Tripper is the fifth full length release from Fruit Bats, the Portland-based quartet, lead by frontman Eric D. Johnson. Despite them being on the scene for some time (the band released its Echolocation debut in 2001), this was my first chance to check out Fruit Bats. I was surprised to learn that this was not my first time hearing Johnson, though, as he worked with The Shins on 2007’s Wincing the Night Away. Like their label-mates The Shins, Fruit Bats craft catchy folk sounds on Tripper, while telling vivid stories of an imaginary life on the road. But, is Tripper a trip worth taking?
Sounds Like:
[(Fleet Foxes)(The Shins)(Bon Iver)] + stories from a life on the road, Kerouc-style = Tripper
The story behind Tripper certainly adds to its appeal. Based on the real life experience of meeting and befriending a “grizzled vagabond” on a train trip through the Midwest, Tripper tells the stories Johnson imagines could have transpired if he had decided to travel with the old man, rather than continuing to his intended destination (more on that here). From this prospective, Johnson takes great latitude to explore many faces of the human condition in these and other characters, with soundtrack to match.
Key Tracks:
Tony the Tripper, You’re Too Weird, Dolly, The Banishment Song, Picture of a Bird
“Tony the Tripper,” the album’s opener, tells the story of the man Johnson met on the train over a bed of strummed acoustic guitars, punctuated by electric guitars adding bright exclamation points throughout. The guitars give way to a splash of piano arpeggios in the chorus, as Johnson sums up Tony the Tripper’s approach to life: “the world might end tomorrow anyway.” The catchy, up-beat nature of this tune, along with Johnson’s descriptive lyrics, do a great job at highlighting some of the attractions of life on the road, welcoming the listener to take part on the adventure. “So Long,” the next track, opens with harp-like sounds in stark contrast with “Tony the Tripper.” It’s much more keyboard- and synth-driven and tells the melancholy story of a girl unhappy in her present location and longing for change.
Music Video for “You’re Too Weird”
Like the first two songs, Tripper tells a wide range of stories, each one sounding uniquely different. A quick beat and driving guitars and piano add to the tension in “Tangie and Ray,” which tells a story of their demise. The intricate guitar picking in “Shivering Fawn” (reminiscent of Iron & Wine) sets an introspective vibe as the character searches “for something to hang his hopes on.” The album’s first single, “You’re Too Weird,” finds the main character questioning his love for a woman who is certain to leave at any minute (see the hilariously awful 80’s-inspired video above). “Heart Like an Orange,” the next track, tells a different story of love over a driving piano and heavily layered vocals in the chorus.
Best Lyric:
“I sad Tony take it easy / not knowing if he’d cry or punch me / screaming the world might end anyway” - “Tony the Tripper”
In “The Banishment Song,” the main character has a falling out with his fellow travelers and explores the difficulty of severing the surprisingly strong bond forged along the journey. After a minute of Nick Drake-esque acoustic guitar, the song is driven by piano and syncopated hand claps. Following an instrumental, Fruit Bats include “Wild Honey” written by Diane Izzo, a friend and colleague of Johnson’s who died of brain cancer around the time recording started. “Picture of a Bird,” the album’s closer, finds the main character taking stock in his life and contemplating the next step in his journey. The song opens with a rather bright acoustic guitar riff, which finds some bite as the bass strings are hammered into a bluesy walk-down to kick off the verse.
Overall Rating:
Overall, I really enjoyed Tripper. Learning about the story of the album definitely made for a more enjoyable listen. Although I feel a tad late in checking these guys out, I am definitely looking forward to future projects while fighting the urge to check out earlier albums.
