Tune of the Week – “Sun Giant”
Jim Carroll
There’s nothing old-fashioned about a fantastic song and Fleet Foxes know all about fantastic songs.
These five Foxes hail from Washington and they are not hippies. I’ve seen them stress this point in a few interviews so it’s worth repeating it. They may have beards and long straggly hair and stoner looks in their eyes and play a far-out style of helium folk-pop, but they’re not hippies.
What Fleet Foxes are, though, are troubadours with a sure handle on splendid, outlandish, extraordinarily lush and baroque harmonies which will make you reel away in wonder. I saw them live a few weeks ago supporting Blitzen Trapper in New York and they were as swell as bands come right now. They left you wanting more (unlike, unfortunately, the headliners).
Signed to Sub Pop over there and Bella Union over here, their debut album “Fleet Foxes” will be released in June. This is the title track from the “Sun Giant EP” which the band are currently flogging at their shows and online. Enjoy. (The video below isn’t great, but the song is fantastic)
This EP is great. Their album is arguably the best thing around this year. Fill the My Morning Jacket shaped hole in my life until they release later this year.
Yep, I’m getting more and more into their EP with every day. There’s just so much good stuff around at the moment – and for some reason it all seems to be coming from the United States. Look at A Place To Bury Strangers, DoDos, White Denim, Yeasayer, Times New Viking, New Bloods, She & him, High Places, Tickley Feather, Bon Iver, Kit, John Maus etc etc etc
Absolutely lads. It’s an incredibly accomplished EP which touches draws out some of the best qualities of the Band and MMJ with each listen. For me Times New Viking has been the standout CD so far and brought back great memories of classic 90s lo-fi. ‘Relevant Now’ is a brilliant track. I also look forward to the upcoming release from The Thermals. Great to see Bon Iver playing Dublin in June (it was surprising to discover that he is not in fact the lead singer from TV on the Radio). I’ve heard Yeasayer are a great live act but I think the album is a little patchy. The Beach House album is also very strong. All this great material… barely enough time to listen to my overlooked album of 2007 by A Sunny Day in Glasgow…
Fleets Foxes are tasty…. no doubt.
I heard the opposite about Yeasayer- that they’re no good live.
They werent bad live – but they weren’t great either! Not as good as the album.
I really like the album. That new speeded up single is horrible though.
Really glad to see Fleet Foxes get a mention on here. That EP is really uplifitng. The album, on the other hand, seems to have less stand out tracks – though ‘White Winter Hymnal’ is absolutely stunning.
Agree with all the names in comment #2. Exciting times.
…And I thoroughly enjoyed Yeasayer live, but maybe that’s just me!
The album does seem to be more subdued but is getting better by the listen. The EP is a stunner though and nice to see no overlapping with the long player.
Listening to the album now, it’s quite inderstated but seems quite good.
I thought the album wasnt out until June. What’s it called?
Yeasayer were absolutely brilliant live. Went with two who had never heard the record and both came out completely converted.
ps the Dirty Projectors were also excellent