They were my favorite band in the late 90s, and I adored everything they did up until Universal Truths and Cycles, but I lost interest afterward and haven’t paid any attention to the last 10 years of Robert Pollard’s voluminous output.
This new release brings back the classic lineup from 15+ years ago, but I don’t think it rises to the level of Bee Thousand, Alien Lanes, or even Under the Bushes Under the Stars (which it most closely resembles). I’ll reserve judgment until I’ve given it a few more spins though.
For the record, Alien Lanes is my favorite GBV album, and ranks high in my top 10 for desert island purposes. It’d be tough for anyone to spark the kind of lightning that happened on that 4-track machine in Dayton 17 years ago.
Having said that, Bob did a good thing by jettisoning his drinking buddies and getting some serious musicians to record Mag Earwhig!, Do the Collapse and Isolation Drills. Those were quality records any artist would be proud of.
I dont know the group but based on your recommendation i just listened to Alien Lanes. One of the songs is entitled “Chicken Blows”. The second word in the title pretty much sums up the album. Very slim pickins indeed. Most songs are around 90 seconds? And the guitarist really needs to pick up a few more chords. I love rock music but this was pretty painful to listen to.
Thanks for the heads-up. I must have listened to Alien Lanes and Bee Thousand, well, a thousand times. Somewhere after Isolation Drills I got lost trying to keep up with Pollards massive output. But this is one I’ll definitely make the effort to check out.
Guided By Voices is no Swell Maps, but I’ll prolly check this out next time I go to Zia. I didn’t really like any of the major label stuff they did, but since this has the old gang back together again, I’ll give them a shot at my $10.
That album might be the worst way to introduce someone to the band. Even among fans you’ll find some pretty widely split opinions.
The 90-second attack is a big part of that album’s charm for me though. No BS solos or superfluous choruses. Just get the ideas on tape and ship it, even if the mic happens to cut out once in a while or background noises make it into the finished recording. There are some really well-developed pop songs on there too though, like Motor Away, Game of Pricks or Closer You Are.
If you’re willing to give them another chance with something more accessible, try Do the Collapse. That was later in the more professional/mainstream phase I alluded to, and is my third or fourth favorite of all of their releases. Ric Ocasek produced it, and The Cars’ influence definitely shines through.
My favorite track on that album is “Zoo Pie” though, which a lot of other GbV fans find unlistenable. So maybe my tastes just aren’t aligned with anyone’s.
Most of their albums are incredibly hit-or-miss. I’d recommend their greatest hits collection Human Amusements at Hourly Rates over any of their original studio albums to a newcomer. I consider myself a huge fan and IIRC have seen them 10 times.
I’m firmly in the camp of the classic lineup. My first exposure to the band was “I am a Scientist” and repeated airplay of “Motor Away” inspired me to pick up Alien Lanes soon after its release. The first time I saw them live was on the UTBUTS tour, and I found Mag Earwhig to be an immense letdown. Their live shows were great until the end, and I thought they were at the top of their game on their farewell tour in 2004.
BTW, if anyone wants a decent record of their live show, I’d recommend the Live at the Whisky a Go Go and Electrifying Conclusion videos. The first is the classic lineup at their best, and the latter is the last show of their 2004 tour. I don’t think the Whisky show is available on DVD however.
I saw them in the Fall 2010 reunion tour. I seriously enjoyed myself, and they looked like they were having a better time than Pavement did a month earlier. That said, they were much less capable than the (mostly) same lineup I saw 14 years earlier. Tobin’s voice seemed to be shot when I saw them, meaning that his harmonies were much less effective than they used to be. Bob still tried to channel his inner Daltrey, but his stage banter was always a great part of seeing them live. He kept quiet and didn’t trash talk at all, which was a disappointment. There was energy, but not as much as there used to be.
I haven’t heard the new album and will probably pick it up, but I’m not happy it happened. It bugs me even more to hear that they’ve apparently already finished recording TWO additional albums past the new one.
Thanks sco3tt, that is much better. Although still a little weak on melody.
I met Ocasek once in Greenwich Village years ago. The guy is 8 feet tall and about 100 lbs but his then wife the model was blindingly beautifu;l.
I share your wary skepticism, but there’s no way this news could have surprised you. Bob Pollard releases two new albums every morning before breakfast.
Let’s Go Eat the Factory is slowly growing on me, but I haven’t heard anything on it yet that I’ll surprise myself by spontaneously humming later. There are no pure-hook songs like Pimple Zoo or Don’t Stop Now to be found here. (Note to moveover: that’s one thing you’ll discover if you keep digging into this catalog – Bob has an incredible knack for writing great hooks. He’s got 1500 songs to his credit, each containing a catchy line or two, yet no two sound alike.)
Your concerns about the recent live shows apply to this album as well. It’s interesting however to hear some of that production gloss Bob has indulged in over the last decade applied to the original band. Aside from UTBUTS, they never really got a chance to record on anything but boomboxes and 4-track machines, with production quality not even taking a backseat during the rush to deliver the tapes – it was chasing the car to the mastering plant on foot.
