Fruit Bats: “Ruminant Band”

Posted on 04. Aug, 2009 by some guy in Album Review, Music

Fruit Bats
Ruminant Band
Sub Pop

Riding a wave somewhere between country and kitschy hipster pop—though not overdosing on either—the Fruit Bats are no doubt onto something with their fourth full-length, Ruminant Band. The music itself carries a certain weight of Sticky Fingers Stones (see “Tegucigalpa”) while singer/pianist Eric Johnson croons leads in a fashion akin to James Mercer of The Shins. Cuts like “Beautiful Morning Light” speak to the revivalist nature which Ruminant Band embraces, and it's not troubling to imagine these boys paired-up with Sub Pop brethren Band of Horses for a reverb-laden tour. Also of note would be the record's consistently undulating rhythms and bouncy melodies reminiscent of, dare I say, Paul McCartney. By end, it is undeniable that the Fruit Bats have on their hands a well-crafted piece of pop, geared entirely for the now.
Jacob Sprecher

Tags: band of horses, beautiful morning, brethren, Eric Johnson, fruit bats, full length, hipster, jacob, james mercer, melodies, No Doubt, Paul McCartney, pianist, rhythms, shins, sprecher, sticky fingers, sub pop, tegucigalpa