Music Review: Fleet Foxes

Folk.

No, not the guy with straw in his mouth on his porch beating up a banjo.

Folk. Neil Young. Crosby, Stills,  and/or Nash. Bob Dylan.

Y’know, Folk.

As of a few weeks ago, that was my list. Today, I would like to nominate another member, if the board of folk music should allow it: Fleet Foxes.

Pure, melodic, catchy, dreamy folk music from America (Seattle) with pride. This, people, is truly a revolution in music today. I cannot stress enough how valuable these kids may one day prove to be should a folk music revival occur some time soon. They currently have two albums out; their self-titled debut and Sun Giant, both released through Bella Union Records. For anybody who enjoys some folk music or would like to get acquainted, I encourage some Fleet Foxes indulgence.

– C.J.

Music Review: Dan Auerbach

Dan Auerbach, the bearded guitarist/singer/songwriter from the great bluesy two-piece rock band The Black Keys, recently teamed up with another band, Hacienda, to do some solo work. Hacienda, when paired up with Auerbach’s percussionist cousin, transforms into a monster known as “The Fast Five.” Thus, you get Dan Auerbach and The Fast Five: a fantastic new sound that takes rock, blues, and gypsy-style chord progressions, along with some good ol’ acoustic folk music, and whips out a unique array of songs.

Auerbach’s debut solo album, Keep It Hid, is full of great tunes. Personally, I find this CD to be among those few good ones that don’t deserve to have any songs skipped over or ignored. Going through the entire album is an adventure, and you can still hear The Black Keys somewhere deep down inside.

But some questions still remain:

Will The Black Keys work on a new album soon? Will they tour? Will Hacienda do either of those things? I dunno. What I can put all my chips on is the fact that Auerbach’s cousin won’t be doing either.

– C.J.

Music Review: Port O’Brien

For anybody who doesn’t know (which I believe is most people), Port O’Brien is a folk/indie/rock band from California with toes dipped in pools of sincerity as well as good ol’ catchy chord progressions. This band finds influences in both Modest Mouse and Neil Young, and it’s easy to hear both of those sounds in this band’s stuff.

Their albums include The Wind And The Swell (2007), All We Could Do Was Sing (2008), and the upcoming autumn release of Threadbare.

With clanky sounds of the ocean and percussion mixed in with wailing guitar lines, Port O’Brien is truly one of my new favorite bands. Folk just got a brand new face, people.

Check them out on Facebook, or hit up their website, and be sure to catch them if you come to your town.

And don’t worry, a review of Threadbare will be up on Five Fishes as soon as I get my hands on it.

– C.J.