10th February 2010, ALBUM: First AId Kit - The Big Black And The Blue

Rarely have I been so confused by a record as I have been by First Aid Kit's debut album, The Big Black And The Blue. The first time I’d heard of this band was last year some time when I saw a youtube video of them doing a cover of a Fleet Foxes song in the woods, which I found to be quite sickening in its earnest, saccharine way. They were good but they were like ickle kooky pixies, all innocent, white and pure in the forest singing airy fairy hippy dippy folk. So yeah, I was interested in this album for sure. The opening track is 100% pure and simple Fleet Foxes rip-off. And I think my feelings towards this song match my feelings for the album. It’s a great song, it sounds rich and lovely, their voices blend together in harmony and it soars. But the Fleet Foxes did it first. I mean, it’s total pastiche. And because of that, it’s as easy to take seriously as Mark and Lard’s Shirehorses project. They’re only young so maybe one day they’ll use their talents for something original and meaningful, but for now, I’ll do my damndest to avoid them.