Tuck the sun into Wilco’s pocket and swap Jeff Tweedy for Eric D.
Johnson. That’s how you get “My Unusual Friend” from the Fruit Bats’
fourth album. The uptempo keyboard plunking, cheerful pop guitar solos
and simple melody are Wilco’s Summerteeth all over again. The
rest of the album stretches away from the mold, with harmonies and
mellowed-out steel guitar that feel like a ’70s summer. Johnson has
recorded indie-folk band Vetiver and also plays with the Shins. These
influences lend the tunes a warm Americana feel and odd bursts of pop
frenzy that are peppered throughout the album. Major-key chord
structures give The Ruminant Band a breezy vibe. The title track
catches you in a strange place — it’s impossible to decide
whether to sit back and succumb to the laid-back guitar noodling or get
up and move your feet to the syrupy groove. On “Tegucigalpa,” Johnson
wails, “I’ll always keep you warm/I’ll always treat you nice.” Easy for
him to say; after all, he has the sun in the palm of his hand. —
Danielle Sills
This article appears in Aug 5-11, 2009.
