What makes Spelled in Bones by Fruit Bats notable?

This album received favorable reviews, notably from Pitchfork which praised its blend of warmth and subtle complexity. The track 'Canyon Girl' became a standout, often associated with the revitalization of the indie folk movement in the early 2000s. Spelled in Bones is Fruit Bats' third studio album, following their 2003 release, Mouthfuls. At this point, the band had solidified their sound and audience within the indie folk-rock scene, building on the acclaim garnered from their earlier works.

Who is Spelled in Bones for?

Spelled in Bones works well if you're into whimsical melodies for daydreaming, nostalgic reflections on life and warm tunes for sunny afternoons.

How many songs are on Spelled in Bones?

Spelled in Bones has 11 tracks, running approximately 35 minutes.

Spelled in Bones

Fruit Bats · 2005

35 min · 11 tracks · folk rock

Lush melodies intertwine with introspective lyrics, creating a warm and inviting folk-rock landscape rich with storytelling.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Canyon Girl — This track encapsulates the album's essence with its vivid imagery and catchy melody, showcasing the band's knack for storytelling within a compact framework.
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The Wind That Blew My Heart Away — A poignant exploration of love and loss, this song features delicate instrumentation that highlights the emotional weight of its lyrics.
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Everyday That We Wake Up It's a Beautiful Day — This closing track radiates optimism and simplicity, effectively summarizing the album's overarching themes of appreciation and hope.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

59 /100

Treeline

Higher than 57% of albums we've rated

The album features strong songwriting and rich arrangements, making it a solid entry in the indie folk-rock genre.

What we noticed

The first three tracks establish a consistent mid-tempo groove, while the fourth track, 'Canyon Girl', introduces a more upbeat rhythm.
The lyrics often employ vivid imagery and storytelling, particularly in tracks like 'Traveler's Song' and 'The Wind That Blew My Heart Away'.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 6/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 7/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

whimsical melodies for daydreaming
nostalgic reflections on life
warm tunes for sunny afternoons
gentle rhythms for quiet moments

Maybe skip if you

seekers of high-energy tracks
prefer instant gratification sounds

Where this album fits

Career context: Spelled in Bones is Fruit Bats' third studio album, following their 2003 release, Mouthfuls. At this point, the band had solidified their sound and audience within the indie folk-rock scene, building on the acclaim garnered from their earlier works.
Stylistic neighbors: Fleet Foxes· Sufjan Stevens· Iron & Wine

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 Lives of Crime 3:53
2 Silent Life 3:12
3 TV Waves 3:43
4 Canyon Girl 2:41
5 Born in the 70's 3:08
6 Legs of Bees 4:03
7 The Earthquake of '73 3:20
8 Traveler's Song 2:48
9 The Wind That Blew My Heart Away 2:43
10 Spelled in Bones 3:44
11 Everyday That We Wake Up It's a Beautiful Day 2:26

What to play next

Listen next

The Ruminant Band

2009

Go back to

Tragedy + Time = Fruit Bats

2004

Full Fruit Bats discography Artists like Fruit Bats

folk rock

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata