CHART SPOTLIGHT. The folk band Fleet Foxes pose a serious threat to Adele’s reign atop the album chart in the UK. Fleet Foxes’ sophomore set Helplessness Blues vaults into No.2, ahead of Jennifer Lopez’ Love? (No.6) and Beastie Boys’ Hot Sauce Committee Pt.2 (No.9).
WelcheMusic covered Fleet Foxes earlier this year when it was announced that they will headline Gothenburg’s Way Out West festival this upcoming August.
Helplessnes Blues Online
Fans are treated to a bespoke Helplessness Blues web-site, featuring the possibilities to purchase the album digitally via iTunes, or on CD and vinyl via Amazon. Fleet Foxes is currently on tour and will embark on the European leg at the end of this month. The final date is set for 20/8 at the Green Man Festival at Brecon Beacons in the UK.
In the US, the set has currently bowed at No.13 on the Folk Albums chart and No.22 at the Tastemaker Albums chart (both via Billboard).
Positive Reviews
Bloggers around the world have embraced the new album with positive reviews. According to Luddite Stereo, “you may need to spend significant time questioning and even disliking Helplessness Blues before it reveals its gifts to you, but given that its creation is forever connected with human suffering, that price is only fitting.” The Crooked Timber blog gives it three bus stops up, while Stereogum claims the album is cooly uncool.
Eponymous Debut Album
Fleet Foxes eponymous debut set peaked at No.16 upon its release in 2008. It spent 23 weeks on the chart, finally dropping out in February 2009. Not a single-driven group, Fleet Foxes is yet to chart on the singles tally in Sweden.
