Fruit Bats - The Ruminant Band

When I read that Fruit Bats were from rainy Seattle I was a little surprised, because when I had been listening to The Ruminant Band, the music's bright, blonde tones put me in mind of California's sun-soaked wine region. The album is a joyous affair, a party, a carnival rich with attractions. There is a fair amount of diversity among these tracks, yet the party stays together, never fracturing into separate rooms; a kind of Hippie-ish jam band foundation acts as the glue for Fruit Bats' myriad influences (the droll fancies of Robyn Hitchcock, even a bit of the near-prog leanings of Supertramp to name just a couple). Whether these were specific influences on Fruit Bats or not, it's clear they drew from an interesting musical palate to craft this lovely piece of sunshine. 4/5

The Ruminant Band - Fruit Bats