Artists

“I'm sorry there's been some mention of us in the press and stuff lately.” Fleet Foxes singer Robin Pecknold blogged in March, 2008. “That stuff is really annoying I know and we're kinda bummed on that stuff. We don't really want to be one of those bands.” This was written before his band became the critics choice at SXSW and subsequently the band of the year with their breathtaking self-titled debut. Thing was Fleet Foxes were not one of those bands. Their rich, classically melodic sound the antithesis of hype and buzz. And while most frontmen would exaltedly stroke their perfectly angled fringe at such plaudits, Pecknold began living something of a personal nightmare.

He more than grew in the role though as the album - preceded by the completely stand-alone and equally stunning Sun Giant EP - proved every bit the classic-in-waiting and sold over 300,000 copies in the UK inside the year. The Seattle-based five-piece's sound that married classic rock, folk and country quite perfectly – that led to comparrisons to My Morning Jacket and Crosby, Stills & Nash (they share a producer with the former... not the latter) - became the quite unlikely sound of '08. And while the musicianship is unnervingly good and the harmonies delightfully reminiscent of CSNY, it’s Pecknold who steals the show. Just turned 21 singer when their debut emerged, he is the simply best new voice in American music.
“Thank you for caring and sorry again if you are hearing about us too much,” he continued in the same blog early on. “I hate that shit. We have no control over it. We'll do our best to underwhelm you all.” Sorry Robin, but it’s was already too late for that even back then.