The Pet Parade

Released in 2021, The Pet Parade marks a significant chapter for Eric D. Johnson’s Fruit Bats, produced by Josh Kaufman (of Bonny Light Horseman). The album was recorded remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic, with musicians contributing parts from across the United States, yet it achieves a remarkably cohesive, 'live-in-the-room' feel. Sonically, it leans more heavily into chamber folk and Americana than the project's earlier, more upbeat indie-pop iterations. The title track, a sprawling 6:42 opener, sets a tone of patience and reflection that persists throughout the eleven tracks. Critical reception highlighted the album's maturity and its ability to balance 70s AM radio influences with a modern, introspective folk sensibility. It stands as one of the most atmospheric entries in the Fruit Bats catalog, trading rhythmic drive for emotional depth and textural richness.