The Ruminant Band

Fruit Bats aren't the only indie band whose latest record sounds like something dropped in from the tail end of the Flower Power era, when the hippies rediscovered country and the weed was kicking in just right. (Oh, hey, what's up, Fleet Foxes?) Where a lot of new bands drop the ball is in that last part, not quite capturing the state of bliss that made so many of those hippie classics what they were. But that's not a problem on The Ruminant Band, from the Shins-worthy charms of the title track to the beautiful melody gliding across the gently picked acoustic of "Beautiful Morning." Even "Hobo Girl" has revelers whooping it up like it's a proper hootenanny.

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