Taken from "Normal Happiness" 2006
Lyrics Unknown
A fantastic winsome minute and a bit from Normal Happiness. This songs sounds like its comes from the late 60s or early 70s. A highlight from a great album and some of Bobs best work in recent years. Again, short enough to leave you wanting more.
Thursday, 28 June 2007
The Dawntrust Guarantee
Taken from "Life Starts Here" 2002
"I sail the sink
For a severe several days
On the dawntrust guarantee
Hands strange criminals
Her growing religion
Gains gusto
Her growing hair
Is attractive
In the joint
One the wall
Trust me"
A robotic voice and synthy sounds great us on this Airport 5 Oddity. Sounds like background music to an 70s or 80s BBC low budget Sci-Fi series. Very odd. A bit different to the norm. Odd. Yea. Odd.
"I sail the sink
For a severe several days
On the dawntrust guarantee
Hands strange criminals
Her growing religion
Gains gusto
Her growing hair
Is attractive
In the joint
One the wall
Trust me"
A robotic voice and synthy sounds great us on this Airport 5 Oddity. Sounds like background music to an 70s or 80s BBC low budget Sci-Fi series. Very odd. A bit different to the norm. Odd. Yea. Odd.
Tuesday, 26 June 2007
Dusty Bushworms
Taken from "Get Out Of My Stations" 1994
"This song will hold you in its arms
This song will fill you with its charms
Wrap it around me every night
It's gonna love you with its light
Are you lonely in your life
Pick you up from all your strife, oh
I won't disown you in this hour
Not like a man who doesn't care
Dusty bushworms in your life
Crusty humans make you blind
Some of them grounded just can't fly
Come up and hit you in your eye, oh
Some of them grounded just can't fly
Come up and hit you in your eye, oh"
A haunting strummed melody with strange pulsating bass that seems to wax and wane in the background. Also a great vocal by Bob. Did this song go on to become something else because it has many elements of other Pollard songs? Good song.
"This song will hold you in its arms
This song will fill you with its charms
Wrap it around me every night
It's gonna love you with its light
Are you lonely in your life
Pick you up from all your strife, oh
I won't disown you in this hour
Not like a man who doesn't care
Dusty bushworms in your life
Crusty humans make you blind
Some of them grounded just can't fly
Come up and hit you in your eye, oh
Some of them grounded just can't fly
Come up and hit you in your eye, oh"
A haunting strummed melody with strange pulsating bass that seems to wax and wane in the background. Also a great vocal by Bob. Did this song go on to become something else because it has many elements of other Pollard songs? Good song.
Monday, 25 June 2007
Navigating Flood Regions
Taken from "Self-Inflicted Aerial Nostalgia" 1989
"Spy ??shouting?? the crew let's string him up
Wise up to the captain where's my coffee cup
And it's been an adventurous day
The ship floats but it won't float away
Let's us stay
Don your favorite costume here we go
Belt a song if you're not real long and slow
And you doing a wonderful job
Shaping up with a competent mob
It's your job
It's as long as wide and just beginning
Been around for aeons just like me
Grab your money and let's go for all the winnings
Cast your soul into the jagged sea
It's the number on your head
Now you're dead
Stuff you down the barrel of a cannon
Let you see the world as something to see
Take you to the corners of the playground
Let you watch the traffic through the trees
It's the number on your head
Now you're dead
And we run as the war trumpet blows
And the judge with the list of no-shows"
Today is a bit of a cheat. Its usually a random Bob track but today we are having huge floods. The back garden is waist deep, the water is an inch under my front room floor boards and the street outside is a huge fast flowing river. Its scarey. How appropriate to be navigating Flood Regions. A very Who-alike guitar and vocals begin this classic from the formative years of Guided By Voices. A great lyric and hook and we are off Navigating the untold flood regions of Bobs imagination. A Fantastic Song that I think bob was still playing right till the end of GBV. Done. Now I'm off to bail out the 4 inches of water in my back room.
"Spy ??shouting?? the crew let's string him up
Wise up to the captain where's my coffee cup
And it's been an adventurous day
The ship floats but it won't float away
Let's us stay
Don your favorite costume here we go
Belt a song if you're not real long and slow
And you doing a wonderful job
Shaping up with a competent mob
It's your job
It's as long as wide and just beginning
Been around for aeons just like me
Grab your money and let's go for all the winnings
Cast your soul into the jagged sea
It's the number on your head
Now you're dead
Stuff you down the barrel of a cannon
Let you see the world as something to see
Take you to the corners of the playground
Let you watch the traffic through the trees
It's the number on your head
Now you're dead
And we run as the war trumpet blows
And the judge with the list of no-shows"
Today is a bit of a cheat. Its usually a random Bob track but today we are having huge floods. The back garden is waist deep, the water is an inch under my front room floor boards and the street outside is a huge fast flowing river. Its scarey. How appropriate to be navigating Flood Regions. A very Who-alike guitar and vocals begin this classic from the formative years of Guided By Voices. A great lyric and hook and we are off Navigating the untold flood regions of Bobs imagination. A Fantastic Song that I think bob was still playing right till the end of GBV. Done. Now I'm off to bail out the 4 inches of water in my back room.
Sunday, 24 June 2007
Don't Be Late
Taken from "Pinball Mars" 2004
Lyrics Unknown.
What surprises me about this Circus Devils song is how normal it is. It has the sounds of a straight forward rock song with a reasonably strong hook and Chorus. It teeters on the bring of being Oasis at times but recovers itself just in time with a sassy chuga-chuga section. Some lovely chunky riffs just save this from become a pub-rockout. Good song.
Lyrics Unknown.
What surprises me about this Circus Devils song is how normal it is. It has the sounds of a straight forward rock song with a reasonably strong hook and Chorus. It teeters on the bring of being Oasis at times but recovers itself just in time with a sassy chuga-chuga section. Some lovely chunky riffs just save this from become a pub-rockout. Good song.
Saturday, 23 June 2007
Ester's Day
Taken from "Bee Thousand" 1994
"Jimmy was a fly
Got sucked in by an actor
and wrapped in a cocoon
of skin-tight buffoonery
Now here's the plan...
Scene from Ester's day
Of running backward courses
With a horse of different forces
Lying wings of films
That never see the screen
Couldn't bear to face their dreams
Down and out
Couldn't bear to shout it out
Brought up on the road
A sparkle shiny diner
Is the home for wayward minor
In a flying car that seems
To whisper in an ear
Let's just go get out of here
Down and out
Couldn't bear to shout it out
Down and out
Couldn't bear to shout it out"
Time for a classic and one of my favourite ever Guided By Voices songs "Ester's Day". Its starts with a snippet of another song but somehow wouldnt be the same song without it, "Jimmy Was A Fly" indeed. Then we are into the main Acoustic song. Its its simply wonderful and one of the most beautiful songs ever written with lyrics that make you cry and make you happy at the same time. Its a song about getting up and doing it! Face your dreams!
"Jimmy was a fly
Got sucked in by an actor
and wrapped in a cocoon
of skin-tight buffoonery
Now here's the plan...
Scene from Ester's day
Of running backward courses
With a horse of different forces
Lying wings of films
That never see the screen
Couldn't bear to face their dreams
Down and out
Couldn't bear to shout it out
Brought up on the road
A sparkle shiny diner
Is the home for wayward minor
In a flying car that seems
To whisper in an ear
Let's just go get out of here
Down and out
Couldn't bear to shout it out
Down and out
Couldn't bear to shout it out"
Time for a classic and one of my favourite ever Guided By Voices songs "Ester's Day". Its starts with a snippet of another song but somehow wouldnt be the same song without it, "Jimmy Was A Fly" indeed. Then we are into the main Acoustic song. Its its simply wonderful and one of the most beautiful songs ever written with lyrics that make you cry and make you happy at the same time. Its a song about getting up and doing it! Face your dreams!
John Strange School
Taken from "Not In My Airforce" 1996
"Enter now into a place
Where forests are dripping
But no one seals the sap in no bottle
Let it rain rich and muddy to a war
And a cage of kind mockingbirds
Lonely and hungry will starve
And that's who it is for you
And that's who it is for you"
A haunting melody and sound with echoey tinny vocals from Bob Pollard. The guitar riff sounds very similar to a Beatles riff. Full of sadness and longing with a great bit of spooky keyboard and a lonely thumping drum at the end.
"Enter now into a place
Where forests are dripping
But no one seals the sap in no bottle
Let it rain rich and muddy to a war
And a cage of kind mockingbirds
Lonely and hungry will starve
And that's who it is for you
And that's who it is for you"
A haunting melody and sound with echoey tinny vocals from Bob Pollard. The guitar riff sounds very similar to a Beatles riff. Full of sadness and longing with a great bit of spooky keyboard and a lonely thumping drum at the end.
Thursday, 21 June 2007
No Welcome Wagons
Taken from "Selective Service" 2001
"Pandemonium ensues
Sure enough fire and the dog barks
Let's get acquainted
Been so many days or should I say
"So long"
On the outset jets coming
People tend to take you away
Send me to the grip of funerals
The pain is in each character
Facing it always does
Wake up and pray tell
Where can we get off
Lean one
Double up your fists for the undercut
Pandemonium subsides
Rest assured
No welcome wagons will be there
When I get home"
Another fading-in Acoustic oddity. Cant quite work out what the song is about. It sounds like someone waking up with random thoughts then drifts back off to sleep. Bob can literally write these sort of songs in his sleep.
"Pandemonium ensues
Sure enough fire and the dog barks
Let's get acquainted
Been so many days or should I say
"So long"
On the outset jets coming
People tend to take you away
Send me to the grip of funerals
The pain is in each character
Facing it always does
Wake up and pray tell
Where can we get off
Lean one
Double up your fists for the undercut
Pandemonium subsides
Rest assured
No welcome wagons will be there
When I get home"
Another fading-in Acoustic oddity. Cant quite work out what the song is about. It sounds like someone waking up with random thoughts then drifts back off to sleep. Bob can literally write these sort of songs in his sleep.
Wednesday, 20 June 2007
Gratification to Concrete
Taken from "Beard of Lightning" 2003
"GASOLINE ON MY COLD SKIN
AND NO LOVE WILL I SAVE FOR YOU
ABLE, RED AND SPARTACUS
I’M NOT HOME FOR A DAY
OFF WE CROSS THE FINISH LINE
WITH OUR BLACK SOAP HANDOUTS
WITH MATH & MOTIVATIONS
TO CALCULATE OUR SLOW DEMISE
ABLE HIS EYELIDS
IN A TEA LEAF JETSTREAM
WELL THE BLUES PHONE IS BLINKING
CALLING THE HISS
TO THE ONE WE CALL THE GOLDEN SKULL
THE OTHER BEARD OF LIGHTNING
AND THAT NEVER STOPPED SMILING
ALL THE WAY TO THE WOMAN HOUSE"
A rock jazz experiment from Bobs Phantom Tollbooth project. I must admit its not one of my favourite Bob albums and the songs on it range from almost good to axe-wankery and free form rock jazz, which Im not a bit fan of. It has its moments of melody and some good stop starty rhytms. This song reminds me of Tool meets Spinal Tap when they do their Jazz Odyssey that Derek Small wrote.
"GASOLINE ON MY COLD SKIN
AND NO LOVE WILL I SAVE FOR YOU
ABLE, RED AND SPARTACUS
I’M NOT HOME FOR A DAY
OFF WE CROSS THE FINISH LINE
WITH OUR BLACK SOAP HANDOUTS
WITH MATH & MOTIVATIONS
TO CALCULATE OUR SLOW DEMISE
ABLE HIS EYELIDS
IN A TEA LEAF JETSTREAM
WELL THE BLUES PHONE IS BLINKING
CALLING THE HISS
TO THE ONE WE CALL THE GOLDEN SKULL
THE OTHER BEARD OF LIGHTNING
AND THAT NEVER STOPPED SMILING
ALL THE WAY TO THE WOMAN HOUSE"
A rock jazz experiment from Bobs Phantom Tollbooth project. I must admit its not one of my favourite Bob albums and the songs on it range from almost good to axe-wankery and free form rock jazz, which Im not a bit fan of. It has its moments of melody and some good stop starty rhytms. This song reminds me of Tool meets Spinal Tap when they do their Jazz Odyssey that Derek Small wrote.
Lethargy
Taken from "Propeller" 1992
"Are you happy, happy today?
Is your face, facemask on?
For the air is thick and the clouds are moving so slowly
There’s a book of instructions to the rusty time machine
that goes uloe
From really nowhere
I wish I could give a shit
Just a little bit
What’s the difference?
Hey lethargy, lethargy, lethargy, lethargy, lethargy, lethargy, lethargy"
A tribal drum and a moody vocal with a screeching feedback backing highlight this early GBV song. It has a sinsister snake like sound that wraps itself around your hearing centres. Bob screams out "Lethargy" over and over again and the song end.
"Are you happy, happy today?
Is your face, facemask on?
For the air is thick and the clouds are moving so slowly
There’s a book of instructions to the rusty time machine
that goes uloe
From really nowhere
I wish I could give a shit
Just a little bit
What’s the difference?
Hey lethargy, lethargy, lethargy, lethargy, lethargy, lethargy, lethargy"
A tribal drum and a moody vocal with a screeching feedback backing highlight this early GBV song. It has a sinsister snake like sound that wraps itself around your hearing centres. Bob screams out "Lethargy" over and over again and the song end.
Monday, 18 June 2007
Stifled Man Casino
Taken from "Tower In The Fountain Of Sparks" 2001
2Stifled man casino
in a bed of bland facts
wake up for recovery
stifled man casino
unpleasant co-missions, please
turn it off, avalanche man
and down comes the roofer
up go the stakes
in stifled man casino
no one gets the brakes
that’s the breaks, baby
stifled man casino
scratching surfaces
street lights blurring
speech patterns slurred
passed out on apartment
complex lawns
turn it off, avalanche man
and down comes the roofer
up go the stakes
in stifled man casino
no one gets the brakes
that’s the breaks, baby
stifled man casino
you can feel all the dust in the window
you can feel all the lust in your mind
but you can’t have what you want
you can play around and lay around
your whole life
turn it off, avalanche man
and down comes the roofer
up go the stakes
in stifled man casino
no one gets the brakes
that’s the breaks, baby"
A pop-tastic song from Airport 5 with a great tunes and hook. I love it when Pollard is more playful and doesn't reach too hard for obscurity and just writes perfectly lovely rock songs. This Chorus is just amazing and a great track. I'm hoping more of this from Bob in the future. More Joy. More Fun. More quality catchy rock songs!
2Stifled man casino
in a bed of bland facts
wake up for recovery
stifled man casino
unpleasant co-missions, please
turn it off, avalanche man
and down comes the roofer
up go the stakes
in stifled man casino
no one gets the brakes
that’s the breaks, baby
stifled man casino
scratching surfaces
street lights blurring
speech patterns slurred
passed out on apartment
complex lawns
turn it off, avalanche man
and down comes the roofer
up go the stakes
in stifled man casino
no one gets the brakes
that’s the breaks, baby
stifled man casino
you can feel all the dust in the window
you can feel all the lust in your mind
but you can’t have what you want
you can play around and lay around
your whole life
turn it off, avalanche man
and down comes the roofer
up go the stakes
in stifled man casino
no one gets the brakes
that’s the breaks, baby"
A pop-tastic song from Airport 5 with a great tunes and hook. I love it when Pollard is more playful and doesn't reach too hard for obscurity and just writes perfectly lovely rock songs. This Chorus is just amazing and a great track. I'm hoping more of this from Bob in the future. More Joy. More Fun. More quality catchy rock songs!
Sunday, 17 June 2007
Pick Seeds From My Skull
Taken from "Waved Out" 1998
"What more is this beyond evil cause?
I have no time alone
Believing and leave by any couple of doors
By the roadside
By the signpost
Is a phone freak
Picking seeds from my skull
I am alone forever
I am alone now You’ll never be dialing
But always be calling me"
Psychedelic minute of backwards sounding guitars and a strange vocal effect from Bob. Its a lovely little tune and sounds quite different for Bobs work. You wish it went on for a few more minutes before it cuts itself short and your finished wanting more.
"What more is this beyond evil cause?
I have no time alone
Believing and leave by any couple of doors
By the roadside
By the signpost
Is a phone freak
Picking seeds from my skull
I am alone forever
I am alone now You’ll never be dialing
But always be calling me"
Psychedelic minute of backwards sounding guitars and a strange vocal effect from Bob. Its a lovely little tune and sounds quite different for Bobs work. You wish it went on for a few more minutes before it cuts itself short and your finished wanting more.
Saturday, 16 June 2007
Eureka Signs
Taken from "Universal Truths and Cycles" 2002
"You tell me you've come to your senses
The coast is still in sight
Eureka signs - I'm slowing down
You had me to remind me
You told me to remind you
Hell in the eye of consensus
Approaching shreds of night
In bleakness, blind as the ocean's mind
You want to look behind you
You told me to remind you
The sinful eye
Offends you every time
Assailants' oversight
Their vision has no right
You want me to remind you
Every day it's the god awful same
I wanna go solo and drive
You told me to remind you"
A grand song from "Universal Truths and Cycles" and a great song with a very uplifting sound and a chorus that just soars. The band on this song sound as tight as hell and has a full sound, something that is lacking on some of Pollard solo work and experimental stuff. Good stuff. "I wanna go solo and drive", a sign of things to come?
"You tell me you've come to your senses
The coast is still in sight
Eureka signs - I'm slowing down
You had me to remind me
You told me to remind you
Hell in the eye of consensus
Approaching shreds of night
In bleakness, blind as the ocean's mind
You want to look behind you
You told me to remind you
The sinful eye
Offends you every time
Assailants' oversight
Their vision has no right
You want me to remind you
Every day it's the god awful same
I wanna go solo and drive
You told me to remind you"
A grand song from "Universal Truths and Cycles" and a great song with a very uplifting sound and a chorus that just soars. The band on this song sound as tight as hell and has a full sound, something that is lacking on some of Pollard solo work and experimental stuff. Good stuff. "I wanna go solo and drive", a sign of things to come?
Payment For Babies
Taken from "From A Compound Eye" 2006
Lyrics Unknown.
I somehow wish todays songs was "Navigating Flood Regions" as last night I couldnt blog due to the area flooding. It was knee height in the back garden and not good. Its subsided now so I can "Pollard A Day" again. "Payment for Babies" is a nice gently song from "From A Compound Eye". Sounds like a longing song about the split up of a relationship etc. A lovely song with some fantastic mental imagery.
Lyrics Unknown.
I somehow wish todays songs was "Navigating Flood Regions" as last night I couldnt blog due to the area flooding. It was knee height in the back garden and not good. Its subsided now so I can "Pollard A Day" again. "Payment for Babies" is a nice gently song from "From A Compound Eye". Sounds like a longing song about the split up of a relationship etc. A lovely song with some fantastic mental imagery.
Thursday, 14 June 2007
United
Taken from "Suitcase 1" 2003
"I wanna keep you happy
I wanna teach you right from wrong
I wanna keep you near me
Here in a place where you belong
I won't hit you
I won't hurt you
I won't keep you from
The people that you trust
With faces that look just
Like us
I look into the future
Made up my mind and claimed my ground
Don't ever let you too far
Just be content with what we've found
Like statues that will never ever rust
I'm telling you now
We'll never run out
If you are my friend
If I've always got you
Then I'll never be blue
Love me 'til the end
The day is decided
And we'll be united
You know..."
A very merseybeat sounding record that would sit well on any "proper" Guided By Voices album. Love the guitar playing and melody of this song and its another one of those Pollard songs that creeps under your skin and you'll find yourself humming and singing it for days to come. "The Day Is Decided and We'll Be United". A glorious uplifting chorus.
"I wanna keep you happy
I wanna teach you right from wrong
I wanna keep you near me
Here in a place where you belong
I won't hit you
I won't hurt you
I won't keep you from
The people that you trust
With faces that look just
Like us
I look into the future
Made up my mind and claimed my ground
Don't ever let you too far
Just be content with what we've found
Like statues that will never ever rust
I'm telling you now
We'll never run out
If you are my friend
If I've always got you
Then I'll never be blue
Love me 'til the end
The day is decided
And we'll be united
You know..."
A very merseybeat sounding record that would sit well on any "proper" Guided By Voices album. Love the guitar playing and melody of this song and its another one of those Pollard songs that creeps under your skin and you'll find yourself humming and singing it for days to come. "The Day Is Decided and We'll Be United". A glorious uplifting chorus.
Wednesday, 13 June 2007
Interest Position
Taken from "Hold On Hope" 2000
"It's time for a round
Some times I cry for the sane
The sane worth speaking of
Electric misery
Like lightning flashing about
In conversation
No need to call him out
Believe your intuition
How is it you want him to be
Vivid and psychic
Inventing new clichés
In you not happiness nor hope
These gifts do not matter now
The hurtful gifts we bring
Subject to prop and plan we have to nominate a signal we can understand
By now the naked entrants aren't who we need
Beneath the hollow tree in gratitude I'm waking up to cut my deal"
I love the instrumentation and vocals on this tracks, its Rocking and Smooth as silk at the same time and the lyrics are good too. I love mid-perod "Do the Collapse" era Guided By Voices. The Production really brings out the Grandeur of Pollards writing and the power of the Band without being lost in too much sloppy recorder Fuzz. Though recorder fuzz does have its place.
"It's time for a round
Some times I cry for the sane
The sane worth speaking of
Electric misery
Like lightning flashing about
In conversation
No need to call him out
Believe your intuition
How is it you want him to be
Vivid and psychic
Inventing new clichés
In you not happiness nor hope
These gifts do not matter now
The hurtful gifts we bring
Subject to prop and plan we have to nominate a signal we can understand
By now the naked entrants aren't who we need
Beneath the hollow tree in gratitude I'm waking up to cut my deal"
I love the instrumentation and vocals on this tracks, its Rocking and Smooth as silk at the same time and the lyrics are good too. I love mid-perod "Do the Collapse" era Guided By Voices. The Production really brings out the Grandeur of Pollards writing and the power of the Band without being lost in too much sloppy recorder Fuzz. Though recorder fuzz does have its place.
Tuesday, 12 June 2007
Bite
Taken from "King Shit and The Golden Boys" 1995
"I remember things
We weren't in the plan
Long ago when I was a young man
Never tried to hide
Never really saw the
House that holds
The hawk's head cold
Is mine yes
I drink myself into a drunken mess
Lose my luck, fail the test
They're are the things I wanna say to you
They're are things that I'd like to say to you"
Sounds like Joe Cocker in an acid-rock band. An outtake and rough recording of what sounds like part of a song. Not used to that crazy guitar in GBV songs. File under Obscure.
"I remember things
We weren't in the plan
Long ago when I was a young man
Never tried to hide
Never really saw the
House that holds
The hawk's head cold
Is mine yes
I drink myself into a drunken mess
Lose my luck, fail the test
They're are the things I wanna say to you
They're are things that I'd like to say to you"
Sounds like Joe Cocker in an acid-rock band. An outtake and rough recording of what sounds like part of a song. Not used to that crazy guitar in GBV songs. File under Obscure.
Monday, 11 June 2007
Yellow Wife No.5
Taken from "Life Starts Here" 2002.
"No connection between hot box and zip code
Circling Fort Recovery
For landing instructions
Save yourself
Stay alive
With Yellow Wife No. 5
White crushed Americans
Need weird energy
Time descriptions
Same old tricks
For computer strategy
Save yourself
Stay alive
With Yellow Wife No. 5"
The guitars at the start of this song remind me a mixture of the Mamas and Papas and an old Goth track. Weird. "Yellow Wife No.5" eh? What happened to the first 4 Yellow wives. They met sinister ends I expect. This song could easily slip onto "Green" by REM. The repeated Chorus gets under your skin and is just the right length before it gets too repetitive. Any ideas what Bobs on about?
"No connection between hot box and zip code
Circling Fort Recovery
For landing instructions
Save yourself
Stay alive
With Yellow Wife No. 5
White crushed Americans
Need weird energy
Time descriptions
Same old tricks
For computer strategy
Save yourself
Stay alive
With Yellow Wife No. 5"
The guitars at the start of this song remind me a mixture of the Mamas and Papas and an old Goth track. Weird. "Yellow Wife No.5" eh? What happened to the first 4 Yellow wives. They met sinister ends I expect. This song could easily slip onto "Green" by REM. The repeated Chorus gets under your skin and is just the right length before it gets too repetitive. Any ideas what Bobs on about?
Sunday, 10 June 2007
You're At It
Taken from "Bad Football" 2007
Lyrics Unkown
The opening track off "Bad Football" which I have literally had in my possession for a day or two and the first album on Off Records. Theres something about the drumming in this song that reminds me of the Breeders. I love the live band sound of this song but I must admit on first listen I get it but now its sinking in and sounds pretty great and chunky. Good song. You gotta love The Takeovers.
Lyrics Unkown
The opening track off "Bad Football" which I have literally had in my possession for a day or two and the first album on Off Records. Theres something about the drumming in this song that reminds me of the Breeders. I love the live band sound of this song but I must admit on first listen I get it but now its sinking in and sounds pretty great and chunky. Good song. You gotta love The Takeovers.
Saturday, 9 June 2007
Plainskin
Taken from "Ask Them" 1999
"Plainskin
The faces hurt
Let down thoughtfully
Off pencil trails
That highlight the eyes
In partial truth
How investments win out
Or brought you over
To discover a trouble
Could pass for a double
And paradise brings back amnesia
And that should certainly please ya
Plainskin
Girl of the islands
As pure as I knew you were
A dark past is soaking in
And now is the crime"
From the great Lexo and The Leapers mini-album "Ask Them" comes "Plainskin" which starts with a little acoustic ditty (which Bob likes to do a lot) before changing into a pulsing rock anthem. The song builds subtly and sublty. Never quite reaches the glorious cresencdo that it promises but its not a bad song. Is it a song about a beautiful girl on a tropical island? For some reasons thats what I get with the lyrics.
"Plainskin
The faces hurt
Let down thoughtfully
Off pencil trails
That highlight the eyes
In partial truth
How investments win out
Or brought you over
To discover a trouble
Could pass for a double
And paradise brings back amnesia
And that should certainly please ya
Plainskin
Girl of the islands
As pure as I knew you were
A dark past is soaking in
And now is the crime"
From the great Lexo and The Leapers mini-album "Ask Them" comes "Plainskin" which starts with a little acoustic ditty (which Bob likes to do a lot) before changing into a pulsing rock anthem. The song builds subtly and sublty. Never quite reaches the glorious cresencdo that it promises but its not a bad song. Is it a song about a beautiful girl on a tropical island? For some reasons thats what I get with the lyrics.
Friday, 8 June 2007
Long As The Block Is Black
Taken from "Tonics And Twisted Chasers" 1997
"How, you ask, will I know you
Especially when I can't see you in my sleep
And I'm afraid to be with you
Only when you are gone, this shall I weep:
Take my shape and then
Follow me, my childhod friend
Would I lie?
I would die
If you walked into my room
Someday cry
Someday smile
And say it's great to be alive
Should I stay?
Should I go?
Indecision is my mind
My heart cries"
Another scratchy and fuzzy lo-fi wonderment from Mr Pollard taken from the fanclub album "Tonics and Twisted Chasers". A fine 1 minute plus of acoustic strumming and a lone guitar which then breaks into a lovely refrain before it fades away like it was never there in the first place.
"How, you ask, will I know you
Especially when I can't see you in my sleep
And I'm afraid to be with you
Only when you are gone, this shall I weep:
Take my shape and then
Follow me, my childhod friend
Would I lie?
I would die
If you walked into my room
Someday cry
Someday smile
And say it's great to be alive
Should I stay?
Should I go?
Indecision is my mind
My heart cries"
Another scratchy and fuzzy lo-fi wonderment from Mr Pollard taken from the fanclub album "Tonics and Twisted Chasers". A fine 1 minute plus of acoustic strumming and a lone guitar which then breaks into a lovely refrain before it fades away like it was never there in the first place.
Thursday, 7 June 2007
Travels
Taken from "Selective Service" 2001
"It is my destiny
To dye it with her tears
Common ties selected
From loose threads in the blanket
Where'd you get the girl?
Across the mighty highway
Disappeared in her apartment
Never to return"
A short poem come song played out in top of a lone acoustic guitar. Has the classic tape recorder fizz that marked the sound of many an early recording and this would almost fit on "Bee Thousand" but still sounds too Hi-Fi for that. Some nice plucking to fill in the final half of the song.
"It is my destiny
To dye it with her tears
Common ties selected
From loose threads in the blanket
Where'd you get the girl?
Across the mighty highway
Disappeared in her apartment
Never to return"
A short poem come song played out in top of a lone acoustic guitar. Has the classic tape recorder fizz that marked the sound of many an early recording and this would almost fit on "Bee Thousand" but still sounds too Hi-Fi for that. Some nice plucking to fill in the final half of the song.
Wednesday, 6 June 2007
Pop Zeus
Taken from "Speak Kindly Of Your Volunteer Fire Department" 1999
"He who shits out magic may shine
for the good of a customs and calling
call him Max
send him a fax
charge him no tax
Pop Zeus
He who gives love to angry children
kids on the skid with baggy trousers
call him zerman find him a helmet
He will come crashing
Pop Zeus
Electric Newspaper Boy!"
The Pop Zeus! Good name for a Song (and the name of a certain Guided By Voices/Pollard Web Blog too). "He Who Shits out Magic May Shine!", This song is a bit a minor classic with a pulsing melody and a guitar lick that could almost be an Irish jig. Who is Zerman? You can see some of Bobs humour is this song with the "Electric Newspaper Boy" chant! Make me laugh anyway.
"He who shits out magic may shine
for the good of a customs and calling
call him Max
send him a fax
charge him no tax
Pop Zeus
He who gives love to angry children
kids on the skid with baggy trousers
call him zerman find him a helmet
He will come crashing
Pop Zeus
Electric Newspaper Boy!"
The Pop Zeus! Good name for a Song (and the name of a certain Guided By Voices/Pollard Web Blog too). "He Who Shits out Magic May Shine!", This song is a bit a minor classic with a pulsing melody and a guitar lick that could almost be an Irish jig. Who is Zerman? You can see some of Bobs humour is this song with the "Electric Newspaper Boy" chant! Make me laugh anyway.
Tuesday, 5 June 2007
You're The Special
Taken from "Delicious Pie And Thank You For Calling" 2003
"Try real hard to be special
'Cause you're something
And you try so hard to be special
It feels new 'cause you're new
That's what happens when you think like you
Hide, it strong
And you know it
'Cause you knew it
Before she or he or me or you
or them and us and them
and you and knowin it
You're showing it
'Cause you're blowing it
Very gradually
Very sadually
'Cause we won it
And we grab it
But it's slipping away from it"
A fastly strummed obscurity from the "Hardcore UFOs" Boxset. Is this pointing out someones self conceit that they think they are better than they are. Most definitely. Its Bobs "Your So Vain". Something about the vocals reminds me of Sebadoh or Sentridoh oddly enough. Wouldn't it be odd going to a Restaurant and finding out that you were indeed the Special.
"Try real hard to be special
'Cause you're something
And you try so hard to be special
It feels new 'cause you're new
That's what happens when you think like you
Hide, it strong
And you know it
'Cause you knew it
Before she or he or me or you
or them and us and them
and you and knowin it
You're showing it
'Cause you're blowing it
Very gradually
Very sadually
'Cause we won it
And we grab it
But it's slipping away from it"
A fastly strummed obscurity from the "Hardcore UFOs" Boxset. Is this pointing out someones self conceit that they think they are better than they are. Most definitely. Its Bobs "Your So Vain". Something about the vocals reminds me of Sebadoh or Sentridoh oddly enough. Wouldn't it be odd going to a Restaurant and finding out that you were indeed the Special.
Monday, 4 June 2007
Hardcore UFO's
Taken from "Bee Thousand" 1994
"Sitting out on your house
Watching hardcore UFOs
Drawing pictures, playing solos 'til ten
Are you amplified to rock?
Are you waiting for a contact?
I'll be with you, without you, again
Turn and run the angel's calling
You say when and I say I'm falling
Up and down from broken down buildings
Back and forth but please don't bother at all
Count the days that we have wasted from the start
Eat the words, build a playground in your head
Turn and run the angel's calling
You say when and I say I'm falling
Up and down from broken down buildings
Back and forth but you know why I left you for so long
You know why I left you for so long"
A couple of months into "A Pollard A Day" and we get round to the first Guided By Voices song I ever heard from the classic "Bee Thousand" album. The 1st Song on the 1st Guided By Voices album I listened to and it takes me right back. I remember buying the album from "Offbeat" records in Hull, seeing the strange cover and thinking "I've heard of this lot" and taking a chance on it. It change my musical life forever. "Are you Amplified to Rock?" I sure am now. Classic!
"Sitting out on your house
Watching hardcore UFOs
Drawing pictures, playing solos 'til ten
Are you amplified to rock?
Are you waiting for a contact?
I'll be with you, without you, again
Turn and run the angel's calling
You say when and I say I'm falling
Up and down from broken down buildings
Back and forth but please don't bother at all
Count the days that we have wasted from the start
Eat the words, build a playground in your head
Turn and run the angel's calling
You say when and I say I'm falling
Up and down from broken down buildings
Back and forth but you know why I left you for so long
You know why I left you for so long"
A couple of months into "A Pollard A Day" and we get round to the first Guided By Voices song I ever heard from the classic "Bee Thousand" album. The 1st Song on the 1st Guided By Voices album I listened to and it takes me right back. I remember buying the album from "Offbeat" records in Hull, seeing the strange cover and thinking "I've heard of this lot" and taking a chance on it. It change my musical life forever. "Are you Amplified to Rock?" I sure am now. Classic!
Sunday, 3 June 2007
Sick Color
Taken from "Pinball Mars" 2004
Lyrics Unknown
Circus Devils have always been a strange band to me. Sometimes I love the experimental dark sound and sometimes they irritate me. This song is more straightforward rocking with some excellent production and stop-starty riffs and a classic rock vocal from Bob. This is a big sounding song that kicks ass though the concept of the Colour of Sick is something quite horrible.
Lyrics Unknown
Circus Devils have always been a strange band to me. Sometimes I love the experimental dark sound and sometimes they irritate me. This song is more straightforward rocking with some excellent production and stop-starty riffs and a classic rock vocal from Bob. This is a big sounding song that kicks ass though the concept of the Colour of Sick is something quite horrible.
Saturday, 2 June 2007
Are You Faster?
Taken from "Mag Earwig" 1997
"Near a distant sea
Her clear yellow eyes
Are opening to pink and black skies
And soon they are blinking
With compound camera eyes
Are you faster
Than the eyes of the car-people?
Styled in silver
Are you able to roam
Faster then the lighthouse keeper credits you?"
A multivocaled short piece from Mr Pollard. The multiple vocals sung slightly at different times remind me of "People are Leaving" a bit but this song is more traditional GBV affair and has a great "Yea!" scream from Bob toward the end. A short song but stuffed with interesting and odd ideas.
"Near a distant sea
Her clear yellow eyes
Are opening to pink and black skies
And soon they are blinking
With compound camera eyes
Are you faster
Than the eyes of the car-people?
Styled in silver
Are you able to roam
Faster then the lighthouse keeper credits you?"
A multivocaled short piece from Mr Pollard. The multiple vocals sung slightly at different times remind me of "People are Leaving" a bit but this song is more traditional GBV affair and has a great "Yea!" scream from Bob toward the end. A short song but stuffed with interesting and odd ideas.
Artificial Light
Taken from "Waved Out" 1998
"So the sign of coming events
Flickers with missing words
And the bright blue city where
My friend have played
Fades from the corner of an eye
Tell my foes I’m captain tonight
Tell my folks I’m dead
I don’t wanna see them
Artificial light – I’m clinging
Artificial light
And praying it won’t burn out
Artificial light"
A great minute of Robert Pollard acoustic wondery. As usual the lyrics will imbed themselves in your brain and before you know it you'll be humming and singing it for the next few hours/days or week. Have you noticed the Captain is dead again in this song?
"So the sign of coming events
Flickers with missing words
And the bright blue city where
My friend have played
Fades from the corner of an eye
Tell my foes I’m captain tonight
Tell my folks I’m dead
I don’t wanna see them
Artificial light – I’m clinging
Artificial light
And praying it won’t burn out
Artificial light"
A great minute of Robert Pollard acoustic wondery. As usual the lyrics will imbed themselves in your brain and before you know it you'll be humming and singing it for the next few hours/days or week. Have you noticed the Captain is dead again in this song?
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