Fruit Bats - Sometimes a Cloud Is Just a Cloud - Pink-in-Violet Color Vinyl Record

Twenty years of Fruit Bats gathered into one deluxe 2LP, pressed on pink and violet vinyl in a gatefold jacket. Eric D. Johnson, also of Bonny Light Horseman, put it together himself and wrote the liner notes, and the split between the two records is deliberate.

The first half is the introduction: sleeper hits and slow growers pulled from Tripper, Absolute Loser, Gold Past Life and beyond, sequenced so the melodies land in a run. Johnson calls it the collection you buy for the friend who is Fruit Bats curious. The second half is for the people already deep in it, with demos, four track sketches, live takes and previously unreleased material, including a cover of the Steve Miller Band's "The Joker" and appearances from J Mascis of Dinosaur Jr and the late Richard Swift on piano.

Twenty three songs across four sides, warm and unhurried folk pop from a songwriter who never needed to shout. Worth hearing on the colored pressing while it is here.

Side A
1. Rips Me Up
2. The Bottom of It
3. Cazadera
4. Humbug Mountain Song
5. Absolute Loser
6. The Rock Doc

Side B
1. You're Too Weird
2. Flamingo
3. Born in the '70s (Live in Portland)
4. When U Love Somebody (Live at Spacebomb)
5. Glass in Your Feet

Side C
1. Without Any Airs
2. Barely Living Room (Demo)
3. Baby Bluebird (Waltz Demo)
4. Hot Dogs
5. WACS
6. When the Stars Are Out
7. Aces

Side D
1. The Joker
2. Feather Bed (Demo)
3. Goodnight Sun & Hello Moon
4. Rainbow Sign (4-Track Demo)
5. The Old Black Hole (4-Track Demo)