If you hadn’t noticed, the pressure is on for Fleet Foxes. Along with this next record putting them head-to-head against the monster that is the sophomore slump, we’re already calling this LP one of the 50 most important records of 2011. Soon we’ll actually find out whether or not the band sink or swim as their second album, Helplessness Blues, hits stores May 3rd (via Sub Pop). Recorded over one year in four different studios (Avast Recording, Bear Creek Studios, Dreamland Studios, and Reciprocal Recording), the album sees the band reunited with producer Phil Ek. No word yet on a tracklist, but you can stream one of the LP’s 12 songs, the title track, below. Also be sure to check out the band on tour in North America and Europe starting April 30th (full dates are below).
Fleet Foxes 2011 Tour Dates:
04/30 – Vancouver, BC @ The Vogue Theatre
05/01 – Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom
05/03 – Seattle, WA @ Moore Theatre
05/05 – Oakland, CA @ Fox Theater
05/06 – San Diego, CA @ Spreckels Theatre
05/07 – Hollywood, CA @ Hollywood Palladium
05/08 – Tuscon, AZ @ Rialto Theatre
05/10 – Austin, TX @ Stubbs Waller Creek Amphitheater
05/11 – Dallas, TX @ Palladium Ballroom
05/13 – Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium
05/14 – Atlanta, GA @ The Tabernacle
05/15 – Washington, DC @ DAR Constitution Hall
05/17 – Boston, MA @ Orpheum Theatre
05/18 – New York, NY @ The United Palace Theatr
05/21 – Upper Darby, PA @ Tower Theatre
05/25 – Berlin, DE @ Astra
05/26 – Munich, DE @ Dachau Summer of Music
05/28 – Barcelona, ES @ Primavera Sound
05/30 – Paris, FR @ Bataclan
05/31 – London, UK @ Hammersmith Apollo