Fleet Foxes

The new music blog darling, Fleet Foxes, are making music they themselves are referring to as "baroque harmonic pop jams". I am not sure I quite agree with that description, but at the very least it gives you a sense that this is not quite easily classified under normal categories. They're a mellower, less jam-band-ish My Morning Jacket, or a more folk version of Band of Horses, or a modern take on a cross between Simon & Garfunkel and the Beach Boys or a myriad of other comparisons I could make. But what I keep coming back to is that they're taking the best parts of other things and making something truly extraordinary.

They are five (mostly) bearded guys (and hey, why are beards the new rock 'n' roll thing? I'm still trying to figure that one out) making music that makes me pause and say "wow", there's something about it that makes it feel almost spiritual. I see great things for these guys, because there's definitely something there.

• White Winter Hymnal