A Very Lonely Solstice

A Very Lonely Solstice
Live album by
Fleet Foxes
ReleasedDecember 10, 2021 (2021-12-10)
VenueSt. Ann & the Holy Trinity Church
Length45:02
LabelAnti-
Fleet Foxes chronology
Shore
(2020) 		A Very Lonely Solstice
(2021)
Singles from A Very Lonely Solstice
  1. "Can I Believe You" / "Wading in Waist-High Water"
    Released: July 17, 2021

A Very Lonely Solstice is the first live album by American band Fleet Foxes, released on December 10, 2021, by Anti- Records. It was first livestreamed as a pre-recorded concert film on December 21, 2020.

Background and release

Interior of St. Ann and the Holy Trinity Church in Brooklyn, New York City.

On September 22, 2020, Fleet Foxes released their fourth studio album Shore. It was announced one day in advance of its release, and was intentionally released exactly at the autumnal equinox. It was the follow-up to their 2017 album Crack-Up and the band's first release on Anti- Records. It was the band's second album since regrouping in 2016 after a three-year hiatus.[1]

A virtual, pre-recorded concert performance entitled A Very Lonely Solstice was livestreamed at 9 pm ET on December 21, 2020, coinciding with the winter solstice. The concert features lead singer Robin Pecknold performing an acoustic solo set inside the St. Ann & the Holy Trinity Church in Brooklyn.[2][3] It begins with a performance of "Wading in Waist-High Water" featuring the Resistance Revival Chorus, a collective of women and nonbinary singers. The rest of the performance features Pecknold performing solo on acoustic guitar. It features performances of songs from Shore and older Fleet Foxes songs, as well as cover versions of the traditional folk ballad "Silver Dagger" and the Bee Gees song "In the Morning". A Very Lonely Solstice is dedicated to Sam Jayne of the band Love as Laughter.[4]

"Can I Believe You" / "Wading in Waist-High Water" was released as an exclusive 7" vinyl single on July 17, 2021, as part of Record Store Day.[5]

On December 6, 2021, Fleet Foxes announced the release of a new live album entitled A Very Lonely Solstice. The album was released digitally on December 10, 2021, by Anti- Records.[6] The concert film was also made available to stream on YouTube the same day,[7] whereas vinyl and CD were released on July 1, 2022, through Anti-.[8]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
American Songwriter[9]
Uncut8/10[10]

Kitty Empire of The Observer wrote, "Even without his band's trademark harmonies, Fleet Foxes frontman Robin Pecknold lights up this bleakest of winters." Empire, however, lamented the underuse of the Resistance Revival Chorus.[4] Peter Watts of Uncut gave the album an 8 out of 10 rating, writing, "Pecknold is able to deliver a captivating performance that is sombre but never dull, with the mid-set trio of "Helplessness Blues", "Silver Dagger" and "Featherweight" particularly magnificent.[10] American Songwriter's Lee Zimmerman wrote, "The fact that the performance was recorded during the winter solstice adds an atmospheric presence that underscores the melancholy mood of Pecknold's lonely laments."[9]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Robin Pecknold, except where noted

A Very Lonely Solstice track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Wading in Waist-High Water" (featuring the Resistance Revival Chorus)2:10
2."Sunblind"4:24
3."In the Morning" (Barry Gibb)2:12
4."Tiger Mountain Peasant Song"3:53
5."Maestranza"2:55
6."Helplessness Blues"5:03
7."Silver Dagger" (Traditional)3:42
8."Featherweight"3:47
9."A Long Way Past the Past"3:44
10."Blue Spotted Tail"3:08
11."If You Need to, Keep Time on Me"2:55
12."I'm Not My Season"3:10
13."Can I Believe You" (featuring the Resistance Revival Chorus)3:59
Total length:45:02

Charts

Chart performance for A Very Lonely Solstice
Chart (2022) Peak
position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[11] 104
Scottish Albums (OCC)[12] 35
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[13] 57
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[14] 8

References

  1. ^ Holub, Christian (September 21, 2020). "Fleet Foxes to mark autumnal equinox with surprise album and short film". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  2. ^ Moreland, Quinn (December 1, 2020). "Fleet Foxes Announce A Very Lonely Solstice Livestream". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
  3. ^ Bruce, Jasper (December 3, 2020). "Fleet Foxes announce 'A Very Lonely Solstice' livestream show". NME. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  4. ^ a b Empire, Kitty (December 27, 2019). "Fleet Foxes: A Very Lonely Solstice live stream review – all is balm". The Observer. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
  5. ^ "RSD '21 Special Release: Fleet Foxes - "Can I Believe You" / "Wading in Waist-High Water"". Record Store Day. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  6. ^ Hussey, Allison (December 6, 2021). "Fleet Foxes Announce A Very Lonely Solstice Live Album". Pitchfork. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  7. ^ Lavin, Will (December 7, 2021). "Fleet Foxes announce live album 'A Very Lonely Solstice'". NME. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  8. ^ "Fleet Foxes - A Very Lonely Solstice - Vinyl LP". Rough Trade. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  9. ^ a b Zimmerman, Lee (July 25, 2022). "Review: Fleet Foxes Celebrate the Solstice". American Songwriter. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
  10. ^ a b Watts, Peter (September 2022). "Fleet Foxes – A Very Lonely Solstice". Uncut. No. 304. p. 24.
  11. ^ "Ultratop.be – Fleet Foxes – A Very Lonely Solstice" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
  12. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
  13. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Fleet Foxes – A Very Lonely Solstice". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
  14. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 8, 2022.