The Guilty Office CD
Arch Hill
Don’t You Rise 7” EP
Slumberland
Last time out, 2005’s At the National Grid, Robert Scott and the Bats sculpted the best record of their 25+ year career, pitch perfect from start to finish. Understandably I went into their follow up, The Guilty Office, with high hopes. None of the elements have changed—the chiming guitars and soothing vocals—but they don’t melt together as well. I can hear the seams, so to speak, and find myself paying attention to the individual parts rather being immersed in the whole. The record opens and closes well but in between there too many songs like “Castle Lights” and “Two Lines” where the added strings feel more like decorations rather than essential pieces.
Don’t You Rise collects four tracks from ’98-’03. All four work well, on par with National Grid, and are surprisingly cohesive given the time span. A great introduction for newcomers.
– Mike Faloon
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