Music magazines often use the term Wooden music when they want to describe the type of music that I am about to review. It stands for the following: discrete touching of guitars by two or three men who helplessly sing with their soft vocals. This combination of sounds is irresistible, which is why it finds place in hearts of all the vulnerable people around the world. The Beach Boys, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young and The Eagles are the band that were spinning in my player more than ballerina spins on the fair.
When it comes to modern era, there are many other wooden music musicians who found success sticking to the genre, such as Midlake and My Morning Jacket. Most of these bands write best songs when their chicks leave them, so they pour their heart into the guitar. Fleet Foxes is my absolute favorite of those guys.
Fleet Foxes brought something different with their self-titled debut: instead of classic constructions verse-chorus-verse-chorus-transition, they use forms of singing that sound like church choir. It is what Brian Wilson calls Teenage symphony to God. In other words, Fleet Foxes sound like typical Californian band with one problem – they are not from California. The band comes from Seattle. But who cares about geography when they manage to send us panoply of emotions and leave us speechless with interesting melodic solutions.
Fleet Foxes know how to sing, and their singer reminds me of Jim James from My Morning Jacket. Occasionally, their music sounds obsolete. It’s like the guys want to appear cool in front of their older brothers. Still, the overall effect is impressive. Songs of Fleet Foxes deliver nostalgia for the past summer, failed relationships and loss of virginity. It seems like such events leave bigger mark for boys from the Coast, maybe due to the fact that the sea and the wind help with the infatuation. Meteorological factors trick you to believe your romance is something special. As the album continues, you conclude that love is the same on each meridian.
White Winter Hymnal, Quiet Houses, He Doesn’t Know Why and Ragged Wood were biggest hits from the band’s debut. The album even reached top 20 on UK Album Chart, although it did not peak high in the United States.
However, I want Fleet Foxes to release their new album as soon as possible. It’s been a long time and the winter is coming. I need my fix of skillfully pathetic songs, and I don’t fall for Adele.
