Fruit Bats make a record that tries to do two things at once. The songs here are built around the idea of a great loss, but they play like they were made to be put on repeat in a car on a road trip. That tension gives the album its shape, even when the songs themselves don’t always land.
Opening With The Glory Of
The record starts with “The Glory Of,” a song that sets the terms early: it’s about being left behind, and it does so with a melody that feels less sad than resigned. “Gideon” follows with a tighter, more driving arrangement, and it’s one of the clearer statements of purpose on the record. “Caledoniaphilia” is brief and quiet, almost a palate cleanser, and it doesn’t need to do much beyond set the stage for what comes next.
My Man On Love Through Garuda
“My Man On Love” is where the album’s split personality shows up most clearly. It’s a love song built on a sense of being left behind, and the two ideas sit side by side without fully resolving. “The Rock Doc” picks up the pace, and the song’s title suggests a documentary approach, though the music stays closer to pop than reportage. “Garuda” is the shortest track here, a quick burst that works best as a palate cleanser rather than a statement.
Stunned One And I’ll Find A Way
“Stunned One” slows things down again, a quiet, reflective piece that leans on its melody rather than its lyrics to make its case. “I’ll Find A Way (To Carry It All)” is the album’s most direct statement of intent, and it earns its place near the middle of the record by refusing to let the sadness turn into something hollow. “Rahula, Years Later” closes the front half of the album with a return to the theme of being left behind, but with a wry edge that keeps it from feeling heavy.
The Cover And Dames + Horsemen
“I Will Always Love You” is the cover, and it’s a bold choice. Here it works, with the band finding room for their own voice inside a song that’s been heard countless times before. “Dames + Horsemen” closes the record on a note of quiet resolution, though it’s not a grand finale so much as a calm ending to a record that’s mostly concerned with endings.
| Track | Length |
|---|---|
| The Glory Of | 3:54 |
| Gideon | 3:27 |
| Caledoniaphilia | 2:02 |
| My Man On Love | 3:06 |
| The Rock Doc | 3:41 |
| Garuda | 1:42 |
| Stunned One | 3:00 |
| I’ll Find A Way (To Carry It All) | 3:21 |
| Rahula, Years Later | 2:56 |
| I Will Always Love You | 3:32 |
| Dames + Horsemen | 3:30 |
The Verdict
The best tracks here — “Gideon,” “I’ll Find A Way (To Carry It All),” and the cover — are genuinely strong songs. The lesser tracks are pleasant enough, but they don’t add much beyond atmosphere. As a whole, the record is a solid one, not a great one.
- The Glory Of3:54
- Gideon3:27
- Caledoniaphilia2:02
- My Man On Love3:06
- The Rock Doc3:41
- Garuda1:42
- Stunned One3:00
- I'll Find A Way (To Carry It All)3:21
- Rahula, Years Later2:56
- I Will Always Love You3:32
- Dames + Horsemen3:30
