Fleet Foxes: Helplessness Blues

Label: Sub Pop

The long-awaited album No. 2 from Seattle new-folkies Fleet Foxes is aglow with everything the band's cult of fans love -- namely  harmonies, harmonies and more gorgeous harmonies. But despite the persistent and undeniably awesome multilayered singing -- led by frontman Robin Pecknold -- the real magic on Helplessness Blues comes just as often from instrumental moments. "Sim Sala Bim" (bonus points if you know the old cartoon that title comes from) flutters along for a couple of minutes, shifting between soft acoustic-guitar picking and full-force harmonizing teamed with strings and piano, but it raises goosebumps when, with about a minute left, the acoustic bursts into a florid strummed romp. A similar moment occurs within "The Plains/Bitter Dancer" upon the low-light dramatic entry of a keyboard to support the Foxes' voices, already in full CSNY formation (and as that must be the 10,000th CSNY comparison they've gotten, I should maybe win a prize?). The 12 songs on Helplessness Blues provide a lush jungle of treats for fans -- just don't think this band is only about those vocals. Sure to be one of the most important indie records of the year.