Seattle's
Fleet Foxes are led by vocalist/guitarist
Robin Pecknold, who fashioned his band's earthy, harmony-rich sound in honor of such perennial '60s artists as
Bob Dylan,
Neil Young,
the Zombies, and
the Beach Boys. Mixing baroque pop with elements of classic rock and British folk, the band took shape in 2006 as
Pecknold was joined by guitarist
Skyler Skjelset, bassist
Bryn Lumsden, drummer
Nicholas Peterson, and keyboardist
Casey Wescott. After playing only a handful of shows, the band generated a healthy amount of label interest and caught the attention of local producer
Phil Ek, who had previously helmed records by
Built to Spill and
the Shins.
Ek worked with the band on its
Sun Giant EP, which was issued by Sub Pop Records in spring 2008. The band's self-titled debut full-length followed that summer. ~ Kenyon Hopkin & Andrew Leahey, All Music Guide