Sun Giant

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Sun Giant album cover
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Total Tracks: 5   Total Length: 18:50

eMusic Review 0

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Amelia Raitt

eMusic Contributor

Amelia Raitt is a former writer for the television program Mr. Belvedere and has been writing about pop music of all colors and stripes for eMusic since 2005. S...more »

03.14.08
Fleet Foxes, Sun Giant
2008 | Label: Bella Union / Republic Of Music

Believe it or not, we actually prefer the Sun Giant EP to the self-titled full-length debut that followed it. Condensed here to five haunting country-rock songs, Fleet Foxes feel particularly provocative and evocative: cut off the relative fat of Fleet Foxes, the absurdly young Robin Pecknold and Skye Skjelset's vocals and songs are nearly worthy their obvious ancestors. "Drops in the River" and "English House" are the two best songs here (just as they are on the full-length), and they cascade like '70s singer-songwriter stuff right outta Laurel Canyon ("Mykonos," on the other hand, cascades right outta CSNY's Déjà Vu). Certainly not much new, but plenty worth hearing.

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Definitely better than the album

drewbie1

Downloaded this early doors, loved it, then was slightly disappointed in the much vaunted album when it failed to contain anything as good as 'Mykonos'. Since then the album has grown on me, but these songs are better.

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Gorgeous!

Easy-Urf

Absolutely stunning! Had it on constant replay whilst on a two hour drive. Agree with one of the previous comments in that it is more consistent than their album.

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Better than the CD

ralphcox

I did buy the CD and unfortunately it does to my ears contain filler. Fleet Foxes are getting well reviewed everywhere but, while good, they are not that good or different. If this rates 5 stars how do you rate a truly classic album? That said, of comparable groups, better than the lamentable High Llamas and repetitive Mercury Rev but not yet up with Flaming Lips.

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...waiting for the album...

lordbuckley

unfortunately, I don't think we'll see the album here until "full price" retail sales tail off. I guess you can't blame the label for holding out on bringing the album to emusic in order get as many higher-value sales in for the artists (and themselves naturally!) as possible. Who knows, I might break and decide to buy the CD proper... And that's definitely a good review from me in such a financially bleak time.

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alternative/punk?

music4thesoul

not really - alt/folk maybe - but who cares about categories Fleet Foxes are just totally fantastic - I want to sing and dance to this record - when do we get the rest????

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Absolutely Brilliant

billy-o

Just love this EP. Please Emusic at least tell us when we're likely to get the album.

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Mykonos

Neo-Romantic

Mykonos is the best track on Emusic this year. Download straight away!

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love this!

Seamus65

all quality no filler. reminiscent of mmj with mykonos being the standout. can't wait for the album!

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eMusic Features

They Say All Music Guide

Fleet Foxes cover a lot of territory — both musical and geographical — on Sun Giant, their debut EP for Sub Pop. The band’s close, pristine harmonies and spare arrangements are at once timeless and a breath of fresh air, sharing roots with ’60s folk-rock, 2000s indie pop, and ageless traditional songs. Fleet Foxes feel like they’re singing to, and for, themselves on the EP, particularly on the title track, which lingers on their harmonies before drifting off on an acoustic guitar melody. Even on “Drops in the River,” which builds from similarly simple beginnings to big drums and plugged-in guitars, the gentle beauty of the Foxes’ melodies remains the same. From “English House”‘s sparkling autoharps to the dreamy, soft rock-tinged “Mykonos,” Sun Giant plays like it was culled from a backpacker’s travel journal. With this intimate, organic, and tantalizing first glimpse at their music, Fleet Foxes sound like they’ve been making music a lot longer than their ages would suggest. Call it old soul music. – Heather Phares

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