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CRITIC REVIEWS
100
Wide-eyed self-searching is this record’s predominant mode, which Fleet Foxes do both lyrically and sonically, reveling in the process of discovery.
11y
94
Fleet Foxes have become a band who will not stop pushing, who will challenge themselves to avoid stagnancy, who will work with both their instruments and their minds.
11y
90
Helplnessness Blues is not a reinvention, but rather a refinement.
11y
90
Helplessness Blues is a cosmic, bombastic record, undaunted and ready to expose itself on every corner with a whole lot of heart.
11y
90
It’s an album that makes you sad that it’s not longer; sad that it can’t just go on forever.
11y
90
On Helplessness Blues, Fleet Foxes improve just about everything that they were doing on their last album.
88
The record showcases the band's expanded range and successful risk-taking, while retaining what so many people fell in love with about the group in the first place.
11y
80
It’s a richer, more diverse sound than their self-titled LP or the Sun Giant EP.
11y
80
It's the music that stands out, and the band's acoustic folk/chamber pop combo makes every song sound like a grand tribute to back-to-the-land living.
11y
80
This is a dynamic record that improves on the band’s already impressive accomplishments in every way.
11y
80
Far from that folksy, laid-back image, Helplessness Blues confirms Fleet Foxes' place as one of the most exacting, creative, and straight-up best bands making music in 2011.
70
This is more than just a supremely strong follow-up.
40
Fleet Foxes suck. They’re the soy-latte house band of Starbucks.
11y
I guess I've never seemed like the biggest fan of folk music. Like, wow cool, a bunch of guys play guitars while a squeaky guy gets existential. But the first time I heard this jesus christ I was converted this shit is brilliant.
HOLY CRAP. Helplessness Blues has to be the best folk album I've ever heard. It isn't much different to a lot of folk music I've heard but the spirit of the album, the lyrics, the sound, the melodies, the vocals, they're also just so brilliant and beautiful. The ... read more
Fleet Foxes is one of the bands that defines my taste for indie music, specially indie folk. I relisten (again !) the entire discography but I really want to talk about HB.
HB is one of the few albums that are impossible to replicate in live version. Go check the lives, some get close to the original material but it's not at the same levels anytime. One of the main reason is that there are SO much micro-arrangements and instrumentations. The perfectionism behaviour of the leader even leaded to ... read more
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patton, thisisabtlgrnd, philthy, Alejandro González, JediMark, erik, Edgeworth, domvic, MikeOwenBecome a Donor
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Track List
| 1 | Montezuma 3:36 | 96 |
| 2 | Bedouin Dress 4:29 | 91 |
| 3 | Sim Sala Bim 3:14 | 92 |
| 4 | Battery Kinzie 2:49 | 90 |
| 5 | The Plains / Bitter Dancer 5:53 | 92 |
| 6 | Helplessness Blues 5:03 | 97 |
| 7 | The Cascades 2:07 | 87 |
| 8 | Lorelai 4:24 | 91 |
| 9 | Someone You'd Admire 2:29 | 89 |
| 10 | The Shrine / An Argument 8:07 | 98 |
| 11 | Blue Spotted Tail 3:05 | 91 |
| 12 | Grown Ocean 4:35 | 95 |
Total Length: 49 minutes
Year End Lists
| #1 | / | PopMatters |
| #1 | / | The Needle Drop |
| #2 | / | Paste |
| #3 | / | FILTER |
| #3 | / | MOJO |
| #3 | / | One Thirty BPM |
| #3 | / | Pretty Much Amazing |
| #4 | / | No Ripcord |
| #4 | / | Rolling Stone |
| #4 | / | Under the Radar |
More Lists
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