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Mouthfuls
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Mouthfuls Image
Metascore
82

Universal acclaim - based on 11 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 6 Ratings

  • Summary: Yet another experimental indie band to arise out of the Chicago scene, the Fruit Bats are the brainchild of multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Eric Johnson, who has played with Ugly Casanova, I Rowboat, and Califone. On this second Fruit Bats LP, he is joined by Gillian Lisee and producerYet another experimental indie band to arise out of the Chicago scene, the Fruit Bats are the brainchild of multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Eric Johnson, who has played with Ugly Casanova, I Rowboat, and Califone. On this second Fruit Bats LP, he is joined by Gillian Lisee and producer Brian Deck.… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 11
  3. Negative: 0 out of 11
  1. PopMatters
    90
    Lyricist [Eric] Johnson's faculties for observation are what turn sonic pleasantries into vehicles of magic and myth.
  2. Junkmedia
    90
    A stunning bit of psychedelic folk-rock.
  3. Dusted Magazine
    80
    An album of pristine folk-pop backed by whispery wall-of-sound back-up vocals, crisp guitar figures, and some of the best pop songwriting this side of the Shins.
  4. Launch.com
    80
    Beautiful, sparkling folk-pop reminiscent of Velvet Underground's Loaded era, but with distinctive swooning melodies.
  5. AllMusic
    80
    When an album is as effortlessly warm and pretty as this one is, it's hard to begrudge the band a return to more familiar sonic pastures, and even more so when Mouthfuls suggests that the Fruit Bats' next album will be even more winning.
  6. Splendid
    80
    You can pinpoint a little Beach Boys here, some Nick Drake there and a bit of Sunshine Fix in-between, but the Fruit Bats sound like the Fruit Bats.
  7. Magnet
    70
    With its plumb-pretty songs, Mouthfuls will be part of the Smithsonian's year 3000 exhibit on white people. [#59, p.95]
    All this publication's reviews

See all 11 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. MikeF
    Apr 30, 2003
    9
    This may be my favorite cd of the year. I've been falling asleep to it ( a good thing) every night for the past week. Great vox and lyrics.
  2. thomasm
    Oct 6, 2003
    9
    I saw the show first, and found Fruit Bats totally enchanting. I was amazed that they could make themselves so vulnerable and emerge with my I saw the show first, and found Fruit Bats totally enchanting. I was amazed that they could make themselves so vulnerable and emerge with my full respect. Johnson's big, open, pleasantly metallic voice is the key. The instrumentation, the burden of which the two principals share evenly, well varied throughout their show/album. The crisp and simple production value is easy for me to visualize geometrically, if you dig. I like that they seem to tease you with the refrain payoff by sticking it in the second verse, as in the song about killing swans--the name escapes me. Great lyrics--Union Blanket is a good on for that, with its spilt rivers and such. Anyway, I bought the album the next day, and it has become the new St. Thomas: I'm Coming Home--wonderful drunk music. Wait--great waking up music, too.… Expand
  4. TimS
    Nov 23, 2003
    9
    I was very impressed with this album. If you are sick of everything else that is coming out, you should try this, it is great!
  5. KM
    Apr 24, 2003
    6
    CD is good, the live show was very boring.

Awards & Rankings

71
#71 Best Album of 2003

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