The Bats' first full album continues the early promise of their EPs and,
with only the slightest deviations and changes since, established their
sound for just about everything that followed. Scott and company may not
be the most willfully experimental of musicians, but when they're on --
more often the case than not -- their lovely, melancholic songs simply
hit the spot. Woodward forms the perfect singing partner for Scott, while
guest violinist Alastair Galbraith brings his talent to the fore as he
has for so many other New Zealand bands. "Treason" makes for
a good start to the album, but the real standout on Daddy's Highway is
the surging "North by North." Featuring a fantastic Galbraith
violin solo, it gives the band the opportunity to show its sometime hidden
strengths for more energetic, nervous material. Scott's vocal performance
is one of his best, and the quick, on-edge pace seems to get even more
so as the song continues. Quieter songs unsurprisingly abound as well,
from the understated sweetness of "Sir Queen" to the gentle
keyboard-touched "Candidate." "Tragedy" is one of
the best in this vein, ending in a disturbing low drone (or at least as
much of a drone as the generally quick-length songs by the Bats allow
for). Though Daddy's Highway suffers a touch from the same problem that
affects all Bats releases -- an increasing sameness, especially towards
album's end -- it's still a great full album debut.
(by Ned Raggett, All Music Guide)