I mentioned this on Frequency’s Facebook the other day, but had no link to provide. Well, I’ve since found a link, but it’s a Soundcloud, so it could go away at any time, so you should just go ahead and listen right now.
Why?
Because I’ve listened to several great albums in the first quarter of 2011 (look for a roundup coming soon), but the best thing I’ve heard so far this year is a three-song EP of stray tracks that Fleet Foxes frontman Robin Pecknold released for free via his Twitter account several weeks back.
This stuff is gorgeous. The first — an aching duet with Grizzly Bear’s Ed Droste — is my favorite. The second is a beautiful Simon & Garfunkelian tune that features some of Pecknold’s trademark vocal soarin’. The third is a cover of an old song from the ’70s by New Zealand folkie Chris Thompson.
The overall sound of the three songs is very influenced by ’60s/’70s British folk, with a totally vintage vibe, like you’re listening to old, timeworn Bert Jansch records on a dusty thrift-store turntable.
Of course, streaming these songs on Soundcloud is like the exact opposite of that, but it’ll have to do:
Robin Pecknold tracks by One Thirty BPM
(Psst: The upcoming Fleet Foxes album sorta might’ve shown up magically in my iTunes and it is terrific. Friends, Pecknold is well on his way to becoming one of our finest songwriters. Dude is for real.)
(Photo courtesy Martijn vdS)
Tags: Fleet Foxes, Robin Pecknold
Thanks for the link, Ben. You’re absolutely right about Pecknold: he’s definitely got game. I continue to be blown away by his ability to communicate the simultaneous simplicity and complexity of life with lyrics and music that also are both spare yet intricate.
Nice. Very excited about the new Fleet Foxes. Haven’t even heard that Pecknold e.p. Will have to get on top of that. As for best so far of 2011; if you haven’t heard it yet, I must strongly, strongly, strongly suggest that you pick up Mike Watt’s Hyphenated Man. For my money, he’s quite possibly the best living bassist in rock. His latest album is another concept album, this time something about self-analysis and the paintings of Hieronymous Bosh. The most striking thing at first is that of his solo albums, it’s by far the most similar to his work in The Minutemen. (in my humblest of opinions, easily of one the best American rock bands ever,) In other words, 30 short songs full of angular, arty jazz-punk.