Avenue61 is a leading indie music site that specialises in album and gig reviews, breaking new bands, publicising events, and exclusive interviews with the leading cutting edge acts in the alternative music scene. Avenue61 covers a wide range of artists – some you would have heard of, some you won’t. Artists the site has reviewed recently include the Fleet Foxes, MGMT, Noisettes and Ladyhawke. The site is updated regularly so come back to catch up the latest news and reviews from the bleeding edge of the alternative music scene.
Ok, so first off I must iterate the fact that this particular run down is in no particular order, nor is it a definitive list of the best British record labels of all time (as if such a breakdown could ever be truly quantified). It is simply a list of some personal favourites within the British...MORE>>
Ever hear a song that sounds so brilliantly composed, so perfectly unique and spine tingling that you assume it must have been a classic that you have let pass unnoticed? Fleet Foxes “Mykonos” is a song that invokes just that thought.
The Seattle based quintet are signed to SubPop Records (famed for producing Nirvana’s Bleach) and Bella Union Records. 2008 has certainly been a year which has seen the Fox’s rise as a prominent band in the indie/alternative market, their tour of the U.S has sold out many venues. The Guardian was particularly complimentary, awarding the album five stars and declaring it "a landmark in American music, an instant classic."
Their 2006 debut album Fleet Foxes has undoubtedly been well received by many critics, but the decision to hold back the release of their single “Mykonos” until 2009 seems an odd move due to the clear fact that it is a beautifully constructed song which encapsulates their distinctive sound.
“Mykonos” begins with a really home grown sound of haunting harmonies accompanied by the honest unpretentious of the acoustic guitar. A folksy, country tone compliments the organic sound that the band have created. The verse is catchy, but not annoyingly so, as it ebbs and flows with the mellow tones of Robin Pecknold. Not a voice you could call brilliantly versatile, but certainly soothing, Pecknold’s voice resonates and compliments the style of music the band has crafted.
The chorus is filled with nostalgia. It sounds as if you have sat down The Eagles, The Byrds and The Doors and created a super band. A slight exaggeration? Maybe. But these guys are truly amazing. The bridge underlines everything the band stand for: crisp harmonies, impacting, meaningful lyrics, and an attention to musical detail which separates them from anyone other band today.
Fleet Foxes will no doubt continue their rise to fame worldwide, but their dislike of commercialism in the music industry could prevent them from breaking through to the mainstream and reaching a bigger audience. Still, it’s a nice thought artists put the music at the forefront of their career.
The band are currently touring throughout the U.S, but it will be a matter of time before we see the Fleet Foxes in the UK. You can just imagine them playing in an intimate small venue, or even to a huge audience on a late summer festival evening.
