I'm only two and a half minutes in, but I can tell you that this "religious feel" you mention is one of the aspects that makes this one of my favorite albums. All the songs in it feel holy in a way, although not necessarily leaning into openly religious themes. I guess it's the type of music that people who were brought up in the foot of a mountain would make, which makes a lot of sense considering Pecknold's childhood. This feeling is the strongest in Blue Ridge Mountains, but it resonates throughout the album and it's simply beautiful.
this!!! pecknold has explicitly stated that the vocal arrangements were inspired by both the beach boys and church singing, both liturgical and gospel if I remember correctly!
Great reaction! This is such a special band. Hopefully you’ll get to their third album, Crack-Up, at some point. It’s their most experimental album and one of my favorite albums ever. But all their albums (and EPs) are incredible. Robin Pecknold can’t miss
one of my favourite albums of all time, it has such a folk feel but so harmonious and similar to Brian Wilson and the beach boys. I do recall reading that they had a lot of influences from Brian Wilson. All the instrumental percussion sounds later on in the album. Theres some Smiths sounding influences, Jeff Buckley , maybe even Radiohead. Beautiful piece ...My fave song is meadowlark too and you also rated it as your fave
This album is so special to me and my family, my dad tells me that “Your Protector” is his favorite song because it reminds him of me as a baby. Never fails to make me cry, it’s so beautiful
Check out Father John Misty, drummer (as Josh Tillman) on the first couple of Fleet Foxes album. A great singer-songwriter - I Love You Honeybear especially.
I've listened to blue ridge mountains dozens of times and never caught the studio movements until you pointed it out!! you've got a great ear, love your work
I think you’d reallly enjoy Andrew Bird. He album “My Finest Work Yet” is especially excellent. I think it was all recorded live in studio (so like everyone in the room together) too, which is pretty cool.
Just subbed after watching this and your Helplessness Blues reaction. Ive been listening to Fleet Foxes since about 2011 and theyve remained in my top 5 bands ever. My musical taste is very geared toward post hardcore etc. Genres but Fleet Foxes hit this sacred sound that resonates within me and brings me to the feelings of peace ive felt in my life. Their sound is like a key to the most beautiful places ive been and experienced. Crack-up and Shore continue to hit the same buttons for me that their older music does. Shore brings me right to my hometown on Vancouver Island, each listen feels like a trip home.
Nice job with the reaction! The lyrics of this album really resonated with me. I think I read somewher that Robin Pecknold described it as "fantasy RPG lyricsm" but the whole album really speaks to me in a deep way. It felt like a reminisce of the past, memory of childhood friends, brothers and sisters, and dear relatives, that are somehow either gone or fading away. In some of the songs Robin almost sounded like he was screaming at top of his lungs to these memories, yet none is echoing back. It's like home calling from a distance, but at this time you're just too far away that even if you do get closer you'd probably would never recognize.
Love your content man, keep it up! You gotta check out Crack-up next, it didn't immediately grab me as much as this album or Helplessness Blues did, but over time it has become my favorite album of all time.
One of the greatest debut studio album's of all time. It's absolutely glorious. I'd highly recommend you check out 'The Trials of Van Occupanther' by Midlake.
The way you cut sections out between your reactions KILLS the immersion. I will not be finishing the video. Please reconsider producing your videos this way. I'd rather watch a 1.5 hour long video without hearing you cut through the songs like a paraplegic samurai through a baby seal. What a bizarre and and unfortunate music reaction trend.
