Thursday 26 July 2007

Wrecking Now

Taken from "Do The Collapse" 1999

"Wrecking now
I could say no way
But she's calling out my vice
Wrecking now
And so I'm through with you

She's bleeding now
She's receiving now
She's defeating now - wrecking

Wrecking now
Turning on all the boys
And the boys have lost
their heads
Wrecking now
And so I'm through with you"

Ah, some classic "Do The Collapse". I cant really think of an album of GBV that has so many strong songs on it. Okay, theres the odd dud but generally each song is very strong and commercial. I was surprised "Do The Collapse" didn't launch them big time but who wants 50 year old guys with Grey Hair in the Pop Charts. This song is quiet lovely with a great hook. Excellent.

Shake it Out

Taken from "Suitcase 2" 2005

Lyrics Unknown

Sounds like a rehearsal track with lots of Bob talking at the start then we are off to what sounds like really early GBV riffage. Very 60's and Rolling Stones sounding track. Again,a great melody lost on some cutting room floor. At least it got some exposure on Suitcase 2.

Tuesday 24 July 2007

Can't Hear The Revolution

Taken from "Mag Earwig!" 1997

"Can't hear the revolution
God rolls the sun
As he walks down the highway
I have kissed you - you will leave
And the friction in the morning
The friction 'round suppertime
Can't hear the revolution"

A robotic guitar sound starts this song and a very brit-pop ish Chorus and then Bob talks in the style of someone saying a prayer and a repeat of the Chorus and we are done. A small odd song that mixes the more Hi-Fi parts of GBV with a hint of the old Lo-Fi oddness.

Long Distance Man

Taken from "Sandbox" 1987

"He's a long distance man
and he keeps on going because its not worth blowing
and he does what he can because it not worth losing and
there ain't no choosin

Any other world that you live in
don't believe in second chance
Sell another dream he won't take it
so don't fake it when you dance

Cover up your eyes in these bad times for
the sad times passing years build another tower
for your freedom he don't need them shed no tears.
for the long distance"

A classic from the early days of Guided By Voices. This is such a Mersey beat style song and reminds me of a cross between The Beatles and The La's. I miss the joyful tributes to 60s British Invasion Music.

Sunday 22 July 2007

Useless Inventions

Taken from "Earthquake Glue" 2003

"These time's usless inventions,
satisfy inquiring minds,
what about a piece of pretention,
in production ugly schemes,
realize the world of quick fix dreams.
come on and purchase the new one,
be the first to strap it on.
lose antiquated fixations,
that you cannot be without.
for a nice try change this model out.

feed on a stroke of brillance sometimes.
to cover up the oldness in your eyes,
from noticing the coldness in our lies,
dont know if its a miracle or a curse,
maybe we can help you to feel worse.

these days usless inventions,
simplify or complicate.
youve got the keys to the kingdom,
that through which you quickly move.
that from small beginnings must improve.

feed on a stroke of brillance sometimes.
to cover up the oldness in your eyes,
from noticing the coldness in our lies,
dont know if its a miracle or a curse,
maybe we can help you to feel worse.

tap the curiousity of your youth,
are you seeking dare or taking truth,
never knowing what will come up next,
will it be the panic switch or select.

well its, too late to change your connection,
didnt even get through inspection,
copyright divine interventions,
getting tired or usless inventions."

A fantastic song from Earthquake Glue. I just love the sound of it. It has a propulsion all of its own and really rocks. And the melody is just perfect. That guitar playing sound just gets me everytime. One of the definate highlights from Earthquake Glue.

Saturday 21 July 2007

Artheroid Vogue

Taken from "Five" 2005

"RECEPTION VOGUE
MIRROR EYES
WOMAN FOR YOUR EYES

THE PHOTO DOESN’T KNOW YOU

FRONTIER DOME
ARTHEROID VOGUE
(A) WOMAN FOR YOUR EYES"

Passihng Planet odd on starship Circus Devils. Bobs vocals are strange on this song. Very deep. A Sci-Fi soundtrack underpins the song and the whole thing is just odd frankly.

Not Behind The Jet Fighter

Taken from "Mag Earwig" 1997

"Militant babies came to me
And tole me "Don't be afraid to try"
Phenomenal stuntkids in the street
Popping out of the black ghost pie (it pleases the chef)
Fearless ones-cracked up Jack and Jill
They're down there in the bunker still
You look like a sniper anyway
I'm not behind the fighter jet
I'd much rather back a simple girl
I've seen your plan and it's all wet
A noseload of prophecies coming to me
Caught in the trap where bravery steps
A wounded mercenary bleeds
In the hall of fantastically fine things
Where the path of glory leads
Lately I think it's grown too hard
Coming up with the winning card
But who's gonna beat them in their own backyard"

A Strong Rock song from Guided By Voices with good crunchy production which help the song fly. The Chorus is just superb with a punchy vocal and guitar combo. I miss Bobs more Rocking side. Although I enjoy his later Solo work it would be nice to have some Kicking Punchy Rock with a great melody and Chorus. We shall have to see. Shame the song seems to fade when its just getting going.

Harrison Adams

Taken from "Motel Of Fools" 2003

"There he sits
Guardian the fish market
Splitting hairs and atoms
Eying the salt target
Please to preach
Harrison Adams
The son of a jack poker
Panting like a ram worker
Arise
Give into the umpire
Feel his air
Relax
That's where we stay
He says: You aren't happy with me
And I know it
And you are the world to me
But it's all gone now
It's all gone now
Look at the back of his pants
Where he must have sat in something
Bring it to boil
Your gripes and your follies
Being appointed chief
Of your own dream team
That's what they call'em
Dead on arrival
Begone
Take your opinions
From the removal office
I ask
For your forgiveness"

I love it when Bob uses samples in his songs from TV and then snippets of conversations he has. Starts with the classic "Duck Tale" story then we are into the song. This is a good song with a strong melody from "Motel of Fools" (One of my least favourite Pollard albums if truth be told but has its moments). Who is Harrison Adams? Great chorus and some interesting vocals and lyrics add up to a great song. Is that Geo at the end being drunk/crazy?

Alibible

Taken from "Suitcase 2" 2005

Lyrics Unknown

A simple strum strum strum and a slurred and muffled lyric define this minute and a half oddity from the album of outtakes and oddities "Suitcase 2". Sounds like a stream on consciousness from Bob. Curious.

Wrong Drama Addiction (...And Life Starts Here...)

Taken from "Life Starts Here" 2002

"Manstruck-killed by the moonstruck
Fever hits like wide typhoon struck

Gaining steam in forest gloom
Now he belongs to them

Wrong drama addiction
Joycraft is worthless craving
Far too little that I've been saving
Now that i don't have it

What else can be gotten
Make no effort to control
Eternal racket in the soul
Picture me small
For every reason

The coast is wild
Come on one disease
The irritable suits
Destroy immunity

Wrong drama addition...
And life starts here..."

This could possibly be the longest song so far on "A Pollard A Day" (and possibly one of the longest Pollard songs he's ever recorded) clocking it at around 7 and a half minutes. We are in Airport 5 land now and whereas Airport 5 are usually quite poppy this song is long and experimental and wouldn't look out of place on a Circus Devils album. A Hypnotic "And Life Stats Here" is repeated over and over again throughout for the first half whilst Bob spouts on about Moonstruck and Typhoon Struck things and general oddness then we hit a patch of almost David Lynchesque engine hums and steam before the song slowly fades back into view and ends with a great Guitar part. Depending on your mood this song is cool and hypnotic or just an irritation. As I say, it depends on your mood.

Pack of Rolling Papers

Taken from "Suitcase 2" 2005

Lyrics Unknown

A throat is cleared and gentle acoustic starts up and then a short bit of beutifully sung heartfelt nonsense from Bob all contained in about 26 seconds. A Bog Nugget.

Why Did You Land?

Taken from "Suitcase 1" 2003

"Standing around
Hoping everything works out
Cause I want them all to work out
You were always so in love with the truth
Why did you change?
Why did you land?

Look at the photograph
Nothing is real
Spend another lonely life
With nothing to feel

Was it something
In the stories everyone told you
You needn't heed them
Maybe you should read them
Go back to where you came from
Why did you land?
You couldn't stayed in flight forever

Look at the photograph
Nothing is real
Spend another lonely life
With nothing to feel

Why did you land?
Why did you land?
Why did you land?
Why did you land?
Why did you land?"

A demo version of a track that appears on a few Pollard releases. Starts off very slow and lumbering in this version (some versions tear through the song like nobodies business). A bit of a live favourite in its more upbeat form but this slower version is an interesting curiosity too.

Meddle

Taken from "Suitcase 1" 2003

"I'm never in your problems
You've never really been in mine
You're going over the middle
I'm crossing the line
I just wanna help
But you just really wanna argue
Won't you let it shine
What are dispositions
Can you make the right decisions
When our worlds collide?

I'm never in your problems
You've never really been in mine
??? we can dish it out or we can take it
Not a very good sign
Find out what we're thinking
Now we're far too busy thinking
Something passed us by
Block it ???
Stay behind or pass them through
Won't you let them by
Let them by..."

This song has an almost phasey sound to it with the guitars and vocals throbbing away but theres a great memorable tune tucked away in here too. The "Let Them By" chorus is quite lovely and the whole songs adds up to an interesting Suitcase snippet. You sometimes wish some of these Suitcase songs would be dusted off and given the more "major" production treatment on a main album.

Take To The Sky

Taken from "Under The Bushes Under The Stars" 1996

"You can do the balloon
escorted or thwarted by the loon
"Take to the sky!"
said the Chinaman's monkey
and you climbed like Einstein
through the fleshy folds of history's underbelly
and your artwork was unusual
and your scientific programs phenomenal

take to the ???
my
my inferior
my inferior ranking
has been ???
I see the coolest ???
I choose that direction"

A very beatlesesque sounding start and lyric to this song could have come from "Yellow Submarine". A bit of a minor classic with an unusual melody and even weirder words. First Pollard a Day in a week due to other commitments. But back with a vengeance.

Thursday 12 July 2007

Men Who Create Fright

Taken from "Kid Marine" 2000

"There is a place
Always in the undertow
Begging at best
Hollow culture
When you exist
Are you observable?
When you resist
Are you approachable?
When you pretend
Are you unreadable?
The unspeakable must settle
On your spy frame mind
The reason you came here
Is the reason you flee
Always to the same place"

Bobs voice starts this song with echoes and backwards fades and a guitar comes onto the horizon. Then the song kicks in with the classic fuzzed up guitar, bass and drum sound of classic Pollard. We even have time for a small Solo. Good song.

Our Value Of Luxury

Taken from "Suitcase 1" 2003

"These men came down from heaven
Come here to tell you something
You stomped on rotting floorboards
Your world's an inaccurate graphic

Our value of luxury
Allows us to believe we are free
Our value of luxury
Allows us to believe we are free

That's OK we've got airplanes
Silos in mirrored highways
Your earmarked for collision
With frozen opposition"

For a Suitcase offcut this song sounds very produced and formed. It has a ethereal sounding vocal and a proper chorus that burst to life. Its not up there with Pollard classics but as I say has the sound of a proper song.

Tuesday 10 July 2007

Society Dome

Taken from "Mist King Urth" 2003

"I'm going home
To the common section
To the place that we call home
To the list of viruses

With the lap dancers
And the pad rammers
And the human shots

I'm going home
Focus on a dream
Try to find a way out

Society dome
Stay in
Keep it on

Basic attractions
It's all over you
And I am"

I quite like the Lifeguards stuff and this song some reason reminds me of Simon & Garfunkel (Scarborough Fair anyone). The guitar plucking is very Mark Kozelek too. The song builds from a simple acoustic start with a drum coming in and then changes to a sweet melody and chorus. This is a great song from a good offshoot album.

Alone In Time

Taken from "Suitcase 2" 2005

Lyrics Unknown

Some lovely 70s sounding strumming and quiet soft vocal from Bob. Another nice little sketch of a song. Wish it would have lasted a bit longer and developed into something grander but you can have everything.

Sunday 8 July 2007

Shit Midas

Taken from "Suitcase 1" 2003

"Say shit Midas
This world's looking funny to you
World's looking funny to you
Shit Midas
Everything you touch
Everything you touch
Is turning to as much
Is turning to as much
As such
As you would have it
Shit Midas"

More Suitcase fun in this little song. Very delicately played and sung by Bob. Sometimes I feel like a Shit Midas. Everything you touch turns to crap. lol. Nice little ditty.

Saturday 7 July 2007

Island of Lost Lucys

Taken from "Blues and Boogie Shoes" 2006

Lyrics Unknown.

Wow. A wonderful song from the Keene Brothers. This song is just one of the most beautiful and heart felt songs Bob has written in many years from the simply fantastic "Blues and Boogie Shoes" album. The simple structure but soaring lyrics and keyboards elevate this to a thing of beauty. If there was any justice in the world this would be the number one song. Wonderful.

Postal Blowfish

Taken from "Demons & Painkillers" 2003

"Noticing the change
We are taking time
Everybody knows
Everybody's fine
And we'll figure out
Purpose in the end
Unless we have to jump
Unless we have to win

Chorus: Hold your tongue
Brace yourself
Give me a kiss
Show me what I missed

Can I find a phone
Can I drop a dime
Can I get a loan
Running out of time
And I'll have a toast
To what it's all about
Unless they move us on
Unless they move us out
Chorus
Seven doglegs hung to dry
It works that way
Postal blowfish make me cry
It works that way
Begging on the nail don't fail
To clue me in
??Cluster frogs and crabs begin??"

This song crops up in many different recorded versions on various releases. This is probably the cleanest and most produced version. A great chugga-chugga guitar and a memorable chorus section that I'm sure the Breeders loved so much they based most of their career around. What is a Postal Blowfish? You decided.

Mr. Media

Taken from "Suitcase 1" 2003

"Oh Mr. Media
Will you capture our heads
Mr. Media
Lives are breaking down
They will be ??? you
They will be calling you
Oh what would you be without your perfect world
Without your telescope under eiderdown
Hey give me the dope
Mr. Media
Well c'mon and ???
We told you everybodys's ??? now
About to break it down, break it down now
Mr. Media
Oh Mr. Media
Oh Mr. Media"

A simple strummed song with a very muffled vocal so its hard to pick out the lyrics. The song sounds new and both derivative at the same time. I cant put my finger on what old song this sounds like. Anyone?

Just Touch Them

Taken from "Five" 2005

"JUST TOUCH THEM
SUNFED GIRLS AND BOYS
DO TOO
AT THE CLUB AGE
JUST TOUCH
JUST TOUCH
SENSATION
TOUCH THEM"

Crash. Fuzz. Warble. Crash. Bang. Twitter. We are back in Circus Five territory. A mix of odd crunches and sounds before an acoustic guitar comes in and Bob joins in with some odd lyrics and them some more odd sounds. Just Touch Them? Sunfed Boys and Girls? Sounds a bit seedy to me.

Mascara Snakes

Taken from "Beard of Lightening" 2003

"THE CRITICAL STAGE IS RAINING DOWN
LOST EMOTIONS BEING FOUND
ORIGINS OF CROWED HOUSE
MAKE A SHORT LINE SHORTER

HIT PAUSE ON LOST
PRONOUNCING DEAD ON RED
GET THE FEEL ON ME
COPS ON THE NIGHT OF THE NO-SHOW

WEAK THE ATTACK
ON WHAT NEW MOVES
STRADDLE THE HOUR GLASS
WITH STRANGE LADIES

BUT THIS IS MINE AND I WILL TAKE IT BACK
CONCENTRATION ON MY FREE MAN’S BLUES
COME SEE THE OCEAN UP ON THE HIGHWAY
COME SEE THE STRONGMEN AND MASCARA SNAKES
THEY WANNA HIT YOU AND RELIEVE YOU
NO DOORS ARE OPENING OR CLOSE BY
THAT’S WHY I’M FOCUSING

I AM GOD’S BROTHER, HIS SOULMATE AND TEAMMATE
HE PASSES ME INFO-MATION
AND I RECIPROCATE"

Starts off with some fantastic riffing before changing pace to the more random jazz structure of Phantom Tollbooth noodlings. The format of the lyrics almost class against the structure of the music. This song has its moments and skips along at a fair old pace. Probably a highlights from one of my least favourite Pollard offshoot albums.

Monday 2 July 2007

Sweet Jelly

Taken from "Turn To Red" 2006

Lyrics Unknown

An odd track from "Turn to Red" that starts with a bustle of crowd then a lone acoustic guitar plucks in and Bob delivers some very odd warbly vocals in an almost deep south accent. Its certainly an odd filler track from the album.

Same Things

Taken from "Speak Kindly Of Your Volunteer Fire Department"

"I listen to your conventional message
same things allure me assure me
I’m not getting in or through
going nowhere faster than most

That’s the way the eyecrust crumbles
the everlasting holyman stumbles
a thread of resistance contains me
your unwanted assistance often restrains me"

An acoustic track with odd almost sickly backward vocal effects at the start. A good song is in there and I love the gentle acoustic bit toward the end that's rather sweet.

Lord Of Overstock

Taken from "Under The Bushes Under The Stars" 1996

"straight to the lord of overstock
who spoke for the millionth turn
said "don't be late for the superdeal
we'll save you a lot
and take every cent you earn "

following tips, his overfed rats
said "trust in the king of overstock
invest in his wisdom and learn
there's less to go around if everyone counts,
but if you've got the money to burn,
then you will be in always good faith
for what you are worth
in heaven on earth!" "

A classic song from classic period Guided By Voices. A massive song with larger than life lyrics. A song without a proper chorus but feels like it has one. Its crazy how many songs Bob write that don't have proper Choruses but feel like they do. Genius.

Harboring Exiles

Taken from "Delicious Pie And Thank You For Calling" 2003

"What it was
What it wasn't, what was true
And what I see
What it is not for you

And in all the world
There is no finer place
As such the dream up here is falling
I'll keep it close until the pattern breaks
When it breaks the dream is over
The kind of thing that makes me sing

And here it goes
Quite apparent but not so
The time to live
And pull out stitches as we go

In all the world
There is no finer place
As such the dream up here is falling
I'll keep it close until the pattern breaks
And when it breaks the dream is over
The kind of thing that makes me sing

As such the dream up here is falling
I'll keep it close until the pattern breaks
And when it breaks the dream is over
The kind of thing that makes me sing
Yah!"

Had to have a bit of a few days to contend with flooding and insurance claims but I am back with a clutch of songs. Harboring Exiles has great little guitar bit and a very jaunty vocal with some strange stuttering parts. I like it. Very REMish at times but very early GBV mostly.