Helplessness Blues is an album that I think is greater than the sum of its parts. With the exception of the title track, I can't really listen to any of the other tracks unless in the context of the album and it's playlist. Fleet Foxes released a whole album, not a collection of songs, in my opinion. That doesn't take anything away from the songs or the band.
I think it lacks the hooks and catchiness of the Sun Giant EP and especially the debut. This album has a more introverted attitude, more along the lines of Astral Weeks, Stormcock and Nick Drake's discography. In turn, it sounds like an incredibly disciplined and mature album and puts extra emphasis on the subtleties and little details.
It's a very different album from their debut, but it's still just as excellent.
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