Sunday 26 August 2007

Bright Paper Werewolves

Taken from "Under The Bushes Under The Stars" 1996

"c'mon polluted eyeballs
stop scouting out the field
jump up bright paper werewolves
and everybody everywhere

anyone can scratch
and anyone can win
so bring out another batch

they want to get out of here
but they can't find the exit
they cling to the cinema
and they can't find security
then they finally got recognized
so they left in obscurity and misery"

I imagery of "polluted eyeballs" always resonates with me. Such a great mental image. Is this a song about people hoping for fame? manufactured pop bands/music? That's what I get from the song. Good minutes worth of some of Pollards best stuff.

Saturday 25 August 2007

Discussions In The Cave

Taken from "The Harold Pig Memorial" 2002

"Now come on
It came to past
In the place of a forest
Of natural balance
A song without singing
First and lasting
As we went along
Not listening

Even as angels told jokes
And evil spells were cast

By confection and affectation
Who split an atom
Rattled the bones
Tattooed the food
On the walls of my pad

Even as angels told jokes
And evil spells were cast

Discussions in the cave
Discussions in the cave
Discussions in the cave

Secrets in my living room"


Screech! Thats how it begins and then a sly melody begins, almost surfy but definately slightly un-nerving. Bob does his deep talky type vocals for a lot of this song and its classic Circus Devils oddness and experimentalness.

Running Off With The Fun City Girls

Taken from "Demons and Painkillers" 2003

"Generous samples rising in the Indian heaven
Doesn't pretend she even cares things change at eleven
She's running off with the fun city girls
She's running off with the fun city girls

She threw away her treasure chest of nice tomorrows
and anyway its such a glue to loosen
every time you drink it
doesn't have to think it
she's full grown

Doesn't ever acknowledge ever knowing sound security
Shunning advice and clearly showing new found maturity
She's running off with the fun city girls
She's running off with the fun city girls

She threw away her treasure chest of nice tomorrows
and anyway its such a glue to loosen
every time you drink it
doesn't have to think it
she's full grown

With a pocket full of dimestore ammunition
She's arrived at the grand fitting of her mink
and new electric press kit.
Maximize the gaping hole and go"

An early version of the Mag! Earwig track and is a good song. A more traditional straight forward Rock Song with a good verse,chorus,verse and a good strong tune. Who are the "Fun City Girls"? and would be be cool to run off with them?

White Skin And Bones (Zoom Demo)

Demo

Lyrics Unknown

Its a rough cut and paste with clunking of tapes being started and is just Bob and his guitar. This song with a bit of re-working and extra production eventually turn up on the Zoom EP.

Big Chief Chinese Restaurant

Take from "Alien Lanes" 1995

"Introducing the amazing rockethead
You know what the deal is dude
Excuse me Napoleon
But I gotta know
Why I gotta stand
In a hallway
In a highway
Where nothing goes my way
Well I'm going out
Well I'm going in
To the Big Chief's place
Gonna slap his factory down"

Wow. Bobs voice is so high on this song. A classic 59 seconds of psychedelic lyrics and guitar. Great song and eclipses many other bands 4 minute epics with a catchy hook and memorable melody.

Burns Carpenter, Man Of Science

Taken from "Tower In The Fountain Of Sparks" 2001

"Burns Carpenter, Man of Science
discovers a new rich compound
a liquid form of love
a brain in psychic peril
This kind of love
will destroy the ozone
Tossed sharply in production
but unique opportunity presents itself
then this is the new school
the first day is always anxious
the first day is always
This kind of love
will destroy the ozone
Taken to the test
but regrettably not sold
for ultimately it must fail
untimely and perhaps not too bold
This kind of love
will destroy the ozone"

Surprisingly Wikipedia has no reference to a "Burns Carpenter", who discovered a new rich compound, a liquid form of love. Though it would be good if someone did as they could share it out and make the world a happier and safer place. Though it could destory the ozone. A good song that reminds me a lot of "Dayton Ohio,19-Something and 5". Mellow man.

The Who Vs. Porky Pig

Taken from "Demons and Painkillers" 2003

"Hey go
Quick, be off, be sinking
Lown down whale the navy wing
It clears out congested arenas
They sell rocking host balloons
And they're celebrating children
And the weeping circus

And the smoking-nosed robot
Tasted ???? blackens the sticks
Like clowns from a fire, the albatross winks
Faked to the back goes right wing shield
All in a day's work

We met at one of the Kinks' yeah
We could come from the inner circle
Of the dry ??
Until it is just one trap
One threaded ??"

A choppy distorted guitar and Bobs vocals lost in the background on this "Demons & Painkillers" rarity. Its hard to work out a lot of the vocals on this. It mentions the Who and the Kinks. Bobs obsession with the "British Invasion"?

Sunday 19 August 2007

I'm Cold

Taken from "Suitcase 1" 2003

"I go outside and it's cold
I walk downtown and it's cold
I do everything that I'm told
The people I meet, so hooked on defeat
And if it's not one thing then it's ten
I shouldn't have to be told
So I just keep moving around
'Cause I'm cold

I picked up the pieces that break
And try not to make a mistake
and sometimes I'm sick when I wake
I jump in my car and go to a bar
Because it's so much warmer in there
For my decrepit soul
Then I get back to moving around
'Cause I'm cold

All wound up
All broken down
Animal person
Carnival clown
The only thing that hurts
Is knowing it gets worse
As it goes

I work every day 'til I'm tired
Emotionally uninspired
And some think I'll maybe get fired
But what else is new
You do what you do
Because you're told to
It's something of which I'm really not yet quite sold
But it must just be a problem with me
'Cause I'm cold"

Very downbeat lyrics on this track that reminds me of The Smiths a little bit. Its a very good song and a quality song from a Suitcase album. Other bands would love to have a song like this on their main albums but Bob just sticks it on an Outtake album. Genius.

Saturday 18 August 2007

Squirmish Frontal Room

Taken from "King Shit And The Golden Boys" 1995

"One, two, three, four
No no no no no...
Sitting in the squirmish frontal room
She says I'm not very cool
But I know better than that
She knows better than that
And I know more than her
And she knows better than that
No no no no no...
Sitting in the squirmish frontal room
She says I'm not very cool
But I know better than that
She's no better than me
I'm no better than her
But it's not hip, not okay
I say no no no no..."

A very very lo-fi song thats all fuzz, noise and grot. Theres a song buried beneath it all somewhere, quite a catchy one if I am not mistaken.

Friday 17 August 2007

The Pilot's Crucifixion/Indian Oil

Taken from "The Harold Pig Memorial" 2002

"The sun dries a wet flag
In the air
With mixed emotions
You see on our federal bulletin
A community of thick wiring
Ever so straight
Goes the path of an arrow
straight through it
By whatever means anything
And never will
To the systems
Who giveth and taketh
In the closing times
For / to flesh reminders
About capsule hatching
Stiff drink memories
Make solid the previous conclusion
As to who's driving this ship
...
And coins to slot
And pearls to gather
A sailor's grace
Sphinx-like
Indian oil
Ghostwhore
Shadows and shells
Premature happiness
Fuller..."

We descend into the spooky and weird world of the Circus Devils now. A menacing start and splash of drum and then Bob begins some abstract poetry over a spooky and howling backing track. Slightly off key and quite odd. A Pink Floyd like middle section which is kinda ambient then what sounds like a fuzzed up banjo and the tempo changes rapidly and we are into the second part of the song. As I say, its a bit odd. Nothing too offensive here but I do admit I prefer it when Bob writes soaring pop songs and not a massive fan of his experimental stuff.

Motor Away

Taken from "Alien Lanes" 1995

2When you motor away beyond the once-red lips
When you free yourself from the chance of a lifetime
You can be anyone they told you to
You can belittle every little voice that told you so
And then the time will come when you add up the numbers
And then the time will come when you motor away
Oh, why don't you just drive away?

When you motor away down the icy streets
You can't lie to yourself that it's the chance of a lifetime
You can be anyone they told you to
You can belittle every little voice that told you so
And the time will come when you add up the numbers
And then the time will come when you motor away
Oh, why don't you just drive away?

Come on
Speed on"

I think Ive already commented on a different version of this song but this is the original version and the best. I used to be one of my favourite GBV Songs. Its still damn fine. Love the lyrics. A real proper driving song. Just get in that car and Drive!

Wednesday 15 August 2007

The Main Street Wizards

Taken from "Earthquake Glue" 2003

"the main st. wizards,
how can you see them,
and stand up to them,
and you make out alright,
and do you better to go and see them,
pretend to be them, its true.
can you exchange the past,
nothing is meant to last
still they are coming back to you.
the main st. wizards,
tonight their thinking,
?a formal winking?,
?across one far?.
the mood is different,
and lights are fading,
the knight is waiting, for you.
the most wonderful of tricks,
electricty in their picks.
still they are coming back to you.
can you explain the wrath,
on everyones holding path,
still they are comin back for you. "

Ranking as one of my favourite Guided By Voices tracks. I love the way the bass throbs in a sad way in amongst the Who-alike melody and struture. This song is quite Up but also sad at the same time. As I say a really great song and a must for any GBV/Pollard compilation that you do as it highlights both Bobs great lyrics but also the dynanism of the band.

Trial Of Affliction And Light Sleeping

Taken from "Fiction Man" 2004

"Kill your desire
With trouble and smoke

The unclearing, the head, the maze
And partial resoundings

Make hideous the family
Obsessed with elections
Make better the place of comfort

Burn it in theater
Burn it on cable
Burn it in religion
Burn it in frozen food
Burn me a copy
Burn it in bacon grease
Burn it for demonstration
Burn in it for your sins
Burn on it on the beach
Burn through it with vibra-rub

Trial of affliction and light sleeping
I need a tour guide for my own head"

I think this is the first "Fiction Man" track to crop up on "A Pollard A Day". Its fuzzy punky affair with distorted vocals and fizzing guitars and a fast tempo. The vocal go a bit Dalek towards the end and its a fine little thrash along with plenty of energy. Great talking too at the end.

My Son, My Secretary and My Country

Taken from "Earthquake Glue" 2003

"with your mission wilting,
and your kids sulking,
happy birthday mr. sink.
throw your flowers in the river and drink.
weve got cowbells and clay,
make us all obey,
and work will be of worth,
for the sketch of explorers,
and the hot air annoyers,
good men destoyers,
future employers,
cowboys and lawyers,
and we all will be warriors.
Rahhhhhhhhh!"

What sounds like a Lo-Fi band starts this song off, trumpets and bugles and what-not and has a real patriotic feel to it. Then we are off on a strumming 60s sounding sound. The "Rahhhhhhhh!" ending is just ace. Good song.

Sunday 12 August 2007

Mannequin's Complaint (Wax Dummy Meltdown)

Taken from "Demons and Painkillers" 2003

"Kleptos parading on market floors today,
Insider raiding like boys who drink
and bring down everything
On top of us

This is what we're tired of
This is what we're tired of

And then much later
Paint it up for display
Maximum Torso
Cat from Pluto's purple moon
Said "Light me a can of gas"

This is what we're tired of
This is what we're tired of

This is what we're tired of (repeated)"

A longer and better produced version of "Mannequin's Complaint" that was reviewed earlier in "A Pollard A Day". The instruments are a lot more produced here with a sort of fair ground sound to it all but still holding onto that Bonzo Dog feel. I'm surprised this song didnt't crop up on a major release as its a very imaginative song.

Saturday 11 August 2007

Local Mix-Up / Murder Charge

Taken from "Same Place The Fly Got Smashed" 1990

"Rimming an ashtray - face in the light
Local mix-up, someone fix up what we broke up
The pleasure seekers are out there tonight
Local mix-up, someone fix up what we broke up

You as a person have got to think fast
Cause this is a party that's not gonna last
And this is the same place the fly got smashed

Dress him Dress him Dress him Dress him
Dress him Dress him Dress him like a queen

..."

Early GBV with changing tempo's and style. Sort of doom-indie at the start but then suddenly skips up to a cheerful chorus. Shows the early potential of Bobs writing and stretches to an epic 6 minutes and 40 seconds. "And that's the Electrifying Conlcusion he sings". How apt.

Dedicated to Anthony Wilson, music mogul and founder of Factory Records who sadly died today of Cancer. RIP.

In The House Of Queen Charles Augustus

Taken from "Motel of Fools" 2003

"Truly I saw a fallen wave upon it's way
Truly I saw the undetermined person
Truly I saw goin' up and down on
Truly I saw the empties fired away
Truly I saw 12 states on 50 pages
Truly I saw the cover and the color
Truly I saw the quail and the quazar
Truly I saw the empties fired away
Telegram of steam
And winter green
When the senators gather
Crash the place
A fusion of their metals
And 10 winos grin
Wings, hoofs, and halos
All again
For matters worse
And public scourge
That's why they bring women
To eat with them
When they get fat enough
Pull the cork
And watch the party flow
Have courage - do not trade them
To the devil for your selfish souls
I trade her now
In my Sunday's best
You deserve it
The threads of gold
Wear your soft light man costume
They are pros for you again
When they come again
The sun will shine again
In the house of Queen Charles Augustus
There for all to see"

Starts with Bob on his own singing unaccompanied "Truly I saw....". Then a swirling phasing guitar kicks in and we are into the song proper. Again, this is a "Motel of Fools" track that I really like but for some reason Ive never liked "Motel of Fools" and this is the 4th track in isolation I have liked. That's really weird.

Thursday 9 August 2007

The Flying Party

Taken from "Suitcase 1" 2003

"The flying party is here..."

This songs reminds me a bit of the short guitar bit on "Kid Marine". Its a soft minute of the title repeated until fade and is kind of mellow and sweet but definitely a joiner track.

Wednesday 8 August 2007

Burning Flag Birthday Suit

Taken from "Under The Bushes Under The Stars" 1996

"don't open life alone
contact the empire solutionaries
they cut the skin - they peel back the onion
reveal the ghostblood
fat black gas exudes
moves into the mirrored hall of empty values

canned sister Iowa
drive me to the changing room
where the counterfeit meets
and brings it's collection of orphans

leave them in the state grip
the nurses hate them
but it's up to you and me, my faithful sin-eater
to give them a glorious lightbath
and remove their wrapping
their burning flag birthday suit"

Back to classic era-GBV. I love the "peel back the ONION" bit. That line always seems to stick in my head for days afterwards. Is this song about about some interstate rivalry or something? Or some revolutionary song? Hard to work out but a good song.

Tuesday 7 August 2007

My Only Confection

Taken from "Suitcase 2" 2005

Lyrics Unknown

fuzz. fuzz. fuzz. rumble. fuzz. bang. bang. fuzz. bang. bang. Thats the beginning of a drum solo. Is that bob in the background I can hear? More fuzz and drums and lost vocals. Odd song that sounds like it was recorded on a Native Indian reservation. I am pretty sure it started raining not long after this song finished.

Dreaming The Temple

Taken from "Five" 2005

Lyrics Unknown

Sounds like a film soundtrack to me. Strings and thumping drums could come straight from the Lord of the Rings soundtrack and has an ominous epic feel and could be the build up to the start of a battle. Im a big soundtrack fan so I do like this a lot and a big departure from most Pollard material.

Sunday 5 August 2007

Underwater Explosions

Taken from "Under The Bushes Under The Stars" 1996

"once she was down and she opened
crate of secrets darker than she
underwater explosions - curtains rippling obviously

she can breathe
since i've been tired, she can breathe
and the shocks are bound to please
and she points to me

to insist on facing the salt and it stings
and certainly that changes things
and she points to me
(something passes through me)

cups painted orange and sunburst
lined up side by side - she keeps them so clean
brightly they shine in the starlight
but darker places i've never seen

she can breathe
since i've been tired, she can breathe
and the shocks are bound to please
and she points to me

to insist on facing the salt and it stings
and certainly that changes things
and she points to me
(something passes through me)

and the sound will carry you on"

A bit of a minor GBV classic this one. Love the sound of the bass and vocals in this song and how the Chorus soars and uplifts. Reminds me a bit of "Drag Days" in sound but not quite reaching Drag days glory. A good song that every GBV fan will be fully aware of.

Saturday 4 August 2007

How Brown

Taken from "Life Starts Here" 2002

"For up we are
For up we are
And we must be adventurers
Partners in shit-heeled glory...

Sell a paranoid dream
Judgment
Followers
Quick tip swallowers

How brown?

It's making sense
And it drives the crucial moment
Into a fat body of work
But, oh how worthless

For up we are"

A slow start to an almost epic length Pollard song (it breaks the 4 minute barrier) then Bobs vocal come in with a wonderful song. "And we must be adventurers, partner's in shit healed glory". Has a sort of call to arm sound that "Disarm The Settlers" has. The lines "It's making sense,And it drives the crucial moment,Into a fat body of work,But, oh how worthless" could almost be the motto of this blog.

Friday 3 August 2007

Perhaps Now The Vultures

Taken from "Vampire On Titus" 1993

"Shot down from the rafters and off to everafter
Consider this a failure, so be it--urchin promise
The curse is working--the trail of bodies
That leaves no suspect, what did you expect?
And get it, get it here, get it now
The news is not worthy
Don't even look
You're cornered into thinking
Invited to the lynching
Specify instructions
I'll shoot the arrow straight up
I'll frame your holy mugshot
Add insult to buckshot
And then I'll drink with glycerol frog-eye
Yeah, she can tell you every detail"

Is "Vampire on Titus" or "Propeller" or "Bee Thousand" considered the Guided By Voices breakthrough album? This song is very lo-fi and all the melody, lyrics and instrumentation is lost in a fizzy mess. You can just about work out a song fighting to get out but must admit this isn't a favourite of mine.

First Spill Is Free

Taken from "Turn To Red" 2006

Lyrics Unknown

A really good acoustic track from the first Takeovers album. Bobs vocals are strong on this track. Is it about Drinking? It surely is. What do all those "I want.." letters he sings at the end?

Wednesday 1 August 2007

You're Not The Queen Anymore

Taken from "Suitcase 2" 2005

Lyrics Unknown

Back to the world of Pollard sketches and offcuts. You can even hear where he starts the tape again. Just a simple melody and a lone vocal from Bob. Not a bad little ditty from the Suitcase treasure trove.

Death of The Party

Taken from "Blues and Boogie Shoes" 2006

"She used to be an American airline
Through hotels/parallels
Of the far out moon

Still being watched by the pipe smoke contingent
From creameries extremeries
And you won't leave soon

She drives like an exodus
Slow to the steeple
And her touch is sad
The cold room is clean
And it's distant from people
But the bugs are bad

She is alone never off to the races
She is pulled by lumbering dogs
Being chased by beasts

For the foodstuff of dreams
Clay rails melting
Like at earthman equator
Blobs of light
Ripped from spiraled ceilings
And now there's no place to climb
Not a place

Tear it aive
I am always inventor
And I cry so suddenly
And I laugh so loud

And the cry is small"

Someone get me these lyrics. "She used to be an American Airline". Makes no sense but means so much when Bob sings it. Beautiful. This song I rate as one of the best Bob has written or performed since the break up of Guided By Voices. It just touches the heart strings and the Soul and sours into the stratosphere. Simply wonderful. Anyone who doesn't like this song is dead to music. "I cry so suddenly and I laugh so loud". Its how I feel when I listen to this.

Bug House (2 Version)

Taken from "Suitcase 1" 2003

"Sugary Jane cakes lace (?)
Her hair smells nice
First one is the worst one sometimes twice
Are you careful?
Are you in the mood?
Sugary Jane is sweet like baby food
I won't flame you
I can't blame you yet
But when you crave it
I'll say that's all you get
Knives are sharpened by fidgety hearts
Fidgety hearts are foaming like sweet tarts
*??? mosquitoes on the dough (?)
*Pull the plug and watch the party go"

2 songs for the price of one, well actually 2 different versions of the same song stitched together to show the progression and the different productions. I think I prefer the stripped down Guitar and Vocals version, though the slightly muffled version does have a certain charm to it.

Captain Black

Taken from "Motel Of Fools" 2003

"Captain Black
Is magic
I wish I could see him
And run his game
Love it is
So here at last
Make your dying promise
To Captain Black
My name is Rhino
Yeah, get it on
To the skies
I have a scarlet heart
Captain Black is dark
In his ballroom
Above the stairs
One more to grow on
For Captain Black somehow
And I am free (for now)"

Now, I think I said earlier I didn't like many of the "Motel of Fools" songs. But strangely enough when I break them down I find I like quite a few of them. This is a lovely song and the bit where the piano comes in just slays me every time. For some reason this feels like a love song to Superheroes. Maybe its just me but Captain Black in magic.

Optional Bases Opposed

Taken from "Tonics And Twisted Chasers" 1997

"I'm slow at times - I just want to grow at times
but it gets to be a drag."
She astonished the reporters with that remark
Then she cracked
Optional bases opposed
Door number four is closed
Running the leg and supporting the arm
An impressive finish of radiant charm"

One of those classic Beatbox and fuzzed up guitar Tonics tracks. The chorus reminds me totally of another Bob song but I really can't put my finger on it.

Father's Favourite Temperature

Taken from "Bad Football" 2007

Lyrics Unknown

This song has an almost country twang to it mixed with Oasis. A very playful song. Is he singing about his father setting the house thermostat to his favourite temperature and not let anyone else mess with it. That's the mental image I get.