Pitchfork

Sub Pop is at it again. These dudes are always experimenting to see if stamping their label's name on a record gives that release instant credibility. The latest beneficiary of their generosity is Chicago-native Eric Johnson's project the Fruit Bats. Listless, lethargic music with exotic stringed instruments (like banjos and ukuleles) pervaded Echolocation, the last release by the band, but spending sometime with Sub Pop's unofficial A&R; man Issac Brock (responsible for the signing of Florida's Holopaw), whom Johnson toured with as a member of Ugly Casanova, may have added some much needed verve and variety to Johnson's mix.

The new fruits of Johnson's labor will find its way to stores on April 8th using a sophisticated sonar positioning system and a proclivity towards natural sugars. The forthcoming LP is entitled Mouthfuls and was produced by Red Red Meat's Brian Deck (Ugly Casanova, Modest Mouse). For those of you whose interest is piqued right now, a press release describes the Fruit Bats' sound as boiling up "from such disparate influences as Phil Spector, Rumors-era Fleetwood Mac, and the '86 Waubonsie Valley High School production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma!" Enjoy the Spector comparisons will you can as the term will soon be as rare as comparing a running back's prowess to that of one Orenthal James Simpson. Tracklist:

01 Rainbow Sign
02 A Bit of Wind
03 Magic Hour
04 The Little Acorn
05 Track Rabbits
06 Union Blanket
07 Lazy Eye
08 Slipping through the Sensors
09 Seaweed
10 When U Love Somebody

Live sing-alongs will only be available to residents of Oklahoma! and Texas, as well as those who make the trek to Austin for SXSW. The band is scheduled to play three shows with Iron & Wine, including the Sub Pop showcase for the media festival. Tourdates:

03-14 Denton TX - Rubber Gloves (w/Iron & Wine, Western Keys)
03-15 Austin TX - Red Eye Fly (w/Baptist Generals, Holopaw, Hot Hot Heat, Iron & Wine, The Thermals)
03-16 Norman OK - Opolis (w/Iron & Wine)