Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues

Or How a Second Album Will Probably Cause Ulcers

The first time I had a beer, I was 18 years old. I was visiting a friend at a very nice, very expensive private college. I had hardly drank before, only wine and in small servings, and only with family. So I decided to continue with “classy” drinking by buying, for my first 6 pack ever, a case of Heineken. Luckily for me, we also bought some cheap beers and “hard” lemonade, because after one Heineken, I was very skeptical of the hype surrounding beer.

Similar hype has been building for months, leading up to the release of the highly anticipated second album from the Seattle based band, Fleet Foxes. “Helplessness Blues” (Subpop Records) was the album many cannot wait for, have been wondering about, and are ready to hold against Fleet Foxes’ eponymous debut album.

Fleet Foxes

Fleet Foxes shot into the spotlight, immediately becoming a fixture after their catchy, harmonious, and folksy vibe was portrayed via Saturday Night Live. For those “in the know”, Fleet Foxes were a new power to be recognized. The task of putting out a second album, especially for a band who only several years back was just posting songs on Myspace, was strenuous. Recordings were scrapped, relationships fractured, money was lost, psyches were destabilized as the “sophomore” test proved testing.

However, after much rethinking, restructuring, and going back and forth on ideas and even the addition of a new band member, Helplessness Blues arrives on May 3. It has been widely publicized and documented the struggle that Fleet Foxes went through to put out this album. It is important to note that this is, at the very least, a band that is willing to think long and hard about what they put out in the world. Their second album is hardly stereotypical. It is not watered down, nor too dense to weed out all the floozy fans. Second albums are the litmus test of bands, and yet, Fleet Foxes seems to have hidden the test.

Let me be clear, Helplessness Blues is probably not going to be the huge success that their debut album was, although it should do well. It is, though, a strong and personal album. The lyrics, structures, and harmonies are incomparable (even if a certain quartet from England have been grabbing top honors).

I recently had the honor of drinking a very expensive bottle of wine (courtesy of my foodie brother). I have had really good wine (and really good beer) since my first experiences. This particular bottle has no comparisons. While I’m sure other wine critics or simple enthusiasts will try, in a most pretentious way, to describe the flavors, hints, aromas (and all the other wines it is inferior or superior to) I still bloody like the one I had.

Helplessness Blues may be touted as the best thing to happen to music since Dylan went electric, but we all know that is not true. Helplessness Blues may be derided as not being as powerful or accessible as their first album, but music is like that. Pretentiousness will arise, and subtleties and nuances will be overanalyzed, but the fact remains that this is a really great album. It is probably not the best album of the decade, or maybe even of the year, but Fleet Foxes have truly not let anyone down with Helplessness Blues. I cannot tell you that you will love this album, or that it is better than their other album, or other artists. I can tell you that it is, in my opinion, a well made record. Much like a good wine or beer, there will always be comparisons and critiques, yet this is one that should not leave the top shelf.

I still dislike Heineken.