Review of the Fleet Foxes' "Sun Giant"

Band: Fleet Foxes
Album: Sun Giant (EP)
Label: Subpop
Rating: 4 out of 8,
Draw/Split Decision

I find it impossible to write a negative review for the Sun Giant EP, even though I didn't like the effort as a whole. It's not that the Fleet Foxes aren't any good; it's quite the opposite, really. They're good; damn good, but in the end the EP is a disappointment, as it is more notable for what is left out rather than what it offers.

It's not a problem of talent. The band, a collaborative effort between five musicians, includes absolutely stunning voices, and real instrumental talent, but the accompaniment is so spare that it's as if the band was stripped of their instruments beforehand. For all intents and purposes, much of the EP is a capella.

Now this isn't technically true. There is accompaniment, but it is often overpowered by lead singer Robin Pecknold's voice and the rest of the band. That's not to say that the singing isn't good. It is. Imagine Neil Young and Buffalo Springfield sans guitar, drums, and so on. Yes, they are that good; like Young, Pecknold has a distinctive voice that one simply must listen to, as one doesn't hear vocals this good very often.

With that said, however, vocals alone aren't enough. The best proof of this comes from the EP's fourth track, "Mykonos" which is, without question, the best track on the EP. More than that, it might be one of the best songs of the year. In it, the band reaches a balance, and in one song Fleet Foxes puts themselves on par with the musicians they obviously emulate.

So, it is by these (probably unfair) standards I call the EP a disappointment. They've shown what they can do, and I simply want to see more music like "Mykonos". If they can do that, I think everyone will know them soon enough.

Looking forward, the Fleet Foxes full length is coming out June 3, and SubPop was kind of enough to send me a review copy, so we'll see what they can do soon enough. Stay tuned for a review.