Fleet Foxes’ “Fool’s Errand” Is Full Technicolor Folk
Fleet Foxes have a knack for making frustration sound appealing. In many of their songs, desire is consistently hindered by reality, yet their grand sound renders simple moments triumphant. Take their epic “Helplessness Blues,” which begins with frontman Robin Pecknold’s existential admission of insignificance before soaring into an anthem of self-reliance. “Fool’s Errand,” the second offering from upcoming album Crack-Up is an addition to their collection of jovial letdowns.
“Fool’s Errand” is about disappointment, yet it is imbued with an uplifting confluence of melody. Full bodied drums and bright keys take the sepia tone of their more acoustic work and adjust it for full Technicolor. Pecknold sings of seeking a “sight dream” he never reaches, yet continues to try: “Blind love couldn’t win/As the facts all came in/But I know I’ll again/Chase after wind,” he says with levity despite the heavy circumstances. After three-and-half upbeat minutes, “Fool’s Errand” closes with subdued piano, a melancholy departure that lies somewhere between dejection and acceptance—an acknowledgement that all frustration eventually must subside.
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