a career, reimagined

tonight, listening to the latest record by a band i really care for quite a bit, the Fruit Bats, and when i say newest i mean their record that came out 2 years ago, i had a bit of an epiphany. this record, Spelled In Bones, was their least publicized, least respected, and most quickly forgotten of their scarce 3 albums. it's filled, absolutely filled, with beautiful melody, pop chord progressions, eric johnson's gigantic voice and a consistent, super-duper strong set of 10 songs that always pick you up and never let you down. awesomely ignored, and here i sit, a fan of a record no one's ever heard. and i thought to myself, what if? ever had that one, the what if? well i did, & here's how mine went. what if the 3 Fruit Bats records were released out of sequence, in a different order...what would their career be like now? what would folks think of if you dropped their name in a music convo now? i think, at least critically, it might go a little something like this...

Debut album: Fruit Bats. Spelled In Bones

EW Review: I believe that one song title spells it out..."born in the 70's." not sounds like the 70's, but firmly entrenched in the 70's, with no eagles or BTO aftertaste. the vocals are huge AND understated, the mood is mellow AND not stoned, and the best song doesn't hit until 9 songs in, the driving and insistently hummable "The Wind that drew my Heart Away." Bet the house on the future of the Fruit Bats.

PitchforkMedia review, cut to mid 7th paragraph: ...and while very subtly referencing it's obvious forebearers, Spelled in Bones both embraces and shuns them, much as I did my last girlfriend. I think of this record in the same sphere, embrace and disdain it like that. fuck you for being perfect, i don't want perfect. i want flaws, i want kinks and juts and weak moments. fuck you for not having that.

Discolletive.com review: N/A

2nd Album: Echolocation

EW Review: Fruit Bats step back into their Americana roots, and Fruit Bats leader Eric Johnson steps back into his musical roots and embraces his main instrument, the banjo. While not banjo or dobro or country heavy, much of this record feels like a psychedelic hoe-down. I shouldn't forget to mention, they also include what will invariably be their signature song as a throwaway to close the album, "Dragon Ships." An awesome avoidance of the sophomore slump for the Fruit Bats, and yeah dude, the "city's got me feelin like a m***er f***er" too.

PitchforkMedia review: She left me. Let's let the facts be the facts, ok? She left ME. And what, really, was I asking for? Attention? Love? An impossible knowledge of obscure and absolutely current musical knowledge, both impressive in it's breadth and depth, that i could ridicule? sure, obviously, but what about the reality, about the serious shit....so, yeah, the new fruit bats record. it's retro futuristic country, and the best song of the year also happens to be on this album, and best lyric. top "i wish i were a viking in 1103, i'd fuck up shit on the high cold sea." i dare you. especially you, you damn leavin me ass bitch. i love you baby. i miss you too.

Discollective.com review: N/A

3rd album: Mouthfulls

Pitchfork Media review: While lingering in somewhat indie obscurity (though not so obscure, holding court with critical darlings Iron and Wine and The Shins on Seattle's Sub Pop label, also former home to Nirvana), Fruit Bats bound out with Mouthfuls. While not their most accessible effort, nor their most obscure, they reach a happy medium that satisfies both the hipster & huckster, & even my bitch ex-girlfriend...

Time Magazine review: A sound that appeals to the hipster and the aging ex-hippie, and everyone in between. Not the most important new record to have in your collection now, but the most important new record to have in your collection for the next 20 years. File in between Wilco and Neil Young, but you'll pull Mouthfuls off the shelf more often than anything, so maybe don't file it at all.

Discollective.com review: N/A

so, what have we learned from this revisionist musical history? numero uno, save your best for first. check Wilco, Arcade Fire, Spoon, etc. for evidence. the weirder, and somewhat crappier, you get in your "career," well the more respect and notoriety you get for being an artist. and numero dos, Discollective.com reviewers, get fucking reviewing! come on, kids!