Rating: NNN
Over five albums, Fruit Bats’ sole constant member, Eric D. Johnson, has carved out a niche with his beautifully crafted pop songs. Tripper continues to prove Johnson’s songwriting ability, while also treading a more exploratory and experimental path than previous releases.
Johnson used a full band for the initial recording process but then spent another month alone in the studio with producer Thom Monahan (Pernice Brothers, Vetiver) shaping the songs. In the past, his lyrics sounded autobiographical and he relied heavily on acoustic guitar. But here, every song tells a little story in which Johnson assumes different perspectives and uses broader instrumentation.
The varying arrangements complement the lyric exercises, though Johnson’s falsetto over electronic handclaps on The Banishment Song is a little hard to take.
Top track: Tony The Tripper
