Sun Giant
2008 EP by Fleet Foxes
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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]
- Bear Creek, Woodinville, Washington
- Stuart Hollerman's Avasti Studio
- Fleet Foxes' house
| Sun Giant | ||||
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| EP by | ||||
| Released | April 8, 2008 | |||
| Recorded | January 2008 | |||
| Studio |
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| Genre | Indie folk | |||
| Length | 18:50 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Producer | Phil Ek | |||
| Fleet Foxes chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Sun Giant | ||||
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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
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [5] |
| Drowned in Sound | 8/10[6] |
| Gigwise | [7] |
| The Independent | [8] |
| The Line of Best Fit | 90%[9] |
| MusicOMH |  [10] |
| The Observer | [11] |
| Pitchfork | 8.7/10[12] |
| Robert Christgau |  [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. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 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 (2009) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Budget Albums (OCC)[17] | 12 |
| US Billboard 200[16] | 170 |