Being the newest full-time member of the Shins is enough to keep anyone’s hands full, but Eric D. Johnson has no intention of pausing the Fruit Bats project, his Sub Pop band that will release its fourth full-length this summer. The collection’s title track “The Ruminant Band” strums along with Bats’ familiar major chords and AM golden lope, settling into a section of the ’70s that matches Fleetwood Mac vocal harmonies with Dickey Betts-styled guitar lines straight from an Allman Bros jam (before the mushrooms kick in). It’s a far cry from the new wave and chunky rhythms Mercer has him dabbling in, more on the Blitzen Trapper side of the present Sub Pop spectrum.
Another from the LP:
The Ruminant Band is out 8/4 via Sub Pop.
[Photo by Annie Beedy]
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Don’t understand why these guys aren’t more popular. Their new songs absolutely killed when they debuted them in Portland last fall. As far as I know, though, I thought Eric Johnson left The Shins to concentrate on his own stuff. Though The Shins did pilfer their drummer and bass player.
They’ve skyrocketed in popularity since they toured earlier this year. I’ve watched several of my favorite bands (Modest Mouse, The Shins, Bright Eyes……) become famous, good artists will be found, And he has been found. BTW Looking forward to these songs.