Music - Fleet Foxes (EP)

It's probably true that a lot of indie rock bands tend to sound alike. It's also true that a lot of them will likely put you to sleep. Sturgeon's law at its finest. It's a huge scene too, so looking for bands can be a daunting task. Most of the time you'll run into something that's not necessarily bad, but not likable enough to keep putting on repeat on iTunes. Sometimes though you'll get lucky and find a needle in the haystack.

Fleet Foxes are a Seattle-based band formed by Robin Pecknold and Skyler Skjelset in 2006.

Their self-titled EP is really nothing revolutionary and I'm perfectly willing to admit that (then again we haven't really had that in music for a while now so it's hardly a strike agains them). It's pretty standard indie rock fare. The thing is though, it's good indie rock fare. The guitar riffs and melodies are simple, but very memorable and enjoyable. Lyrics are okay, nothing too special, but nothing godawful (not like lyrics alone make a song anyway). I like this EP so much I'd be willing to support FF by going out and buying it. "She Got Dressed" alone makes this an awesome collection of music.

At the end of the day, it's just an enjoyable album to listen to, and when it all comes down to it, that's really all that matters when it comes to music. If you like indie rock at all I'd highly reccommend it.

(semi-)Daily Band: fun.

Trying to think of what band should start of this segment of the blog, I felt as though the option was clear: fun.  It matches our background, it's a short band name with only one LP, and it serves to satisfy my fetish for punctuation in titles.

First off, fun. was created by Nate Ruess, formerly of The Format.  They're based in New York City, blah blah blah, that's an awesome cover, isn't it?  Most of you aren't going to be interested in the formation of the band; most people will want to know how they sound.  In a word: fun.  With songs featuring horns, strings, choral arrangements, drums, you name it; the band has a very big sound.

From the very first track, listeners are treated to a diverse tune that is upbeat despite its lyrical content.  I, personally, felt as though I had stepped into some Disney film.  Try not to imagine some hand-drawn prince with a cleft chin, perfect hair, and a 8 inch...loaf of bread...walking down the streets, talking to a baker, dancing along buildings, and making women with huge hair swoon and sigh.  Now imagine that at one point he starts screeching, and somehow the tone isn't ruined.  That's basically what this song (and record) sound like.

With their relatively new status as a band, many people will probably fear that this is a release with a little bit of potential and not a whole lot of maturity.  Rest assured: despite being an indie-pop affair, this band combine a modern, 2000's sound with the swing and dance concepts of the 60's.  If you don't believe me, one doesn't have to look any further than 'All the Pretty Girls'.

I know that most of you won't want to read a track-by-track review, so I'll just leave you with this: this album is a collection of 10 brilliant, schizophrenic, and just plain fun songs that will have you dancing at the doctor's office, in the library, wherever you are.  If you want to listen to an indie-pop band with great taste and potential, feel like dancing, or wonder what kind of music your grandparents listened to while they had sex, this is the band for you.