Crack-Up (album) explained

Crack-Up
Type:studio
Artist:Fleet Foxes
Cover:Crack-Up - Fleet Foxes.jpg
Recorded:July 2016–January 2017
Studio:
Length:55:09
Label:Nonesuch
Prev Title:Helplessness Blues
Prev Year:2011
Next Title:Shore
Next Year:2020

Crack-Up is the third studio album by American band Fleet Foxes, released on June 16, 2017, by Nonesuch Records.[1] Loosely inspired by F. Scott Fitzgerald's essay collection of the same name, it is the follow-up to their 2011 album Helplessness Blues, following the band's three-year hiatus from 2013 to 2016.[2] It is also the band's first release on the Nonesuch label after departing Sub Pop.[3]

Recording

Crack-Up was recorded at various locations across the United States between July 2016 and January 2017: Electric Lady Studios, Sear Sound, The Void, Rare Book Room, Avast Recording Company, and The Unknown. Phil Ek mixed the album at Sear Sound, and Greg Calbi mastered it at Sterling Sound.[4]

Release and promotion

Fleet Foxes released the first song from the album on March 7, 2017: "Third of May / Ōdaigahara", a "nearly nine-minute epic powered by piano and electric twelve-string guitar, string quartet, and the group's trademark sparkling harmonies";[5] [6] on the same day, Robin Pecknold appeared on Apple Music's Beats 1 radio station to discuss the new song, as well as the band's hiatus and their upcoming tour.[7] [8] The song was released via Fleet Foxes' new YouTube channel,[9] coupled with a lyric video created by Sean Pecknold and Adi Goodrich.[10] The following day, Pecknold annotated some of the lyrics of the song using Genius,[11] [12] and appeared on BBC Radio 6 Music.[13] An edited version of "Third of May / Ōdaigahara", with a duration of 4:02, was released three days later.[14]

On March 18, 2017, Pecknold used Reddit to confirm a fan's theory that the first track on the new album would begin exactly where the last track on their previous album, Helplessness Blues, ended. Thus, the last notes of "Grown Ocean" will connect to the first notes of "I Am All That I Need / Arroyo Seco / Thumbprint Scar".[15] [16] [17]

An album trailer made by Sean Pecknold was released on YouTube on April 4, 2017, featuring in-studio footage as well as previews of many forthcoming songs.[18] [19] [20]

A first look at the packaging proofs of the vinyl was provided by Robin Pecknold on April 20, showcasing the front cover,[21] the inside[22] and the back cover.[23] Many of the featured images are the work of the Japanese photographer Hiroshi Hamaya.When asked about the release of a second single from the album, Pecknold commented that it would be released in a "couple weeks" and that a music video was being made in the meantime.[24] He later announced that the "20 most frequent commenters" on his Instagram page were being rewarded with signed test pressings of the album as an expression of gratitude for their support.[25] [26] [27] [28]

A second track "Fool's Errand" was released on May 12,[29] [30] [31] [32] along with a music video created by Sean Pecknold and Adi Goodrich, and starring Jade-Lorna Sullivan.[33] [34] [35] [36]

The band performed four tracks from the album live on KEXP on May 17.[37]

To support the album, Fleet Foxes began touring on May 15, 2017, with four "intimate" shows in the US, where they debuted new material from Crack-Up,[38] [39] [40] followed by four shows at the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall, with the final Sydney show being streamed on Facebook Live.[41] [42] [43] [44] [45] The band then continued their tour throughout 2017, with concerts in Europe, the United States and Canada.[46] [47]

The band announced on June 6, 2017, that Beats 1 would broadcast the exclusive, official premiere of "If You Need to, Keep Time on Me" the following day.[48] [49] The song was uploaded to their YouTube channel the same day.[50] [51]

The entire album was released via NPR on June 8, 2017, ahead of its official release.[52] [53]

Prior to the album's release, Fleet Foxes performed "Third of May / Ōdaigahara" for Live from the Artists Den at The Knockdown Center in Queens, New York, later releasing the performance on their YouTube page.[54] [55]

The band appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on June 16, the day of the album's release, to perform "Third of May".[56] [57] The following morning, June 17, they appeared on CBS This Morning's Saturday Sessions, playing "Third of May", "If You Need To, Keep Time on Me", and "Fool's Errand" live from Electric Lady Studios in New York.[58] [59] [60]

Robin Pecknold appeared on the June 22 episode of Hrishikesh Hirway's podcast Song Exploder to break down the song "Mearcstapa", mentioning Ali Farka Touré, Can and Steve Strohmeier as influences.[61] [62] [63] The band then appeared on the July 14 episode of Talia Schlanger's World Cafe to discuss the album and play some tracks live.[64] [65]

Fleet Foxes returned to The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on October 26 to perform "Fool's Errand".[66]

Critical reception

Crack-Up received widespread acclaim from contemporary music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 81, based on 31 reviews, which indicates "universal acclaim".

In his review for AllMusic, Timothy Monger wrote that the album was, "Orchestral, experimental, and more challenging than either of the band's previous releases, it's a natural fit for the Nonesuch label, whose heritage was built on such attributes. For Fleet Foxes, it represents a shift away from their more idyllic early days into a period of artistic growth and sophistication." Ian Cohen for Pitchfork gave similar praise by stating that, "Crack-Up supports the heft of Pecknold's concerns by working on a massive scale that no band is really attempting in 2017, let alone able to accomplish. Fleet Foxes are still a folk act, though one that's absorbed far-flung versions of the term."

Accolades

PublicationAccoladeRank
ExclaimTop 20 Pop & Rock Albums of 2017
PitchforkThe 50 Best Albums of 2017
AllMusicBest of 2017
Spin50 Best Albums of 2017
Under the RadarTop 100 Albums of 2017
Double JThe 50 Best Albums of 2017
The SkinnyTop 50 Albums of 2017
PopMattersThe 60 Best Albums of 2017
MusicOMHmusicOMH's Top 50 Albums of 2017
SputnikmusicTop 50 Albums of 2017

Commercial performance

Crack-Up debuted at number nine on the US Billboard 200 with 34,000 album-equivalent units, of which 32,000 were pure album sales.[67]

Track listing

Sample credits

Personnel

Credits adapted from liner notes.Fleet Foxes

Additional musicians

Production

Design

Charts

Year-end charts

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Fleet Foxes Announce New Album Crack-Up, Share New Song: Listen. Minsker. Evan. March 7, 2017. Pitchfork. March 7, 2017.
  2. Holub. Christian. September 21, 2020. Fleet Foxes to mark autumnal equinox with surprise album and short film. Entertainment Weekly. August 15, 2022.
  3. Web site: Robin Pecknold Talks New Fleet Foxes Album and Going Back to School. Strauss. Matthew. March 7, 2017. Pitchfork. March 9, 2017.
  4. Web site:
  5. Leight. Elias. March 7, 2017. Fleet Foxes Preview First LP in Six Years With Epic New Song. Rolling Stone. March 7, 2017.
  6. Web site: Fleet Foxes detail new album, Crack-Up, share sprawling "Third of May/Ōdaigahara" — listen. Geslani. Michelle. March 7, 2017. Consequence. March 30, 2017.
  7. Web site: Zane Lowe and Fleet Foxes. March 7, 2017. Apple Music. March 16, 2017.
  8. Web site: Zane Lowe Twitter. Lowe. Zane. March 7, 2017. Twitter. March 16, 2017.
  9. Web site: Fleet Foxes YouTube Channel. Fleet Foxes. February 15, 2017. YouTube. March 30, 2017.
  10. Web site: Third of May / Ōdaigahara (Lyric Video). Fleet Foxes. March 7, 2017. YouTube. March 30, 2017.
  11. Web site: Fleet Foxes' Robin Pecknold Annotates Lyrics to New Song "Third of May / Ōdaigahara". Strauss. Matthew. March 8, 2017. Pitchfork. March 30, 2017.
  12. Web site: Third of May / Ōdaigahara Lyrics. Pecknold. Robin. March 8, 2017. Genius. March 30, 2017.
  13. Web site: Exclusive - Fleet Foxes' Robin Pecknold on their first new material in 6 years. March 8, 2017. BBC Radio 6 Music. April 15, 2017.
  14. Web site: Third of May / Ōdaigahara Single Edit. March 10, 2017. iTunes. March 16, 2017.
  15. Web site: New Fleet Foxes Album Picks Up Literally Where Last One Ended, Robin Pecknold Says. Strauss. Matthew. March 21, 2017. Pitchfork. March 30, 2017.
  16. Web site: Fleet Foxes Thought/Theory. Pecknold. Robin. March 18, 2017. Reddit. March 30, 2017.
  17. Web site: Fleet Foxes' new album, Crack-Up, begins exactly where the last one ended. Kaye. Ben. March 22, 2017. Consequence. March 30, 2017.
  18. Web site: Fleet Foxes - Crack-Up (Album Trailer). Fleet Foxes. April 4, 2017. YouTube. April 14, 2017.
  19. Web site: Fleet Foxes Announce World Tour, Share Album Trailer With New Music: Watch. Monroe. Jazz. April 4, 2017. Pitchfork. April 14, 2017.
  20. Web site: Fleet Foxes announce world tour, share Crack-Up trailer featuring new music — watch. Geslani. Michelle. April 4, 2017. Consequence. April 14, 2017.
  21. Web site: Robin Pecknold's Instagram, Front Cover. Pecknold. Robin. April 20, 2017. Instagram. April 23, 2017.
  22. Web site: Robin Pecknold's Instagram, Inside. Pecknold. Robin. April 20, 2017. Instagram. April 23, 2017.
  23. Web site: Robin Pecknold's Instagram, Back Cover. Pecknold. Robin. April 20, 2017. Instagram. April 23, 2017.
  24. Web site: Fleet Foxes Preview Crack-Up Vinyl Packaging. Sodomsky. Sam. April 20, 2017. Pitchfork. April 23, 2017.
  25. Web site: Robin Pecknold's Instagram, Signed Test Pressings. Pecknold. Robin. April 30, 2017. Instagram. May 3, 2017.
  26. Web site: Fleet Foxes Award Crack-Up Test Pressings to 20 Fans. Pearce. Sheldon. April 30, 2017. Pitchfork. May 3, 2017.
  27. Web site: Fleet Foxes surprise fans with vinyl giveaway of new album 'Crack Up'. Maine. Samantha. April 30, 2017. NME. May 3, 2017.
  28. Web site: Robin Pecknold Rewards Most Active Instagram Commenters With Fleet Foxes Test Pressings. Helman. Peter. April 30, 2017. Stereogum. May 3, 2017.
  29. Web site: Fool's Errand. May 12, 2017. iTunes. May 12, 2017.
  30. Web site: Fleet Foxes Share New Song "Fool's Errand": Listen. Pearce. Sheldon. May 12, 2017. Pitchfork. May 12, 2017.
  31. Web site: Fleet Foxes premiere new song "Fool's Errand" — listen. Young. Alex. May 12, 2017. Consequence. May 12, 2017.
  32. Web site: Fleet Foxes "Fool's Errand". Thiessen. Brock. May 12, 2017. Exclaim!. May 12, 2017.
  33. Web site: Fleet Foxes - Fool's Errand (Official Video). Fleet Foxes. May 12, 2017. YouTube. May 12, 2017.
  34. Web site: Watch Fleet Foxes' New "Fool's Errand" Video. Yoo. Noah. May 12, 2017. Pitchfork. May 12, 2017.
  35. Web site: A Strangely Beautiful Video For Fleet Foxes' Newest, 'Fool's Errand'. Hilton. Robin. May 12, 2017. NPR Music. May 12, 2017.
  36. Web site: Watch: Fleet Foxes Share Video for "Fool's Errand," New Track from Album "Crack-Up". May 12, 2017. Nonesuch Records. May 12, 2017.
  37. Web site: Fleet Foxes - Full Performance (Live on KEXP). KEXP. July 14, 2017. YouTube. June 14, 2017.
  38. Web site: Fleet Foxes Announce New Intimate Concert Series. Strauss. Matthew. March 28, 2017. Pitchfork. March 28, 2017.
  39. News: Dolan. Ciara. March 28, 2017. Fleet Foxes Announce Show at Portland's Crystal Ballroom. Portland Mercury. March 28, 2017.
  40. Web site: Fleet Foxes reveal intimate spring tour dates for the Pacific Northwest. Kaye. Ben. March 28, 2017. Consequence. March 30, 2017.
  41. Web site: Facebook announcement of Sydney live stream. May 19, 2017. Facebook. May 20, 2017.
  42. Web site: Pecknold's Instagram announcement of Facebook Live stream. May 19, 2017. Instagram. May 20, 2017.
  43. Web site: Fleet Foxes Announce Sydney Opera House Show Live Stream. Yoo. Noah. May 26, 2017. Pitchfork. May 29, 2017.
  44. Web site: Watch Live Concert in Sydney. May 29, 2017. Facebook. May 29, 2017.
  45. Web site: Watch Fleet Foxes' Sydney Opera House Show in Full. Yoo. Noah. May 29, 2017. Pitchfork. May 29, 2017.
  46. Web site: Fleet Foxes to Debut New Music at First Shows in Five Years. Strauss. Matthew. February 28, 2017. Pitchfork. March 9, 2017.
  47. Web site: Fleet Foxes Tour. fleetfoxes.co. April 11, 2017.
  48. Web site: Facebook announcement of Beats 1 premiere. June 6, 2017. Facebook. June 6, 2017.
  49. Web site: Instagram announcement of Beats 1 premiere. June 6, 2017. Instagram. June 6, 2017.
  50. Web site: If You Need To, Keep Time on Me. Fleet Foxes. June 7, 2017. YouTube. June 7, 2017.
  51. Web site: Fleet Foxes Share New Song "If You Need To, Keep Time on Me": Listen. Wicks. Amanda. June 7, 2017. Pitchfork. June 7, 2017.
  52. Web site: First Listen: Fleet Foxes, 'Crack-Up'. Thompson. Stephen. Stephen Thompson (journalist). June 8, 2017. NPR Music. June 8, 2017.
  53. Web site: Listen to Fleet Foxes' New Album Crack-Up. Yoo. Noah. June 8, 2017. Pitchfork. June 8, 2017.
  54. Web site: Fleet Foxes Seek New Touring Member. Sodomsky. Sam. May 31, 2017. Pitchfork. June 17, 2017.
  55. Web site: Fleet Foxes - Third of May / Ōdaigahara (Live from the Artists Den). Fleet Foxes. June 16, 2017. YouTube. June 17, 2017.
  56. Web site: Watch Fleet Foxes Perform 'Third of May' on 'Colbert'. Yoo. Noah. June 17, 2017. Pitchfork. June 18, 2017.
  57. Web site: Fleet Foxes Perform 'Third Of May'. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. June 16, 2017. YouTube. June 17, 2017.
  58. Web site: Fleet Foxes Play Crack-Up Songs on "CBS This Morning": Watch. Yoo. Noah. June 17, 2017. Pitchfork. June 18, 2017.
  59. Web site: Saturday Sessions: Fleet Foxes perform "If You Need To, Keep Time on Me". CBS This Morning. June 17, 2017. YouTube. June 18, 2017.
  60. Web site: Saturday Sessions: Fleet Foxes perform "Fool's Errand". CBS This Morning. June 17, 2017. YouTube. June 18, 2017.
  61. Web site: Song Exploder: Fleet Foxes. Hrishikesh. Hirway. June 22, 2017. Song Exploder. June 22, 2017.
  62. Web site: Robin Pecknold's Instagram, Song Exploder. Pecknold. Robin. June 22, 2017. Instagram. June 22, 2017.
  63. Web site: Facebook announcement of Song Exploder appearance. June 22, 2017. Facebook. June 22, 2017.
  64. Web site: Fleet Foxes On World Cafe. Schlanger. Talia. Talia Schlanger. July 14, 2017. World Cafe. NPR. July 17, 2017.
  65. Web site: Facebook announcement of World Cafe appearance. July 17, 2017. Facebook. July 17, 2017.
  66. Web site: Fleet Foxes Performs 'Fool's Errand'. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. October 26, 2017. YouTube. October 27, 2017.
  67. Caulfield. Keith. June 25, 2017. Lorde Earns First No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart With 'Melodrama'. Billboard. June 26, 2017.
  68. Web site: Top 100 Albumes — Semana 25: del 16.06.2017 al 22.06.2017. Productores de Música de España. Spanish. June 29, 2017.
  69. Web site: Jaaroverzichten 2017. Ultratop. July 23, 2020.

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