- Audio CD (3 May 2011)
- Number of Discs: 1
- Label: Sub Pop
- ASIN: B004LL1HM4
- Other Editions: Audio CD | Vinyl | MP3 Download
- Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (69 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 487,074 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
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Product Description
Smash 2011 album of soaring folk-pop 'n' harmonic waltzes from the Seattle sensations! Includes "Battery Kinzie".
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
37 of 43 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
The plaintive harmonies and get-back-to-the-country imagery of Fleet Foxes' well-received 2008 self-titled debut Fleet Foxes helped define a musical movement of 21st Century bands in search of lost, 19th Century ideals: Midlake, Blitzen Trapper, Bon Iver. Now the Seattle sextet returns with the far more ambitious "Helplessness Blues" (Sub Pop).
Though the melodies aren't quite as instantly memorable, the album is in many ways superior to its predecessor.
The band's multi-part harmonies function more as a piece of the wide-screen arrangements rather than the dominant feature.
The voice of Robin Pecknold is more out front and lyrically direct; against an intricate web of counterpoint melodies, he plays the troubled narrator wrestling with his place in the world.
Employing everything from woodwinds to Tibetan singing bowls, with finger-picked acoustic guitars sailing atop rumbling timpani, the band makes a wonderful sound: rich but not overstuffed, intricate but not labored, virtuosic without sounding like anyone's showing off. The songs don't stick to verse-chorus formula, they're more like mini-suites that turn and twist without drawing attention to their complexity.
If there's a shortcoming, it's that the band is almost too subtle for its own good; all that beauty and detail is rarely played for dramatic effect.
When Pecknold's pristine voice rises and finally cracks on "The Shrine/An Argument", followed by a free-jazz freak-out, it's the type of musical jolt the rest of the album lacks.
But such outbursts probably wouldn't make sense in fleshing out the album's central theme.
"Could I wash my hands of just looking out for me?" Pecknold sings on "Montezuma".
On the title song, he declares his desire to "be a functioning cog in some great machinery, serving something beyond me".
In striving for more self-less version of self, Pecknold and his excellent band have made an album that embraces modesty. Which is why it may take a few listens for its rarefied combination of beauty and anxiety to hit home.
In this case, another virtue that Pecknold extols -- patience - has its rewards. G. Kot
The Courage Of Others
For Emma Forever Ago
Destroyer of the Void
Though the melodies aren't quite as instantly memorable, the album is in many ways superior to its predecessor.
The band's multi-part harmonies function more as a piece of the wide-screen arrangements rather than the dominant feature.
The voice of Robin Pecknold is more out front and lyrically direct; against an intricate web of counterpoint melodies, he plays the troubled narrator wrestling with his place in the world.
Employing everything from woodwinds to Tibetan singing bowls, with finger-picked acoustic guitars sailing atop rumbling timpani, the band makes a wonderful sound: rich but not overstuffed, intricate but not labored, virtuosic without sounding like anyone's showing off. The songs don't stick to verse-chorus formula, they're more like mini-suites that turn and twist without drawing attention to their complexity.
If there's a shortcoming, it's that the band is almost too subtle for its own good; all that beauty and detail is rarely played for dramatic effect.
When Pecknold's pristine voice rises and finally cracks on "The Shrine/An Argument", followed by a free-jazz freak-out, it's the type of musical jolt the rest of the album lacks.
But such outbursts probably wouldn't make sense in fleshing out the album's central theme.
"Could I wash my hands of just looking out for me?" Pecknold sings on "Montezuma".
On the title song, he declares his desire to "be a functioning cog in some great machinery, serving something beyond me".
In striving for more self-less version of self, Pecknold and his excellent band have made an album that embraces modesty. Which is why it may take a few listens for its rarefied combination of beauty and anxiety to hit home.
In this case, another virtue that Pecknold extols -- patience - has its rewards. G. Kot
The Courage Of Others
For Emma Forever Ago
Destroyer of the Void
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
My son and I share an appreciation of Brian Wilson, and he (my son) has been reccomending Fleet Foxes for some time. I bought this album, and I HAVE JUST BEEN BLOWN AWAY! I just cant get enough. Grown Ocean, Lorelai, Helplessness Blues. For me, it's all flawless. On a separate note, and although not on this album, the lead singer, Robin Peckfold does a great cover version of Crayon Angels, which in my opinion is better than the original. Can't wait for Fleet Foxes to come back to the UK so that I can see them live.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Overall i'm very pleased with this album. The fleet foxes sound is still in it, though as a whole it is a little more sombre than their first album. 'Helplessness Blues' the song of the album title is the most lively and likely to be the most popular, however the songs such as 'Grown Ocean', 'Lorelai' and 'The Plain/ Bitter Dancer' are also very similair to the first album (in a good way). The best songs on the album though are the 'new' sounds. These include 'Someone You Admire', 'Blue Spotted Tail' and 'The Cascades' which focuses more on acoustic and vocals than with the mixed in, quite chaotic percussion.
This is an excellent album that's very listenable and rewarding to those willing to really sit and spend a while soaking it all in with a decent sound system as the recording quality far surpasses that of the first album where 'reverb' could be heard from the vocals. A must buy for any who liked their first album or any of the singles from this one except for maybe helplessness blues as the rest of the album isn't quite so 'pop' style.
This is an excellent album that's very listenable and rewarding to those willing to really sit and spend a while soaking it all in with a decent sound system as the recording quality far surpasses that of the first album where 'reverb' could be heard from the vocals. A must buy for any who liked their first album or any of the singles from this one except for maybe helplessness blues as the rest of the album isn't quite so 'pop' style.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A Masterpiece
Fleet Foxes are consummate professionals - an acoustic folk band with harmonies that could make grown men weep. Read more
Published 15 days ago by James Mcwilliam Woods
Foxy blues
If you are a fan of Fleet Foxes earlier work then you will like this. Yes they are quirky but in a great way and this makes pleasant listening and a restful break from some of the... Read more
Published 3 months ago by M. A. Pemberthy
Crackingly good CD.
I really enjoyed this CD. Great songs and a great band. Fleet Foxes always put me in a thoughtful frame of mind and chills me out. Read more
Published 4 months ago by M. D. Finney
Album of the Year
Atmospheric, nostalgic, beautiful, sublime. Wonderfully crafted and harmonies to die for. Love it. Easily one of my all time favourite albums.
Published 4 months ago by ORANGETREEYOGA.COM
a great second album
I wasn't expecting to like this as much as the first, but in the end I think I like it more. As a whole it hangs together really well and (apart from the screeching dissonance at... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Zamby
Even Hip Hops Fans will LOVE this album
I am a Hip Hop head.
I've grown admiring the lyricism of such artistry as Nas' 'It Ain't Hard to Tell' and Raekwon's 'Heaven or Hell'. Read more
I've grown admiring the lyricism of such artistry as Nas' 'It Ain't Hard to Tell' and Raekwon's 'Heaven or Hell'. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Pattern K
ossygobbin
In my opinion, a hugely disappointing second album.On the plus side,however there are 3 great songs on it;llorelei,montezuma and grown ocean. Read more
Published 5 months ago by ossygobbin
Nice CD, but...
I purchased 3 CD's of Helplessness Blues, gave one of the CD's as birthday present to my friend. He opened it, but there was no CD inside! Read more
Published 7 months ago by Sophie
Helpless and speechless
How do the Fleet Foxes follow up to their outstanding debut? Make an even better album. That's right, reader, this is better. Don't believe me? Read more
Published 8 months ago by The Outsider
This is perfect , any time ... perfect .. over and over again? ......
My review must be atleast 20 words long but i only need one, so i will just say the one ... NOW
PERFECTION. Read more
PERFECTION. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Automagicalness
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