Fruit Bats have made a record built on patience. The Pet Parade runs 44 minutes across 11 tracks, and it asks listeners to sit with each one instead of rushing through it. The Portland band blends pop hooks with folk storytelling, and this album is their most focused statement yet.
The record opens with its title track, a six-and-a-half-minute epic that sets the tone for everything that follows. It’s a slow-burning narrative about waiting and wonder, and it’s the kind of song that rewards repeated listens. The album doesn’t waste time after that opener — the next four tracks keep the momentum without losing the song’s careful pace.
Title Track Through Cub Pilot
“The Pet Parade” earns its reputation. It’s the best song the band has put out under this name, and it sets a bar the rest of the record tries to clear.
“Cub Pilot” is a steady, mid-tempo piece about flight and freedom, built around a simple guitar riff. It doesn’t reach for the heights of the opener, but it holds the album together.
Discovering Through The Balcony
“Discovering” slows things down again, a quiet reflection on finding meaning in small moments. It’s a good track, but it doesn’t leave much of an impression.
“The Balcony” picks the tempo back up with a more urgent feel. It’s one of the stronger songs in the middle stretch, with a melody that sticks.
Here For Now, For You
“Here For Now, For You” is a brief pause, a two-and-a-half-minute love song that gets in and out quickly. It’s pleasant, but it’s easy to forget once the album moves on.
Avalon Stairs Through Holy Rose
“On the Avalon Stairs” brings back the storytelling, a song about a specific place and the memories tied to it. It’s solid, though it doesn’t add much new to the record’s themes.
“Eagles Below Us” is the album’s most ambitious moment, a track that builds from a gentle acoustic start into something bigger. It’s a highlight, and it shows the band can handle scale without losing control.
“Holy Rose” slows things down again, a ballad that leans into the band’s folk roots. It’s well-crafted, but it feels like a step back from the energy of “Eagles Below Us.”
All in One Go
“All in One Go” is a quick burst of energy, a three-minute pop song that snaps the record back into focus. It’s a nice change of pace, but it doesn’t stick the way the best tracks do.
Gullwing Doors And Complete
“Gullwing Doors” is a standout. It’s a driving, melodic song that matches the ambition of “Eagles Below Us,” and it closes the album on a high note.
“Complete” ends the record on a quieter, more reflective note. It’s a fitting closer, even if it doesn’t reach the heights of the earlier tracks.
It is an inviting stanza under any circumstance, but given the present state of the world the potency is only increased
The Verdict
The Pet Parade isn’t perfect, but it’s the band’s most consistent work to date. The highs are higher than anything else they’ve done, and the lows never drag the album down.
This is a record about holding on to wonder, even when the world pushes against it. That’s a worthwhile theme, and Fruit Bats execute it with real skill.
8 of 10.
- The Pet Parade6:42
- Cub Pilot3:32
- Discovering4:35
- The Balcony4:09
- Here For Now, For You2:52
- On the Avalon Stairs3:11
- Eagles Below Us3:37
- Holy Rose4:52
- All in One Go3:13
- Gullwing Doors4:35
- Complete3:01
