Fruit Bats

Add Date: July 26 

Artist: Fruit Bats 

Album: Tripper 

Label: Sub Pop 

Genre: Rock, folk rock 

Comments: Eric Johnson's Fruit Bats project has been defined by its wonderful mix of '70s-vintage classic rock and jangly folk pop, most recently on 2009's The Ruminant Band. Indeed, it's been quite easy to envision Johnson as a past member of Califone--and as a current part of the indie powerhouse known as The Shins. On Tripper, the formula doesn't change, but it's been tweaked; some light electronics seep in, giving the music what Paste calls "a darker synth-infused sound".

But it's only slightly darker, and in no way is Tripper any less accessible--or, really, less folksier--than any of Johnson's previous work. Another solid LP; start with "Tony the Tripper", "Tangie and Ray", "So Long" and "You're Too Weird".