Album Review: Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues

Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues

After the success of their excellent debut album, the Fleet Foxes are back. As with many artists, their second record is, in part, a collection of songs about the trials and tribulations of becoming a Famous Pop Star although most - if not all - of the things we loved about the Foxes' debut release remain.

Whilst Helplessness Blues is unmistakably the Fleet Foxes, the sound has subtly changed. Gone are many of the soaring harmonies of the debut - think White Winter Hymnal - and in their place are Simon and Garfunkel-esque acoustic pop songs, admittedly of a high quality. The title track, Helplessness Blues, is a highlight as is the lovely opening track Montezuma and the jaunty Battery Kinzie.

This record is less of a modern take on semi-medieval music and more of a contemporary pop record with a 60s/70s throwback. That doesn't make it a worse record - far from it - but it does indicate a small but important change of style. I'm not sure it will ultimately be 100% successful, but for now it has resulted in a charming, laid back and likeable record.