New Seattle sound?

Who knew folk music is alive and well? The Fleet Foxes, a new favorite Indie band, takes you back with a 60s sound very reminiscent of early Simon and Garfunkel. Looks at these guys. I’m sure they fit right in among the Seattle art and music crowd. Throwbacks indeed. Especially significant is the stunning voice of Robert Pecknold. Out of this world.

My affinity toward Indie music began in a Santa Monica hotel room in January 2006, when tuning through the LA FM stations on the clock radio I stopped around 100.5 and was treated to compelling music I’d never heard before. Namely, it was “Do You Realize?” by the Flaming Lips that was the song that got me hooked. More recently, I discovered Sirius-XMU (XM 35) and also Directv music channel 831 college radio. Since then I’ve downloaded nearly 40 favorites from itunes from the likes of Fleet Foxes, Cults, Tune-yards, Lykke Li, Washed Out, Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks and more.

This Monday’s music watch will feature the Fleet Foxes. The first song, “Lorelai” is the best song I’ve heard in over 15 years. Picture Jason Schwartzmann and Bill Murray on a train in a Wes Anderson movie for greater effect. The title track from their latest LP, “Helplessness Blues” will make you feel as if you’re pounding against a church window ala Dustin Hoffman in “The Graduate”. Great stuff… it doesn’t get any better.

Don’t rely on my amateur music reviews. Check out the Sirius-XMU website and station and hear from the pros, DJs Jake Fogelnest, Jenny Eliscu and Josiah for the latest Indie updates.

(If you have any problems playing these, let me know; though I can’t guarantee I am web-savvy enough to fix it. If anything, you can go to Youtube and find links to these tracks I’m sure.)

“Lorelai”

“Grown Ocean”

“Helplessness Blues”