Inspired by the flat Midwestern landscapes he grew up in, Fruit Bats’ The Landfill frames Eric D. Johnson’s songwriting around memory, accumulation and emotional weight. After the spontaneous, stream-of-consciousness approach of Baby Man, Johnson carried that immediacy into a full-band setting, recording quickly with longtime collaborators. Tracked largely live at Bear Creek Studios with minimal overdubs, the album captures a band comfortable and instinctive together. The results balance loose, expansive playing with Johnson’s reflective songwriting, moving between wistful introspection and widescreen, melodic lift. Drawing on years of shared experience, The Landfill feels both personal and communal — pairing open-ended, road-worn themes with a sense of trust and ease between players. It stands as one of Johnson’s most direct and collaborative works to date, rooted in instinct rather than refinement.