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Look, I like America (the band) to a certain degree.  I’ve even sat down and interviewed Gerry Beckley and found myself liking the band more than ever. 

But I’m baffled by this America-Fleet Foxes comparison, my brain can’t process something like this.  Yes, their music sounds similar, but America really only has one mega-hit-single to fall back on with a few other great songs and Fleet Foxes have only released one note-worthy album. 

Comparisons between the two seem pointless.

“Will Fleet Foxes be as big as America? No. Not until they write radio-friendly hit singles. But then Fleet Foxes are more about the music-as-album experience, and less the big-hit-song experience,” writes Alan McGee in The Guardian.  “What is your favourite America album? You’d be hard pressed to get an answer. But ask someone what their favourite America single is and you just know you’ve got an easy answer.”

Let’s give Fleet Foxes some time before we slag them for not having produced a “Horse With No Name,” “Sister Golden Hair” or “Ventura Highway.”  M’kay?

Sean Pekinold, brother of head Fox Robin, made a pretty cool stop-motion video for their tune “Mykonos.”

And as much as I love the song and video, I’m only posting about this because of the making of video.   Sean used a Nikon D90 and Dragon Stop Motion Software.  You really get a sense of just how much work went in to making this three minute video.

It was shaping up to be a rainy Sunday afternoon here in Stumptown and something that always brings a smile to my ears is Wilco.  Add in a dash of Fleet Foxes covering The Band’s “I Shall Be Released” (whah? That’s a Dylan song!  Mon dieu! No, it was written by Dylan, performed by many but perfected and recorded first by The Band.) and the rain can’t hold me down.

This was recorded during the stop in Spokane, Wash. on Aug. 21.  Jeff Tweedy really goes for those high notes made famous by Richard Manuel and Fleet Foxes provide sumptuous backing harmonies (though I think I’ll always prefer Levon Helm and Rick Danko).

Mp3: Wilco and Fleet Foxes – “I Shall Be Released”

For Comparison’s Sake

Here is The Band performing “I Shall Be Released” during The Last Waltz. Not exactly fair given the shear musical genius on stage during this performance. But who said life was fair?

Mp3: The Band – “I Shall Be Released”

On a not so random note, I’m hoping the future Mrs. Oyster will let me name my first son Danko.