It’s no secret that Fleet Foxes have been jockeying for position against Vampire Weekend for “most blogged about in 2008.” While I’m starting to tire of reading about Vampire Weekend, I can’t really get enough of Fleet Foxes. They somehow feel more deserving of the constant praise. For those of you who don’t know much about The Fleet, I’ll give you the summary: Internet loved their debut EP Sun Giant that came out earlier this year. They sound good live and people have noticed. Their self-titled LP is out next week on Sub Pop. They’re good.

“White Winter Hymnal” hit the interweb a few months ago, and I don’t think I’ve stopped singing it since. The lyrics are more or less meaningless, placing emphasis on the melody that will, if you’re not careful, consume you. The song is drenched in reverb, making the already intoxicating harmonies sound bigger and everywhere at once.

A single voice begins the song, soon joined by the voices of the remaining members and supplemented with tambourine and acoustic guitar. As the first verse comes to an end, its last lyrical phrase is drowned by the boom of a floor tom that drives what is left of the painfully brief track. A bright lead guitar line joins as well and is followed closely by more vocals as the song continues much like the first verse but bigger.

Fleet Foxes - “White Winter Hymnal”

Fleet Foxes is out June 3 on Sub-Pop.

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