Customer Reviews

The Guilty Office

5 star:		(3)
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Whenever a new Bats album comes around, I'm initially hesitant to listen to it as I'm afraid that it won't be as great as Daddy's Highway from 20+ years ago was/is, but I should know better and realize that Robert Scott and company won't disappoint. The Guilty Office (a strange name if I say so myself, but also the title of a beautiful, haunting song near the end of the album) is no exception as The Bats deliver another winner. As always, in my opinion, the first few songs are the strongest, but even as deep as track #8 (Later On That Night, which is a doppelganger to Luna's song Lovedust), the title song and the last song, The Orchard, the songs are still strong. The interplay between Robert Scott's and Kaye Woodward's vocals & guitars are still great. The rhythm section of Paul Kean & Malcolm Grant is as solid as ever. Whenever I try to describe The Bats to folks here in the U.S. who inexplicably still haven't heard of them after 3 decades of making great music, I draw a blank as The Bats sound like ... The Bats. If I had to compare them to others, I'd guess I'd say that they sound like Fleetwood Mac (with deeper vocals) mixed in with touches of Neil Young and Yo La Tengo with some strings added. Which is a mighty great combo.

If you're an old Bats fan, this won't disappoint. If you're new to The Bats, this is as good a place as any to start. Maybe if enough folks get the new CD we can get a rare U.S. tour from The Bats as I think it's been almost 4 years since their last visit, with the one before that more than 10 years earlier!!

Oh yes, what a lovely little album. Thanks for this one, Robert Scott, Kaye Woodward and co. I've been enjoying The Bats since 87's "Daddy's Highway" and am so pleased to have the pleasure of another long-player to enjoy. Not only is this a rare treat (7 full length cds over 22 years isn't a huge output) but also a truly refined one. It's the best album the Bats have made and captures all that's good about them, producing a wonderful distillation of their trademark sound into a humble, expansively heady mix of warm, giddy tunes. Nobody sounds quite like the Bats. Long may they jangle on!

I am a big fan of The Bats and I must say they have outdone themselves with 'The Guilty Office'. A real treat from start to finish! The production is amazing! Beautiful! Deep and introspective lyrics infused with their tradmark jangly guitar that is sure to bring a smile to ones heart.There is also some new sounds, including the beautiful harmonious singing from Kaye Woodward, that really help set each song apart. I also liked how the bass stood out on some tracks, namely 'The Guilty Office'...

If anything The Bats are 'guilty' of creating a masterpiece! The Bats in top form!