Am I the only one who hasn't jumped on the Fleet Foxes bandwagon?

That isn't surprising somehow... a few people probably thought he was in the band anyway considering how those two pal around.

I just wish this headline was violinist "Saundrah Humphrey" joins Fleet Foxes!!! for a special one-night (or one-tour) only...
They perform the ENTIRE Bob Dylan DESIRE album...

*sigh* I can dream..

I too have avoided the bandwagon. They are not really doing anything for me. But I wish them well. They seem nice enough.

Fleet Foxes are: Eh.

As someone who dove into a puddle to avoid the Band of Horses bandwagon, I have to say the Foxes are like a breath of fresh air. Saw them in New York with B Trapper, and somehow they pull this atmospheric stuff off live. The LP should be huge.

Why can igLiz and I never agree???!!!?!?!?! (it's so SAD!)

Jon @ 1, Shrie @ 4: I haven't been the nicest person on the blog to you guys at times (nothing personal, honest!), but I am now 100% convinced we should be friends.

Whoa, it's been nothing but big big FF love from Team Imaginary up until this point.

The Fleet Foxes backlash begins...? ;)

I hope not. Something tells me stella or chona or Kyle are gonna jump in any second and gush away.

I'm not sure I "get" FF either. I've listened to their EP a couple of times and it doesn't do much for me. They’re definitely in the eh category for me as well.

It's true, dana! I was just logging in to say something about all the ho-hum-glumness here.

You know I adore the Foxes, and I think the addition of J Tillman is excellent news. My only question is, what happened to Nick Peterson on drums?

may i be the first to gush?

apparently unlike most of the commenters thus far, i loved the sun giant EP, and i truly think it's one of the best pieces of recorded music thus far. i thought it was a great combination of thrilling moments [the chorus of "drops in the river"-- if you can call it a chorus, and the second half of "mykonos"] and the quieter moments [the title track and the beginning of "drops"], along with some frighteningly great harmonies, strong songwriting and great musicianship.

i honestly thought they couldn't get any better, but j. goddamn tillman? wow, dude. they're practically unfuckwithable, now.

I hope they name their next record: "Practically Unfuckwithable"

I'm not a backlash person at all (I'm going to see the Black Kids TONIGHT fercryinoutloud) and I think the Fleet Foxes are fine actually. I don't wish any malice on them or anything and am happy for their success. There are TONS of bands in Seattle that really excite me and the Fleet Foxes just aren't one of them. But that's okay, too. You can listen to the Fleet Foxes and I'll listen to the Cops or Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground and the world is big enough for all of us. Maybe I'm just biased against guys with beards. I dunno.

Funny FF story, though: when I was at the Beach House show last month, it was right after SXSW and Throw Me The Statue was opening. During TMTS's set one of the guys said (and I'm paraphrasing because it was over a month ago) that it was nice to be back in Seattle because people wear scarves here because it's cold. In Austin, if someone is wearing a scarf it means that he's a jerk. Or in the Fleet Foxes.

Have to say I'm not pro-FF either. I saw them in Austin as well and they had the misfortune of playing right after the Shackeltons and they might as well have been following LSF at that show. They were: eh?! I do know I like a couple tracks off the EP but if you asked me to recount them for you by humming I wouldn't be able to even start. But I know all the words to 'West Coast' by Coconut Records and I'm going to Black Kids/Cut Copy tonight too (and I'll be dancing!). I'll wait for a full length until I make any kind of judgement on either band(jeez, does that sound as high-handed as it reads?).

Ill keep my gushing to a minimum. but im stoked on this. Big Jtillman fan. big fleet foxes fan haha

me, too, dana. me, too. :]

The Cops? Bleh. I'm not saying the Fleet Foxes suck... but they don't make me want to listen to them. So I guess that constitutes a "eh" feeling from me.

To each his own. Right?!?

But thanks ChrisB for the friendly slap on the back.

To be honest, I'm on the side of the fence that isn't really taken away by Fleet Foxes either. Meh, they just sound to me like that "folk pulled through an AM radio" sound that everyone getting signed to the local labels has these days; the spot in my heart for that sort of sound is already tremendously filled by Arthur & Yu.

With that said, I DID interview Fleet Foxes last year at Bumbershoot, as you can see with my low-fi video interview. They were REALLY super nice guys. http://threeimaginarygirls.com/FleetFoxesBshootinterview07sep
(Okay, I guess when I saw them then I said I enjoyed their set...) However, when I was walking down Pike last week, I saw them being interviewed by someone with a REAL TV camera, which made me feel like a chump :(

It's hard to criticize Fleet Foxes. They're very good at what they do. Especially if you like the 5th Dimension's harmonies with [insert 70's soft rock band here]'s melodies.

It's just all so familiar and derivative that I have a hard time getting excited about them. That said, I've gladly paid to see them perform and would do so again. I just wish they weren't so hyped -- I'm not sure they're deserving.

And I'd agree with Elle that Arthur & Yu, while similar, are much more satisfying to listen to because they're music doesn't sound as familiar.

fleet foxes = awesome

I personally don't really have an opinion on Fleet Foxes, one way or the other (haven't heard enough of them), but i DO know that I've definitely heard J Tillman and truly honestly hope this doesn't cut down on his musical output.

He's an amazing songwriter, in my book. You're not gonna dance to him, just to let you know, but for us older folks he's brilliant in a Gordon Lightfoot/Harry Nillson sort of way. On the surface it's sweet and simple, but if you dig down, and let the words get inside you, he's a great plucker of heartstrings.

And he does have a beard, for those of you who can't stand that sort of thing.

beards are the hottest thing since michael jackson turned white. no seriously, beards rule.

i love beards, don't get me wrong, but i miss black micheal jackson. like, a lot. :[

yea me too... i was trying to be clever. black michael was indeed the best. i can't get over his early albums. they really ARE good.

but beards get me wheezy in the kneesies.

This thread has really veered somewhere dangerous and weird. I like that, I also like black Michael and beards.

I don't have a beard. Maybe I would be more successful if I did? Ah well.

I saw J. Tillman at the Ballard Market yesterday, said hi and went on my way (I helped him record some early demo's in 2005 and played in his band early on). Then I went to Discovery Park and ran into Jesse Sykes and Phil Wandscher which was weird cause they are friends with Josh. Small beautiful world we live in, that is being destroyed as we speak.

I am pro-Fleet Foxes, pro-Black Jackson, con-beard. So I would vote no, Levi. ;)

J. Tillman shops at the Ballard Market?? Sheesh, I'm there like, every day practically. I will have to keep my eyes out!