Crack Up Review

Abigale Smith, Writer

The newest album by indie folk band Fleet Foxes was released on June 16. Entitled “Crack Up”, the release has been one of the most anticipated of 2017. Keeping up with their past work which tended to hold a deeper meaning, this one is sure to keep listeners pondering the meaning behind the lyrics.

Of the lines featured in the first song listed, “Off on the other ocean now; All is behind you, all is sea,” is one of the more intricate.

Along with the refreshing intricacy, which contrasts with many other recent works, the words spoken provide a sufficient level of poetry which any listener could enjoy. This makes for an easy go-to when laziness takes over. Anyone could hit play and instantly be faced with nearly an hour of 11 euphonious tracks.

This album is nearly impossible to talk about without addressing their last release “Helplessness Blues” from 2011. The energy from that album met with the antonymic relaxedness of “Crack Up” is incomparable to that or any other.

Despite these releases having such sharp contrast in terms of energy, they seem to connect. The last song on the 2011 album, “Grown Oceans”, meets the first song of the 2017 album, “I Am All That I Need/ Arroyo Seco/ Thumbprint Scar”, with a startling association that cannot be ignored. For even more insight to one of the most anticipated albums of 2017, check out Fleet Foxes’ “Crack Up”.