Between the spirited simplicity of “White Winter Hymnal” and the mysterious pastoral beauty of “Your Protector,” The Fleet Foxes effectively combine soaring harmonies with an unadorned and effective rhythmic style. This ambiance is never more apparent than with the instrumental arrangement on “Ragged Wood,” which draws striking similarities to My Morning Jacket’s “Golden.” But with the Pecknold-led harmonies and dynamics found here; the song undertakes a whole other façade, as it transforms into a lush and majestic journey all too easy to become lost within.
Lead vocalist Robin Pecknold exhibits a penchant for the dramatic throughout the course of the album, including the ballad “He Doesn’t Know Why,” as he unabashedly surrenders, “There’s nothing I can do, There’s nothing I can say,” as the choir of harmonic supports sweeps under his emphatic voice, creating one of Fleet Foxes’ most chillingly gorgeous moments. And while much of the beauty of the Fleet Foxes remains with their illustrious, collaborative vocal arrangement, Pecknold repeatedly stands at the forefront of this album, including the stunning album closer “Oliver James,” which concludes with him belting out the final two-line chorus without any accompaniment. This astonishing display of his voice is easy to miss if not listening carefully, but it stands as one of the most powerful moments on Fleet Foxes. This enduring album closes at one of its highest moments of brilliance, leaving listeners with a desire to remain in the world created by the band’s magnificent debut.
More from the War on Pop's Decade in Review:
#22 Jens Lekman - Night Falls Over Kortedala (2007)
#23 Beach House - Devotion (2008)
#24 El-P - I'll Sleep When You're Dead (2007)
#25 Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion (2009)
No comments:
Post a Comment