Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues

By far the best moments on the debut album were the moment of quiet intimacy – 'Tiger Mountain Peasant Song' and 'Oliver James' – just before the percussion kicked in and it all got kicked up a notch – the choruses in 'White Winter Hymnal' and 'Your Protector'. Rather than just rehash the same-old same-old there is a lingering darkness and uncertainty to the whole album. The lyrics question man’s typical standard in the universe, lead singer Robin Pecknold saying, instead of being a unique snowflake, he’d rather be “a functioning cog in some great machinery serving something beyond me”. And some parts, like the end of 'The Shrine/An Argument' are downright disharmonious, the complete antithesis of what Fleet Foxes thus far have been about. It might be a bit of a shock for listeners expecting songs about romping through sunny meadows.

They haven’t forgotten what they do best though. ‘Helplessness Blues’ is a lovely song that stands equal to any song released off the first album. ‘Montezeuma’ manages to balance ethereal harmonics with powerful, persuasive lyrics. ‘Blue Spotted Tail’ and ‘Lorelai’ are personal favourites; having heard the former live 2 years ago I’m glad to see it’s lost nothing on its transition to an album. It’s by no means the best song on the album, but a breathing space as the penultimate song before the raucous, joyous ‘Grown Ocean’ which hints at new directions Fleet Foxes could find themselves going in.

If you liked the first Fleet Foxes album, you’ll love this. If you found the first album maybe a little twee, this has depth and complexity that the first did not. Though the second album doesn’t have the brilliant harmonics to the extent its predecessor had, it more than makes up for it with the variety. A worthy contender surely for the best album this year.

★★★★

Like this? Try Pet Sounds by the Beach Boys, Wild Mountain Nation by Blitzen Trapper, The Big Black and The Blue by First Aid Kit.

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