FLEET FOXES “HOPELESSNESS BLUES” | May 4th, 2011
Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues
Reviewed by Nick Mack
With their first full-length album, Fleet Foxes hooked many with an otherworldly sound that held enough intrigue and an element of mass-appeal to keep the hooked intrigued. They created their own niche that crossed the borders of a few genres. They exhibited strength and an ability to produce songs that reeled fans in and ensured that people from all walks would gladly trek down the mysterious yet inviting paths forged by their songs. With their second album, Helplessness Blues, they have expanded the territories through which they will take us if we are willing.
A few months ago, Fleet Foxes released the song “Helplessness Blues” on their website. This gave a taste of their current direction and an idea of where their new album was likely to take the scores of fans that found themselves with fresh hooks attached.
It sounds like Fleet Foxes see the popularity of their first album and the Sun Giant EP as a license to move away from releasing songs that stand out as catchy hit singles. It has to be said that the Fleet Foxes brand of catchiness does not carry with it the irksome traits of another catchy pop song; they gracefully step beyond that. Their new album is more than a simple collection of hits. It is a rushing stream of mystical and diverse folk songs, that has “Montezuma” – a song that uses clever layers of vocals to ignite the album – at it’s source. There are seamless segues between the instrumental wanderings of “The Cascades”, into two-part, multi-faceted epics like “The Shrine/An Argument”. The catchier “Helplessness Blues” and “Lorelai” hold hands comfortably with the timid “Blue Spotted Trail”, many parts working together and forming a beautiful body.
So far, I’ve used lame fishing metaphors and imagery that makes it seem as though I want to take Homelessness Blues on a date. Perhaps I would, if that were appropriate but perhaps this is just the kind of dumb I’ve been struck yet again by what Fleet Foxes do? Let’s go with that, shall we? I would not be surprised if this less catchy new album by Fleet Foxes turns some people off. They have gone in a direction that swerves away from hit production and they’re set to make weather-beaten, musical adventurers of us all.
Tags: Fleet Foxes, Hopelessness Blues, nick mack, review
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NICK MACK INTERVIEW | March 15th, 2011
1. Full Name and affiliated groups
Nicholas Iain Mack. I do not know what “affiliated groups” means, sorry.
2. Where are you from and based in now?
I am from Southampton, which is deep down in the dirty south(ern part of England.) My home town is actually a suburb of Southampton, next to a forest where wild ponies roam free. Right now I live in London, where wild people roam free.
3. Favorite food, and the last meal you just had
God, I love food. I love steak and chicken. I love curry. I don’t think I’m using “love” too liberally here. I’d put a dress on food and jolly well marry it, we’d be really happy together.
The last thing I ate was a sandwich, would you call that a meal?
4. Favorite band, musician and last album you listened to
Fugazi and Bob Dylan are great. I also really like metal and the Wu-Tang Clan. I’m going to see Battles next month, that should be great but now I’m just boasting, sorry! The last album I listened to was Illinoise by Sufjan Stevens.
5. Favorite artist, author, and last book or movie you read or saw
I like Mark Gonzales’ art. I’m a fan of those huge, realistic looking paintings that you’d find in the National Portrait Gallery. I don’t know much about art, but I know what I like when I see it. I’ve met some artists and illustrators lately and they do good things too! (Have a look at Zoe Barker , Ben Jamie and Derek Curry).
Lord of the Rings and 100 Years of Solitude are two books that have blown my head off. The last movie I watched was Buried, which was really depressing and claustrophobic.
6. What do you do for a living and LIVE to DO?
Right now, I’m a full time journalism student. I live to do right by God and my family and friends and the world around me.
7. How did you get into doing what you love to do?
I couldn’t sing or dance or paint or anything like that so I started to take pictures and make videos just so I had a way of releasing whatever creativity I had stuck inside me. Later on I found out that writing is also a good way of doing this. It’s excellent fun.
8. What is the meaning of life?
It’s something that I find really hard to put into words. I think it has everything to do with the presence God has in the world and in my life. Following Him leads me to think about how I interact with others and also to think about the opportunities life offers. I do not do well at this quite a bit of the time, but thankfully God seems to be there to deal with that too. He’s helpful like that.
9. What is a social issue that you have a huge concern about?
I’m really concerned that there are people out there who think it’s okay to ship other people around the world as if they’re just another product to be bought and sold. People are worth so much more than that. It’s really cool to hear about the work being done by Rapha House. I’ve done a fair amount of work with young people and I’m a fan of groups and causes that do whatever they can to provide guidance and support to those that need it as they’re growing up.
10. Favorite Hello Destroyers shirt so far
I really like the one that Biaka is going to send me in the post any day now…
Folkzilla is a fun one.
Tags: Bob Dylan, folkzilla, food, Fugazi, interview, Music, nick mack, Sufjan Stevens
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Nick Mack “Rantins” EP.5 | March 14th, 2011
We are living in an age where liking stuff is hard work. In simpler times you’d hear a new album from a band and be grabbed by it, but nowadays it seems like you have to really work at liking it. Otherwise you’re just lazy.
Do a lot of musicians these days sit in the recording studio and say “Right, we are going to record this album in such a way that it will take several listens before the majority of our fans like it”? Is there a formula that they follow to ensure that this is the outcome? If you take the fact that everyone likes all your other albums, and add it to the talent you (may or may not) have, then subtract some of the punch that made you what you are, then add a certain quality that will hopefully grow on whoever listens, and finally multiply the sum of all of this by the scope and nature of your marketing campaign, will this result in eventual success? More importantly, is it worth doing all this? Especially when it didn’t seem this difficult the first time around.
My poor understanding of mathematical equations aside, it sometimes takes a while to appreciate something, and this appreciation often depends on ever-changing moods. Right now, for instance, it looks like I’m in the mood to listen to Radiohead’s new album and I wasn’t a couple of weeks ago when it was released. The simplicity of liking something at first encounter is nothing short of delightful. Being able to say “hell yeah!” straight away instead of “hmmm…well, I wonder if this will be good on the 7th go ’round?” is just easier. Life is too short to work too hard at liking something.
It’s certainly too short to figure out Thom Yorke’s latest dance moves. Just watch this video and they will be explained.
Tags: nick mack, radiohead
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