First Collection '06-'09 4CD

Fleet Foxes, in this expansive four-disc collection from 2006 to 2009, deliver a curious paradox: their most soaring melodies often carry an undercurrent of melancholy, laying bare the contradictions of splendor and sorrow. Tracks like "White Winter Hymnal" prettily mask a deep sense of longing, while the lesser-known demos included here peel back layers, offering a glimpse into their creative evolution. This set is a chance to revel in the haunting beauty that defined their early sound; and to appreciate how it wrestles with themes of nature, nostalgia, and the inevitable passage of time. Connoisseurs of folk-inflected indie will find themselves drawn into this rich, if somewhat bittersweet, retrospective of a band that balances lyricism with profound depth.