Sun Giant

Sun Giant
EP by
Fleet Foxes
ReleasedApril 8, 2008
RecordedJanuary 2008
Studio
GenreIndie folk
Length18:50
Label
ProducerPhil Ek
Fleet Foxes chronology
The Fleet Foxes
(2006) 		Sun Giant
(2008) 		Fleet Foxes
(2008)
Singles from Sun Giant
  1. "Mykonos"
    Released: January 27, 2009

Sun Giant is the second EP by American band Fleet Foxes, released on April 8, 2008, by Sub Pop and Bella Union. While the EP was released prior to their debut album, Fleet Foxes, Sun Giant was recorded after the LP. Sun Giant was originally intended to be a tour-only release, but demand from fans led to its official release.[1] Fleet Foxes had stated that Sun Giant was pressed so that they had something to sell on tour and clarified that the music did not indicate their ambitions.[2] Despite this, the EP met with widespread critical acclaim; it was named the best album of 2008 by Pitchfork along with their debut LP.[3]

Background and release

Sun Giant was mostly recorded in January 2008 at Bear Creek, Woodinville, Washington. Additional recording was made at the band's house and Stuart Hollerman's Avasti Studio, the latter was also the place where the EP was mixed.[4]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[5]
Drowned in Sound8/10[6]
Gigwise[7]
The Independent[8]
The Line of Best Fit90%[9]
MusicOMH[10]
The Observer[11]
Pitchfork8.7/10[12]
Robert Christgau(dud)[13]
Rolling Stone[14]

Sun Giant received widespread acclaim from music critics. Billboard said that the EP featured "harmony-rich songs more in keeping with Crosby, Stills & Nash, a welcome turn away from the agitated dance-rock still so prominent in the indie world."[15] Rolling Stone gave the EP three-out-of-four stars, and said that "with ramshackle rising-and-falling guitars, CSNY-style harmonies and the occasional mandolin plink, this five-track EP will make you pine for summer in the country," although the magazine said their songwriting was a bit thin.[14] Sun Giant peaked at number 170 in the US Billboard 200 chart.[16]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Robin Pecknold

No.TitleLength
1."Sun Giant"2:14
2."Drops in the River"4:13
3."English House"4:41
4."Mykonos"4:35
5."Innocent Son"3:07
Total length:18:50

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Sun Giant, which also state that: "We all played many an instrument. An itemized and individualized list would be egotistical and tiresome".[4]

  • Robin Pecknold – [lead] vocals, various instruments [uncredited: guitar]
  • Skyler Skjelset – various instruments [uncredited: lead guitar, mandolin, vocals]
  • Casey Wescott – various instruments [uncredited: piano, keyboards, vocals]
  • Christian Wargo – various instruments [uncredited: bass, guitar, vocals]
  • Nicholas Peterson – various instruments [uncredited: drums, percussion, vocals]
  • Phil Ek – producer, engineer, mixing
  • Ed Brooks – mastering

Charts

Chart performance for Sun Giant
Chart (2009) Peak
position
UK Budget Albums (OCC)[17] 12
US Billboard 200[16] 170

References

  1. ^ "Interview With Fleet Foxes A&R Sue Busch", HitQuarters, 4 May 2009.
  2. ^ Gill, Andy (April 25, 2008). "Album: Fleet Foxes, Sun Giant (Bella Union)". The Independent. Retrieved January 25, 2009.
  3. ^ "The 50 Best Albums of 2008". Pitchfork. December 19, 2008. Archived from the original on March 17, 2009. Retrieved December 21, 2008.
  4. ^ a b Sun Giant (liner notes). Fleet Foxes. Sub Pop. 2008. SPCD 781.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. ^ Phares, Heather. "Sun Giant – Fleet Foxes". AllMusic. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  6. ^ "Fleet Foxes – Sun Giant EP". Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on October 2, 2012. Retrieved May 7, 2009.
  7. ^ Perlaki, Mark (April 17, 2008). "Fleet Foxes - 'Sun Giant EP' (Bella Union) Released 05/05/08". Gigwise. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  8. ^ Gill, Andy (April 25, 2008). "Album: Fleet Foxes, Sun Giant (Bella Union)". The Independent. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  9. ^ Hughes, Rich (May 2, 2008). "Fleet Foxes – Sun Giant EP". The Line of Best Fit. Archived from the original on May 5, 2008. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  10. ^ Welsh, David (May 5, 2008). "Fleet Foxes – Sun Giant EP". MusicOMH. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  11. ^ "Reviews 11-25". The Observer. April 20, 2008. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  12. ^ Deusner, Stephen (February 29, 2008). "Fleet Foxes: Sun Giant EP". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  13. ^ Christgau, Robert. "Fleet Foxes". Retrieved April 12, 2012.
  14. ^ a b Endelman, Michael (April 17, 2008). "Sun Giant EP". Rolling Stone. No. 1050. p. 65.
  15. ^ Cohen, Jonathan (April 12, 2008). "Sun Giant". Billboard. Vol. 120, no. 15. p. 42.
  16. ^ a b "Fleet Foxes Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  17. ^ "Chart Log UK - 1994–2010 - Adam F – FYA". Official Zobbel Website. Tobias Zywietz. Retrieved March 24, 2023.