Fruit Bats - Mouthfuls (Sub Pop, 2003)

Fruit Bats
Mouthfuls
Sub Pop
2003

Rating: 7.5 blind fliers out of 10

I’ve really been enjoying the softer, gentler side of Sub Pop lately. After a tumultuous childhood filled with some of the best and (occasionally) worst rock music of the nineties, they seemed to have settled down and started focusing on mellower pop and folk inspired music – the type of tunes that my laid-back ass has really been enjoying lately, but not so good for those out there eagerly anticipating that new Tad record to drop (note: I have no idea if there is or is not actually a Tad record coming out – this was just my bad attempt at a joke).

The Shins, Iron & Wine, Trembling Blue Stars, Holopaw, Ugly Cassanova, Pernice Brothers, etc – The Fruit Bats fit right into this stable of artists, and I have thoroughly enjoyed all of these records. While not sounding exactly like any of these bands, Fruit Bats do share a similar sound – a Kinks/Beach Boys pop influence like The Shins or the Pernice Brothers, a more mellow, folky pop approach like The Trembling Blue Stars, and a slight tinge of the spooky alt-country stylings that flavor Iron & Wine, Holopaw, and Ugly Cassanova. What was once the work of only one "bat" by the name of Eric Johnson (a different Eric from the one who played guitar for the Archers of Loaf and the one that plays that wankery new age guitar rock), the group now consists of an additional member Gillian Lisee. Gillian fills in on additional vocals, keyboards, and probably whatever else needs to be done.

This is a fine record that I enjoy more with each passing listen – and if the company it keeps is any indication, this won’t be one of those "listen to it a hundred times in two weeks and then forget about it" type of bands, but more like one of those "Jesus Christ it’s been nearly two years you’d think I’d be sick of this by now but I’m not" types.