On The Download: Fleet Foxes

The self-titled debut full-length from Seattle band Fleet Foxes plays like a tried and true folk-rock classic. The group’s musical maturity and ability to borrow from their influences without sounding directly like any of them made me feel like I was listening to the fourth album by a veteran rock band, not a debut disc from a new act. 

Serene acoustics mutate into jangly guitar passages hurtling the listener into the wilderness. From the sun-soaked mountain vibe of ‘‘Sun It Rises’’ to the beautiful three part harmonies and sing-along passages of ‘‘White Winter Hymnal’’ and “Blue Ridge Mountains,” not a track on the album disappoints. It’s one of those rare records that you find yourself selecting a new favorite track every day. 

Many more thankfully got to experience the Emerald City quintet when they appeared on “Saturday Night Live,” earlier this month. The appearance made the group only the sixth band from an independent label to snag the coveted spot on the legendary US television show in its more-than-30-year history. The appearance was the icing atop a stunning 2008, which saw their debut disc land at the top of hundreds of bloggers, magazines, and websites year-end lists.

Music fans take note — Fleet Foxes are a band that will be around and making important, quality music for years to come.