Fleet Foxes

[jomo1234]

The reverb can get to be too much at times, but it does suit the music. I don't think those songs would have the same impact if they were mixed dry. It's still definitely my record of the year....just brilliant from start to finish.

[Jay_Lee]

I agree, the album is great.

[Mr. Liszt]

Love it. Think that something really special was captured by all those that were involved with the project. Looking forward to the follow up immensley.

[cave goblin]

God I love this music. Thanks. My new favorite band.

I agree that they might overdo it with reverb sometimes though.

[thermos]

That immense reverb is the "new sound". Ala Grizzly Bear, Animal Collective sometimes, etc. Cool record though.

[thenoiseflower]

thumbsup
cool sonics/vibe and killer songs

[decibike]

Great album.
Go see them live. That sounds even better. thumbsup

[decibike]

PS: The thing that struck me is that my favourite albums of 2008 have been recorded at home. Besides Fleet Foxes, Portishead - Third comes to mind. Brilliant album. Some recording and mixing/mastering has been done in commercial facilities , but nonetheless, a big part consists of excellent home work. Of course the home recording/pro hybrid approach is not a new phenomenon, but this is probably the first year that both of my fave albums are made this way, and they sound excellent.

Portishead has got one hell of a home studio. (actually it's like a big pro studio at home.) On the other hand; for lead vocals they didn't use their vintage u47 but a cheap $ 300 Rode. Of course, I'm not downplaying the importance of pro engineer/mix skills or pro gear. Just saying I'm thrilled by thought that it's possible for (some) recording musicians to make impressive sounding albums on a modest budget, not just "OK sounding" lofi albums or sample/synth based electronics.

I think a lot of bands would be better of if they would focus on playing and paying a pro engineer/studio to do the recording. But for some bands (and us listeners) the freedom of home recording is truly a blessing. Merry MboXmas!

[JRush]

yeah fleet foxes great band, I enjoy the reverb's continuity throughout the album. really gives off the aura that it was recorded in a huge empty church. just great band

[brill bedroom]

Anybody have any insight into the making of this album? It has spent more time on my turntable than anything else this year, but I really don't know much about how it was recorded.

My buddy Martin Carr- he wot used to be a Boo Radley- named his first child Sonny Fleet Fox Carr a few months ago. He likes the album quite a bit.

[Igotsoul4u]

From what I have read, the engineer/mixer/producer really tied it all together and kept the band from having sonically incoherent album. The band would cut whatever wherever and just send it to him. He did a fantastic freakin job if you ask me. Kudos to the engineer. Thank god they understand the value of what he brought to the table.

[heisleyamor]

If you don't have their EP "Sun Giant" I suggest you get it. Every song on it is great and I think the quality of the album is a bit better than their full-length.

[dhiltonlittle]

yeah, i think "mykonos" off of the "sun giant" ep is one of my favorite tracks of theirs. really great band.

[jbsg02]

great album, I saw them live a few months ago and their harmonies are that good live too, very impressive

[espen askelad]

Phil Ek

[Mr. PC]

Love the album so much is scares me. Love the EP as well.

I think the reverb really works. It is appropriate to the "setting" of the record, in my opinion. I think of the record coming from a very old church in the country.

I didn't know it was partly home recorded. Would love to read more about how it was done.

Saw them on Conan and Letterman. They completely realize the music live, vocals and all.

PC

[atropos]

Impressive vox.

Aside from that, completely not my cup of tea at all.

[Benmrx]

Fleet Foxes:

All really nice guys, at least they were when they came into record their demo at my studio before their full length, after their EP. I think a few band members didn't "make it" to the end of the production of the full length, and were replaced with new members that could pull of the harmonies and such. I also have a huntch that some of those tracks they did at my place are actually on the full length, but I could be very wrong about that.

Phil Ek did that record, and that guy is a pretty damn talented producer/engineer (also a super nice guy), although he definatly likes to keep productions fairly "safe" if you ask me.

They did do a bunch of work at London Bridge Studios, not sure if it was mixed there though.

[maxbarkly]

I love this album, it hearkens back to the Zombies Odyssey and Oracle in the sense that it's reverb used really well.

I found out about the band through this video a friend sent me. Fleet Foxes - A Take Away Show on Vimeo

The high ceilings of the Grand Palais (rather than the band being run through a reverb box) gives them an unbelievable sense of life that I think the album can miss from time to time. Despite the poor sound quality, I think the song shines through. And on an opposite note, the beginning where the band performs acapella sans any reverb just shoes how much talent these guys have.

[recall]

Originally Posted by brill bedroom

Anybody have any insight into the making of this album? It has spent more time on my turntable than anything else this year, but I really don't know much about how it was recorded.

My buddy Martin Carr- he wot used to be a Boo Radley- named his first child Sonny Fleet Fox Carr a few months ago. He likes the album quite a bit.

Aah Mr Carr. A friend of mine also. About the only one in the music scene to have moved to Wales and not away from it!

I haven't seen him since the arrival, but he is one of the most optimistic and generous people I know.

[brill bedroom]

Isn't he a beautiful guy? He put together my whole Abbey Road recording fantasy dream sequence for me and got Charlie Francis in to engineer. (Charlie being the other guy who moved to Wales to open a studio) Anyway, Martin, he's crazy insane for Fleet Foxes. Took the newborn baby to their show and asked them to autograph it's diaper!

[lord_bunny]

anyone know if thats a real plate verb being used?

my fav new record by far... haven't been this excited about a release in years.

[rectifier]

This is a very good record.

[ClaySchmitt]

Bumping for interest in production techniques

[Nolet]

+1 on bump. By far the best album in a long time...

The songs would have sounded great on a 4 track...but the production on this album is also awesome. The vocals are so spacious. Seems like I can look into the mix for miles. It really helps with the whole solemn, distant and fragile aesthetic of the album.

[JP11]

Originally Posted by thermos

That immense reverb is the "new sound".

What's old is new again as pop music continues to eat itself.

[JP11]

Originally Posted by lord_bunny

anyone know if thats a real plate verb being used?

here's a quote I found:

When I interviewed Stuart Hallerman of Avast! Recording a few months ago, he told me that a young band that was family friends of producer Phil Ek had just been in the studio and left a giant EMT 140 plate reverb. That band turned out to be Fleet Foxes, which has recently received four stars from Rolling Stone and hailed by critics as this generation’s answer to Crosby, Stills & Nash...

[JRush]

as a side note to this, FF's drummer, J. Tillman, has quite good solo music, very fragile but beautiful music

[ColourSurround]

This album has been garnering rave reviews all around, and I must say, although I've always been into the big verb sound (I'm a shoegazer through and through) this album didn't quite peak my interest. The songs are well crafted but they never seem to stray from one vibe and it can get monotonous I find. But then again maybe that's what they were going for. Fantastic vocal harmonies however, it must be said. So cheers to the lads for making a much well received record. I still dig Glasvegas as album of the year 2008.