Fleet Foxes - Sun Giant EP

spaceI have been listening to Fleet Foxes new EP Sun Giant pretty continuously since I downloaded it from Sub Pop a few days ago and it is truly a captivating five song collection. Seattle's Fleet Foxes caught my attention initially with the comparisons to My Morning Jacket (in my opinion, the greatest rock band around) and there is no denying Robin Pecknold's vocal similarities to MMJ's Jim James. At first listen, I thought I might be listening to a lost My Morning Jacket EP, but after repeat spins you can really tell Fleet Foxes have their own identity.

You can only hope that this EP is a sign of the great things to come when their full length, Ragged Woods, comes out in June. There may not be another band that has been able to blend easy listening style classic rock (America, The Band, Fleetwood Mac) with a more modern chamber pop/folk feel to it (Panda Bear, Grizzly Bear, Joanna Newsome). Fleet Foxes and bands like Midlake are obviously influenced by certain genres and time frames but they don't so much ape the sound of that era as use it as a template for something new and truly wonderful. The song 'Mykonos' is the first song I think I have ever thought sounded like the band America, and that isn't a bad thing at all. In fact, the song is utterly incredible and ends with one of the most beautiful pieces of harmony these ears have heard in a long while. This is another band and record that I can wholeheartedly recommend.

Don't forget that Fleet Foxes will be coming to Lawrence to The Jackpot Saloon opening of another Jeopardy of Contentment favorite Blitzen Trapper on Saturday April 12th. That might end up being one of the best shows of the year so don't miss it! Check the full list of recommended shows here.

Fleet Foxes Myspace
Blitzen Trapper Myspace