Mouthfuls
by Fruit Bats
  • Record Label: Sub Pop
  • Release Date: Apr 8, 2003
Metascore
82

Universal acclaim - based on 11 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 11
  3. Negative: 0 out of 11
  1. 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.
  2. Alternative Press
    80
    A collection of delicate love songs with a back-porch feel, but the electronic warbles add enough texture for a new generation of stoners to space out on. [June 2003, p.96]
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  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.
  5. Junkmedia
    90
    A stunning bit of psychedelic folk-rock.
  6. Launch.com
    80
    Beautiful, sparkling folk-pop reminiscent of Velvet Underground's Loaded era, but with distinctive swooning melodies.
  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]
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  8. Mojo
    70
    The pleasure... is in hearing it unravel. [Aug 2003, p.98]
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  9. Pitchfork
    71
    Fruit Bats seem to be further embracing modernity and sounding great doing it.
  10. PopMatters
    90
    Lyricist [Eric] Johnson's faculties for observation are what turn sonic pleasantries into vehicles of magic and myth.
  11. Q Magazine
    80
    Beautiful stuff: sunny with a sad undertow, like The Beach Boys, Beck and The Beatles put in a blender. [Nov 2003, p.110]
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  12. 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.

Awards & Rankings

71
#71 Best Album of 2003

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 6 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 6
  3. Negative: 1 out of 6
  1. 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!
  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.… Full Review »
  3. 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.
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