies.) I know I listened to Shore, their 2020 album, and I definitely enjoy Helplessness Blues, that second album, but this is the only one I return to with any regularity.
Just gorgeous. I love this album and Fleet Foxes. An album that feels like being in the beautiful woods surrounded by beautiful nature. Individual tracks don't necessarily stand out but I don't mind at all. 4.5/5
4-5/5; interesting
High 3s
Slow pace, might be goo cry to
I can appreciate the harmonising and the layering, but blimey I can't appreciate how tepid it is.
Not much to say. Quite liked it
Quite whimsical 4.5
mega fajna muzyczka wprawiła mnie w fajny moodzik brzmi jakby tak folkowo trochę mega mega 9.5/10
White people lose it for this stuff.
Happy to have been a white person whose soul was touched.
This was a great album. At times I felt like I was on the way to the ren faire. Other times were more introspective. I loved white winter hymnal
Beach boys do folk
It was neat to recognize a couple of songs!
Beautiful album. This holds a special place in my heart. I must've listened to this album hundreds of times, but I haven't revisited recently. It's not just a pretty folk album, the arrangements are interesting and counter-intuitive. It sounds old and mysterious--as if it was discovered after being lost for hundreds of years. *****
Indie folk music with a medieval twist I guess. I was interested on the opening track, but it soon all blurred together. It's almost aggressively inoffensive, and I found it rather dull. I think my biggest gripe with this album is that it could have been released in prior decades and fit right in. It's not ground breaking in any way whatsoever, nor did it start any trends or movements. I'm assuming it's on here because it sold a lot.
Too slow for my taste but very well done.
Didn't think I'd like it, but I did :)
Very dreamy and feywild fun, would happily listen to again
Some good stuff came out in this era and this still holds up. A unique almost mediaeval sound but great songs.
good vocals a chill indie album
Good harmonies, chill vibes.
More mellow than expected
Classic indie album. Nothing that floored me but pretty good album.
Good
“They placed their guitar amplifiers in Native American tipis for aesthetics”, wrote the Wikipedia contributor, maybe a PR person, ticking off the “lackadaisical cultural appropriation” box in my “I-SPY: Hipster Roots Music” spotters’ guide. A decade or so back, deep in mid-gentrification East London, you couldn’t toss a carefree Molotov without immolating some tender Tarquin in a flat cap torturing a banjo and an oversized mic borrowed from Grandpapa, and while this album sorely lacks banjo, it completely captures that vibe of stealing nostalgia from bones in coffins. Throwing Brueghel’s “Netherlandish Proverbs” onto the cover for its “really weird stuff” is super-functioning hipsterdom, and teasing the listener with an opening song that is actually quite exciting before diving into monotonous, intricate, tuneless harmonising is exactly what their fans deserved. May your tipi burn bright, long and noiselessly.
What was going on in the late 2000s? Why were pastiche sea shanties, skiffle and Gregorian chants on every hipster's iPod? I'm quite glad I missed much of it, the case in favor made here is pretty thin. A disappointment after the earlier "Mykonos" (a relative banger) pointed towards a more tuneful and less precious evolution
So boring. I almost fell asleep
You know, I was very in to this album when it came out and listened to it a bunch, saw them live on that tour, and then just stopped listening to it and never checked out any subsequent releases. I was expecting that I'd be pretty meh on it, which I was, but it's also just a good record. The sound is a bit too one note for me, but in general it's super solid.
Agree with the reviewer who said this is an album for simpler days. 4 stars.
Meh
Nice easy listening album, but nothing stands out 3/5
I was only familiar with their 2017 release. Why I haven't delved deeper in their discog; god knows why but I'll surely do it now
Amazing album. first time listening to FLeet Foxes, my fav artist now.
Never heared of them before. Nothing remarkable. Sounds too much like a church choir to me. favourite: "Your Protector" 2,5
Hippy bollocks. Dreamy, dreary, ugh. By the time we hear "Ragged wood", things get a little more lively, but it's quite a forgettable song. "Quiet Houses" is a little less dead. The subsequent reversion to monkishness makes me wish the house was quiet. I've finally found a band I hate more than Travis. I hate this album so much. Really awful. I wonder how it made it into the 1001?
It's a pleasure to listen to this one again. My sister in law introduced me to this band, along with Avett Brothers, Dawes, Bon Iver and some other Americana folk indie bands that I thoroughly enjoy. I probably would've found these bands on my own sooner or later, but the memories are always better when someone has shared it with you.
Really enjoyable background music.
A really unique and interesting sound. Was too sleepy to give it a proper listen, but I’ve heard them before
Ok
Was introduced to them years ago. They have a unique sound just reminds me of some valley or field, hard to hate. 3.5
Didn't really do much for me, I only listened to it once though. I saw the album floating around in the past but I never gave it a listen. I really like folk music, but this just seemed like some kind of bland folk-pop to me. I can see myself giving it another listen in the future, though. I really feel like there's more to discover with this release.
I wanted to like this album more than I did. I gave it 4 complete listens over the weekend and although it sounded better on a real stereo, I still didn’t get into it as much as my musical colleagues. Just sounded like another version of Mumford and sons, and both bands have stupid names.
I really love this album - it’s one I had forgotten about until this challenge, I was so happy hearing it again after so long! Fleet Foxes was on high rotation for me in the late naughties along with other indie folk revival musicians like Angus and Julia Stone, Joanna Newsom and Beirut. A whimsical time in my life - starting my dream job post uni, before becoming a mother and the change of pace that brings (Of course at the time I didn't realise how magical this season was!) Back to the music - I really enjoy the harmonies, powerful vocals and mostly acoustic instrumentals. Tiger Mountain Peasant Song is particularly burned into my memory as one I'd listen to on repeat riding my bike to work - its probably still on my ipod shuffle somewhere. Sad that my copy of this album got lost somewhere in the many house moves of my 20s, but happy to rediscover it in the age of streaming! Its aged pretty well, but I think it could be pretty repetitive to new listeners. I’m into it.
If The Wicker Man starred The Beach Boys. The Bwicker Manboys.
Good album. Different to what I normally listen to but enjoyed it.
Wow, this album is special to me, it’s one of the first albums I listened to that wasn’t something one of my parents owned, so it’s sort of formative in that way. White Winter Hymnal is a song I sing all the time. This will probably be an incredibly subjective rating. I will say Helplessness Blues is better but still.
Nice harmonies
Ég kynntist þessu bandi eiginlega í gegnum kóraflutning á bara einu af lögunum þeirra. Virkilega flott lög og það var ánægjulegt að hlusta á þessa plötu. Hún býr til skemmtilega vellíðan og fer alveg pottþétt aftur á fóninn til að skapa rólegheitastemmningu.
Wow, this is probably the best album I've discovered through this project so far. It feels like a mix of 60s sunshine pop, folk, and baroque pop, and I'm really digging it. I'm definitely going to listen to the rest of their stuff. 4.5 stars
What if you took Simon & Garfunkel and CSN&Y and (somehow) made it better? This album manages to take a sound that was already pretty much perfect and somehow makes it better. The singing and harmonising are extraordinary and He Doesn’t Know Why never fails to bring me out in goosebumps. I remember stumbling across Fleet Foxes on Jools Holland’s show once and instantly falling in love in a way that has happened with very few bands.
Eh. Not bad. Not my type at all. Cool and calming, relaxing even, good background music too. Very country-folk-indie. 6.000000000000001/10.
moments but nothing held me. maybe a listen in a different season would change that? could i write poetry to this? n
Pretty typical Mid-2000's Indie Pop/Rock. Nothing remarkable here. It's not bad, but it's also not special.
The only thing unfortunately about this album coming up is the timing. This is a perfect winter album
Started off OK, but after 3 songs I was ready for it to end.
"White Winter Hymnal" is a fantastic track. "He Doesn't Know Why" is also good. Don't remember Fleet Foxes being this folk-y but the album is a good listen.
Sigh. I feel super critical today. But this one just didn't grab me. Not even a lyric, a line, a melody. Maybe nova scotia has spoiled me, but there's more affective folk in our backyard. Some of the instrumental surprises were interesting, but it was as if they were trying to be retro and new, but had nothing of value to say or add to the timeline of music history. I like music that does something to me emotionally. This doesn't. Even the lyrical repetitions ring hollow to me---rather than emphasis, I hear loops that are caught up in a navel-gazing sense of their own perceived profundity. At the very least I would have liked to have heard a good story or sense of lived understanding of thought/sensation.....
Never heard this band, but so good. It’s almost like a new take on late 60’s early 70’s, but still modern and indie ish. Very cool.
Haven’t heard this album in over 10 years. The reverb and mixing always felt claustrophobic which turned me off. Once I got through that this time, I actually found myself enjoying most of it. I would give it a 3.5 if I could.
Forgettable
2.0 Didnt think any of tracks stood out as being anything special