Taken from "Earthquake Glue" 2003
"Sail fish like a kite when it rolls by.
sad eyes they will grow like a headlight.
mix up the satellites.
wheel of the sunrise,
feel as its rolling by.
save us light,
that gave us night,
save us light,
that gave us night.
mix up the satellites.
wheel of the sunrise,
feel as its rolling by."
The synths in this song remind a little of The Cure and comes from one of Bobs slickest albums "Earthquake Glue". As is usual from this period GBV the Who is also a very strong influence. Nice song.
Wednesday 31 December 2008
Tuesday 30 December 2008
Every Word In The World
Taken from "Fiction Man" 2004
"Every word in the world raging silent
Like the spirit of original film
Straight out as the drama and the test
Try to reach you
Stretching out from East to West
Like the endless city
Running from time
Breathing easier in it's place to hide
From seed
From single cell it comes
Not transmutated
Or digressing even from
None of them even matter
Or seem of worth
Of the lost in their microcosmic world
A maze
Shielded
By a mist
Running
Out of time
Evaporating
Raging silent
Like every word
In the world"
I think Robert Pollard must have sung every word in the world by now. This is a gentle acoustic number that has hints of REM and is pure Americana. Fiction Man is oft looked over but I think its the point where Bob's solo work began to mature into its own entity and not just be a repository for GBV outtakes. Lovely stuff.
"Every word in the world raging silent
Like the spirit of original film
Straight out as the drama and the test
Try to reach you
Stretching out from East to West
Like the endless city
Running from time
Breathing easier in it's place to hide
From seed
From single cell it comes
Not transmutated
Or digressing even from
None of them even matter
Or seem of worth
Of the lost in their microcosmic world
A maze
Shielded
By a mist
Running
Out of time
Evaporating
Raging silent
Like every word
In the world"
I think Robert Pollard must have sung every word in the world by now. This is a gentle acoustic number that has hints of REM and is pure Americana. Fiction Man is oft looked over but I think its the point where Bob's solo work began to mature into its own entity and not just be a repository for GBV outtakes. Lovely stuff.
Gold Hick
Taken from "Alien Lanes" 1995
"All my dumb luck and all my misgivings
I thrust them aside for the dead for the living
I want my vehicle, my saucer-shaped coffin
I'm Mighty Pro-Jet
I'm Baron Von Richtofen"
A 30 second classic! Nuff said.
"All my dumb luck and all my misgivings
I thrust them aside for the dead for the living
I want my vehicle, my saucer-shaped coffin
I'm Mighty Pro-Jet
I'm Baron Von Richtofen"
A 30 second classic! Nuff said.
Tuesday 23 December 2008
Sensational Gravity Boy
Taken from "Crickets" 2007
"Long road black road touch the road
It's a hard road
Spontaneous combustion
Final decision it's the only way
Straight up off from the aggressive rock
Intelligensia
But I feel no pain
From the vacuum that sucks me in
I saw you drifting away
With your car today
With the world rushing by
In the wink of an eye
Move away from the whip
On the reality ship
And the world is a toy
For sensational gravity boy
Words in the important points
Is the assassin
Models just them figurines
Yeah just the ones we chose to keep
Look them over vaguely spacy
He spots them
And he will not change
He is a trooper when it comes to that
I saw you drifting away
With your car today
With the world rushing by
In the wink of an eye
Move away from the whip
On the reality ship
And the world is a toy
For sensational gravity boy"
A tight demo sounding track with a great catchy uplifting chorus. Did this song ever crop up on a "proper" album? well it should. Bob goes under the name Freedom Cruise for this song. Nice. Where does it all come from? Great song.
"Long road black road touch the road
It's a hard road
Spontaneous combustion
Final decision it's the only way
Straight up off from the aggressive rock
Intelligensia
But I feel no pain
From the vacuum that sucks me in
I saw you drifting away
With your car today
With the world rushing by
In the wink of an eye
Move away from the whip
On the reality ship
And the world is a toy
For sensational gravity boy
Words in the important points
Is the assassin
Models just them figurines
Yeah just the ones we chose to keep
Look them over vaguely spacy
He spots them
And he will not change
He is a trooper when it comes to that
I saw you drifting away
With your car today
With the world rushing by
In the wink of an eye
Move away from the whip
On the reality ship
And the world is a toy
For sensational gravity boy"
A tight demo sounding track with a great catchy uplifting chorus. Did this song ever crop up on a "proper" album? well it should. Bob goes under the name Freedom Cruise for this song. Nice. Where does it all come from? Great song.
Sunday 14 December 2008
Circling Motorhead Mountain
Taken from "Ask Them" 1999
"Off the coasts of blackness
There are troops backed up
Smoking their backpacks
Testing the rocks for radio
I suppose
It's a good clean wrestling
A whipped up waiting line
It's a fast exploration
A loving bumber crop of raw power
The new juice"
A cool sampled voice starts the track until the Rock kicks in. This is a fantastic Wig-Stomping track with a simple but cool riff and some good vocals. As usual short and leaving you wanting more. Rock!
"Off the coasts of blackness
There are troops backed up
Smoking their backpacks
Testing the rocks for radio
I suppose
It's a good clean wrestling
A whipped up waiting line
It's a fast exploration
A loving bumber crop of raw power
The new juice"
A cool sampled voice starts the track until the Rock kicks in. This is a fantastic Wig-Stomping track with a simple but cool riff and some good vocals. As usual short and leaving you wanting more. Rock!
Saturday 13 December 2008
Pivotal Film
Taken from "Isolation Drills" 2001
"Pivotal film
Showing cloaks of rubber
Digital relay
Fingers stroking
Like mechanical lover
Critical rooms
Transparent scenes shifting
Pivotal film
Selling out your monkey
Sinful heroes
Stabbing, choking
(They must be joking)
Like mechanical lover
Critical rooms
Transparent scenes shifting
Grotesque and arrogant
Perfect for the experts
Top gold
It's cold in the morning
Where scenesters exit
Into thin air"
Well, I never knew Pivotal was spelt like that? Ive spent most of my life spelling it wrong! Oops. Not that I get to use the word Pivotal much these days. But today I am using it. This is a typical late period GBV affair with good production and big chuffing guitars. Its amazing looking back on this period of Pollard career. It was amazingly polished and professional where his early work was lo-fi and his recent stuff has been a strange sort of Mid-Fi with lots of experimentation. Good song though this. Chunky and has some of the best harmonies in a Pollard song ever.
"Pivotal film
Showing cloaks of rubber
Digital relay
Fingers stroking
Like mechanical lover
Critical rooms
Transparent scenes shifting
Pivotal film
Selling out your monkey
Sinful heroes
Stabbing, choking
(They must be joking)
Like mechanical lover
Critical rooms
Transparent scenes shifting
Grotesque and arrogant
Perfect for the experts
Top gold
It's cold in the morning
Where scenesters exit
Into thin air"
Well, I never knew Pivotal was spelt like that? Ive spent most of my life spelling it wrong! Oops. Not that I get to use the word Pivotal much these days. But today I am using it. This is a typical late period GBV affair with good production and big chuffing guitars. Its amazing looking back on this period of Pollard career. It was amazingly polished and professional where his early work was lo-fi and his recent stuff has been a strange sort of Mid-Fi with lots of experimentation. Good song though this. Chunky and has some of the best harmonies in a Pollard song ever.
Sunday 30 November 2008
Nothing The Best
Taken from "Check Your Zoo"
Instrumental
A very delicate and literate start to this song, almost Spanish sounding and not the sort of showy guitarmanship you are used to with a Pollard recording. The song obviously wobbles and crumbles apart in a mix of random drumming and stroked guitars but hints at quite a lovely melody under all the grot.
Instrumental
A very delicate and literate start to this song, almost Spanish sounding and not the sort of showy guitarmanship you are used to with a Pollard recording. The song obviously wobbles and crumbles apart in a mix of random drumming and stroked guitars but hints at quite a lovely melody under all the grot.
The Golden Pickle
Taken from "Suitcase 2" 2005
Lyrics Unknown
A fly on the wall recording of Bob yelping over a random acoustic strum and some laughs. A Filler, No Killer.
Lyrics Unknown
A fly on the wall recording of Bob yelping over a random acoustic strum and some laughs. A Filler, No Killer.
Saturday 29 November 2008
The Girls Will Make It Happen
Taken from "Ataxia" 2008
Lyrics Unknown
Wow. What a song. A driven and pounding Circus Devils Masterpiece. Just on the right side of experimental but also accessible and tuneful. Love the freaky vocal effects. In an alternate universe this would be filling all the Alternative Rock Clubs floors. Easily one of my favourite tracks from "Ataxia" which is a great Circus Devils album, a soundtrack for a film David Lynch hasn't made yet.
Lyrics Unknown
Wow. What a song. A driven and pounding Circus Devils Masterpiece. Just on the right side of experimental but also accessible and tuneful. Love the freaky vocal effects. In an alternate universe this would be filling all the Alternative Rock Clubs floors. Easily one of my favourite tracks from "Ataxia" which is a great Circus Devils album, a soundtrack for a film David Lynch hasn't made yet.
Drum Solo
Taken from "Electric Chairs: Professional Music By Nightwalker" 1999
Instrumental
A drum solo with some backward vocals. Thats it really.
Instrumental
A drum solo with some backward vocals. Thats it really.
Saturday 22 November 2008
Fether Herd
Taken from "Mist King Urth" 2003
Instrumental
Was just thinking that there aren't many Pollard instrumentals is his plethora of songs but I got and find a couple in a row. How odd. This is a rhythmic track, all drums and weird tribal tooting. Odd, as ever. Go Bob!
Instrumental
Was just thinking that there aren't many Pollard instrumentals is his plethora of songs but I got and find a couple in a row. How odd. This is a rhythmic track, all drums and weird tribal tooting. Odd, as ever. Go Bob!
Sunday 16 November 2008
False Teeth
Taken from "South" 2008
"I SLOW DOWN THE DANCING GRAVE
STEEL AND FIRE ARE MINE TO SAVE
GOT TARGET POINTS ON RACING SHEETS
THATS WHY THEY CALL ME
FALSE TEETH
SLOW MOTION CLOUDS ARE HEAVY METAL
THICK HUMAN SPIT ON A ROSE PETAL
LIKE GREAT THOUGHT WARS
BEYOND BELIEF
THATS WHY THEY CALL ME
FALSE TEETH"
Taken from the sinewy "long lost 60s band" Carbon Whales "South" EP this is a dark and dangerous graveyard stomp. Moody and dark but not one of Mr Pollard most playful pieces of work. Am I playing this record at the correct speed? Hang on, its an MP3.
"I SLOW DOWN THE DANCING GRAVE
STEEL AND FIRE ARE MINE TO SAVE
GOT TARGET POINTS ON RACING SHEETS
THATS WHY THEY CALL ME
FALSE TEETH
SLOW MOTION CLOUDS ARE HEAVY METAL
THICK HUMAN SPIT ON A ROSE PETAL
LIKE GREAT THOUGHT WARS
BEYOND BELIEF
THATS WHY THEY CALL ME
FALSE TEETH"
Taken from the sinewy "long lost 60s band" Carbon Whales "South" EP this is a dark and dangerous graveyard stomp. Moody and dark but not one of Mr Pollard most playful pieces of work. Am I playing this record at the correct speed? Hang on, its an MP3.
Saturday 15 November 2008
Artboat
Taken from "Devil Between My Toes" 1987
Instrumental
A lo-fi and muffled garage band instrumental with plenty of recorder hiss and reverb. Stutters along for a couple of minutes and then ends.
Instrumental
A lo-fi and muffled garage band instrumental with plenty of recorder hiss and reverb. Stutters along for a couple of minutes and then ends.
Sunday 9 November 2008
Nicky High Pockets
Taken from "Sgt. Disco" 2007
"I’ve landed a job on the high ass seas
You betcha Bob and yessiree
Kind of the wind-that happens to be me
Straddle a soap studded rudder, brother
Parting the waters for sons and daughters
To a riot of gold teeth-which I bequeath
And many twisted vines
And photocopied throats
Are leaving with my boats
Link further communication
From bombs to glaring red
Yessiree, you betcha Bob
That happens to be me "
This song has lived on my iTunes as Nighy Highpockets for a year now. Damn you CDDB for me trusting you. This is a Circus Devils classic that doesnt sound like a typical Circus Devils song. A great melody and I love the "Betcha Bob" bits. Is this a character Bob has created? Some sort of Pirate? Great Song. Love it.
"I’ve landed a job on the high ass seas
You betcha Bob and yessiree
Kind of the wind-that happens to be me
Straddle a soap studded rudder, brother
Parting the waters for sons and daughters
To a riot of gold teeth-which I bequeath
And many twisted vines
And photocopied throats
Are leaving with my boats
Link further communication
From bombs to glaring red
Yessiree, you betcha Bob
That happens to be me "
This song has lived on my iTunes as Nighy Highpockets for a year now. Damn you CDDB for me trusting you. This is a Circus Devils classic that doesnt sound like a typical Circus Devils song. A great melody and I love the "Betcha Bob" bits. Is this a character Bob has created? Some sort of Pirate? Great Song. Love it.
Saturday 1 November 2008
Shrine To The Dynamic Years (Athens Time Change Riots)
Taken from "Suitcase 1" 2003
"The mood of the courtroom was gloomy
tested the waters and looked for a sign
Shrine to the dynamic years
Shrine to the dynamic years
The quest for the gold was frustrating
Roll into a ball yeah
The quest for the ???
???
Shrine to the dynamic years
Shrine to the dynamic years
???
Roll into a ball yeah
Shrine to the dynamic years
Shrine to the dynamic years
???
Roll into a ball yeah
Roll into a ball yeah
Roll into a ball"
Crunching and stumbling and almost indecipherable mumbled vocals before the song explodes into a classic Guided By Voices refrain. I am sure this song has been reworked into another song as the hooks sound very familiar. A good song.
"The mood of the courtroom was gloomy
tested the waters and looked for a sign
Shrine to the dynamic years
Shrine to the dynamic years
The quest for the gold was frustrating
Roll into a ball yeah
The quest for the ???
???
Shrine to the dynamic years
Shrine to the dynamic years
???
Roll into a ball yeah
Shrine to the dynamic years
Shrine to the dynamic years
???
Roll into a ball yeah
Roll into a ball yeah
Roll into a ball"
Crunching and stumbling and almost indecipherable mumbled vocals before the song explodes into a classic Guided By Voices refrain. I am sure this song has been reworked into another song as the hooks sound very familiar. A good song.
Sunday 26 October 2008
Climb
Taken from "Calling Zero" 2002
"Climb through the chambers
I'm hiding and seeking
The strangest mask I wore
The dumbest costume I swore
I'd never wear again
I've been all over
I've been nowhere
I'll go everywhere
Before it's all over
Where is the wind?
Where are all my friends?
Where are all my dead friends?"
A scratching shriek of guitar and tumbling piano greet this song before it settles in a more Portastatic mode. Quite discordant at times. The whole thing is on a bit of a monotone but has a cute little chorus but ends on a sad note.
"Climb through the chambers
I'm hiding and seeking
The strangest mask I wore
The dumbest costume I swore
I'd never wear again
I've been all over
I've been nowhere
I'll go everywhere
Before it's all over
Where is the wind?
Where are all my friends?
Where are all my dead friends?"
A scratching shriek of guitar and tumbling piano greet this song before it settles in a more Portastatic mode. Quite discordant at times. The whole thing is on a bit of a monotone but has a cute little chorus but ends on a sad note.
Saturday 25 October 2008
Spinning Around
Taken from "Suitcase 1" 2003
"A change another mob threw through the window
And visions encompassed within
Began to spin
Spinning around
Spinning around
Spinning around
Spinning around
Each chance we take is another chance we break
I feel two needs to explore you
Spinning around
Spinning around"
So many Pollard song, So many Suitcase songs cropping up. A delicate lo-fi song here with a shakey chorus and a gentle pulsing guitar. Subtle is a good word to use when describing this song.
"A change another mob threw through the window
And visions encompassed within
Began to spin
Spinning around
Spinning around
Spinning around
Spinning around
Each chance we take is another chance we break
I feel two needs to explore you
Spinning around
Spinning around"
So many Pollard song, So many Suitcase songs cropping up. A delicate lo-fi song here with a shakey chorus and a gentle pulsing guitar. Subtle is a good word to use when describing this song.
Saturday 18 October 2008
Do This
Taken from "Sgt.Disco" 2007
Instrumental
A sort of tribal or eastern beat and wonky electronic keyboard. An odd little instumental that is sort of catchy, sort of throwaway.
Instrumental
A sort of tribal or eastern beat and wonky electronic keyboard. An odd little instumental that is sort of catchy, sort of throwaway.
Wednesday 15 October 2008
Swooping Energies
Taken from "The Pipe Dreams Of The Instant Prince Whippet" 2002
"Hey!
Ooh
Swooping energies, I love you
So shot me down again I want you now
Would you like to play another game?
Swooping energies (x2)
Give me one more chance now, baby (x3)
(Repeat verse)
Swooping energies (x2)
Give me one more chance now baby (x3)
Moving
Swooping"
A chunky guitar start and we are into GBV Glam Rock territory. Crunchy sounding song. Sounds like your typical GBV 2nd tier material. Reminds me a lot of "Invisible Train To Earth" but not quite as good. Still, not a bad song.
"Hey!
Ooh
Swooping energies, I love you
So shot me down again I want you now
Would you like to play another game?
Swooping energies (x2)
Give me one more chance now, baby (x3)
(Repeat verse)
Swooping energies (x2)
Give me one more chance now baby (x3)
Moving
Swooping"
A chunky guitar start and we are into GBV Glam Rock territory. Crunchy sounding song. Sounds like your typical GBV 2nd tier material. Reminds me a lot of "Invisible Train To Earth" but not quite as good. Still, not a bad song.
Sunday 12 October 2008
Be It Not For The Serpentine Rain Dodger
Taken from "Turn To Red" 2006
Lyrics Unknown
An Absolute Classic. Lo-Fi Garage Rock with kicks ass and has some of the best instrumentation on any Bob release. A powerful verse and chorus and one of the top 10 songs ever recorded by Bob in my opinion. Wait till the tambourine kicks in...oooo. Love it.
Lyrics Unknown
An Absolute Classic. Lo-Fi Garage Rock with kicks ass and has some of the best instrumentation on any Bob release. A powerful verse and chorus and one of the top 10 songs ever recorded by Bob in my opinion. Wait till the tambourine kicks in...oooo. Love it.
Wednesday 24 September 2008
Somewhere Sometime
Taken from "Suitcase 2" 2005
Lyrics Unknown
Starts like something trippy and psychedelic from the Beatles. The lyrics are just mumbled and lost in the mix but this is an intriguing song. Quiet a beautiful and haunting melody and you wish Bob would go back and re-record this and the song would be given chance to shine. Lovely stuff. Great Guitar solo too!
Lyrics Unknown
Starts like something trippy and psychedelic from the Beatles. The lyrics are just mumbled and lost in the mix but this is an intriguing song. Quiet a beautiful and haunting melody and you wish Bob would go back and re-record this and the song would be given chance to shine. Lovely stuff. Great Guitar solo too!
Tuesday 23 September 2008
Weatherman And Skin Goddess
Taken from "Robert Pollard Is Off To Business" 2008
"Yes no baby
When I'm itching to work I will let you know
Yes no baby
When I know about action I'll be ready to go
But beyond the simple life I don't know
But unto the abstract end I will go
Coming at you
Yes no baby
All my biggest mistakes let you work through me
But like a sliver of glass even time won't remove
And it's a mystery to me
How you can pull up the pylons
Point to the storm and say "never transform"
And if it's a game don't even stop me now
Keep me crying
I wanna see if you're hot
Keep me trying
She listens now to old birds and grace
And you want that?
On psychological housewife Trojan horse
And you want that?
She's like cool skin hands oily and hides
Away from the furniture's cat
Says the king would like to greet you
In his 1950's hat
Do you want that?
Answer me now
Yes no baby
I imagine that fate is not a stepping stone
It's like the fact that we stood out as opposites
Now even that much is gone
But for the weatherman and skin goddess
Hot is cold
And at the end of the cobblestone street scene
There is gold
Coming at you
Keep me crying
I wanna see if you're hot
Keep me trying
She listens now to old birds and grace
And you want that?
On psychological housewife Trojan horse
And you want that?
She's like cool skin hands oily and hides
Away from the furniture's cat
Says the king would like to greet you
In his 1950's hat
Do you want that?
Answer me now
Answer me now
Answer me now..."
Now this is good stuff. A proper well constructed Pop Song from Robert Pollard. 5 minutes of verses and chorus and some good instrumentation. This is the new sound of Bob, but also harks back to the catchy hooks that drew us fans in during the "classic" period of Guided By Voices. Its an evolution but keeps in place all the correct Bob'isms. Great Song.
"Yes no baby
When I'm itching to work I will let you know
Yes no baby
When I know about action I'll be ready to go
But beyond the simple life I don't know
But unto the abstract end I will go
Coming at you
Yes no baby
All my biggest mistakes let you work through me
But like a sliver of glass even time won't remove
And it's a mystery to me
How you can pull up the pylons
Point to the storm and say "never transform"
And if it's a game don't even stop me now
Keep me crying
I wanna see if you're hot
Keep me trying
She listens now to old birds and grace
And you want that?
On psychological housewife Trojan horse
And you want that?
She's like cool skin hands oily and hides
Away from the furniture's cat
Says the king would like to greet you
In his 1950's hat
Do you want that?
Answer me now
Yes no baby
I imagine that fate is not a stepping stone
It's like the fact that we stood out as opposites
Now even that much is gone
But for the weatherman and skin goddess
Hot is cold
And at the end of the cobblestone street scene
There is gold
Coming at you
Keep me crying
I wanna see if you're hot
Keep me trying
She listens now to old birds and grace
And you want that?
On psychological housewife Trojan horse
And you want that?
She's like cool skin hands oily and hides
Away from the furniture's cat
Says the king would like to greet you
In his 1950's hat
Do you want that?
Answer me now
Answer me now
Answer me now..."
Now this is good stuff. A proper well constructed Pop Song from Robert Pollard. 5 minutes of verses and chorus and some good instrumentation. This is the new sound of Bob, but also harks back to the catchy hooks that drew us fans in during the "classic" period of Guided By Voices. Its an evolution but keeps in place all the correct Bob'isms. Great Song.
Sunday 21 September 2008
Shadow Port
Taken from "Standard Gargoyle Decisions" 2007
"IT'S GONE TO HELL
YOU KNOW THAT IT HAS
YOU RUN TO TELL
BUT IT'S ALL GONE
CAN TELL A LOT
BY OVER AND OUT
BEWARE WHAT YOU PRAY
WHEN IT'S ALL GONE ON
BEYOND NATURE'S LIGHT
SEE - I REMEMBER ME
LOVE - I REMEMBER HER
THEY - I REMEMBER THESE
TRY AND REMEMBER HER
PLEASE - I COULD NAIL THE ROAD
FOR MILES AND WE PULL AWAY
WHEN I'M GONE I'LL REMEMBER HER
OH GOD, WE COULD BRING THEM DOWN
WE FOUND THEM UNINTENTIONALLY
COSTLY AS WE EVER MADE IT
GREATER PATIENCE BURNING NOW
LOST IN DEPTH
THEY DIE FOR TRAITORS
INSTANT PEOPLE ALWAYS GONE
SURROUND ME
OH HOLD ME
DON'T LEAVE ME ALONE
VARIOUS BREAKDOWNS MIGHT TAKE ME ALL NIGHT
SLASHING LIKE RAZOR
DESIGN US LIKE YOU
CHOSEN
ESCAPING OF THE NIGHT
OUT ALL OVER
SHE HAS WINGS
ARE YOU WATCHING HER..."
A brooding classic from "Standard Gargoyle Decisions" with a fantastic chorus. Bob voice is just perfect on this song. Can a song be dark and uplifting at the same time? Definitely a highlight from the often under rated SDG.
"IT'S GONE TO HELL
YOU KNOW THAT IT HAS
YOU RUN TO TELL
BUT IT'S ALL GONE
CAN TELL A LOT
BY OVER AND OUT
BEWARE WHAT YOU PRAY
WHEN IT'S ALL GONE ON
BEYOND NATURE'S LIGHT
SEE - I REMEMBER ME
LOVE - I REMEMBER HER
THEY - I REMEMBER THESE
TRY AND REMEMBER HER
PLEASE - I COULD NAIL THE ROAD
FOR MILES AND WE PULL AWAY
WHEN I'M GONE I'LL REMEMBER HER
OH GOD, WE COULD BRING THEM DOWN
WE FOUND THEM UNINTENTIONALLY
COSTLY AS WE EVER MADE IT
GREATER PATIENCE BURNING NOW
LOST IN DEPTH
THEY DIE FOR TRAITORS
INSTANT PEOPLE ALWAYS GONE
SURROUND ME
OH HOLD ME
DON'T LEAVE ME ALONE
VARIOUS BREAKDOWNS MIGHT TAKE ME ALL NIGHT
SLASHING LIKE RAZOR
DESIGN US LIKE YOU
CHOSEN
ESCAPING OF THE NIGHT
OUT ALL OVER
SHE HAS WINGS
ARE YOU WATCHING HER..."
A brooding classic from "Standard Gargoyle Decisions" with a fantastic chorus. Bob voice is just perfect on this song. Can a song be dark and uplifting at the same time? Definitely a highlight from the often under rated SDG.
Saturday 20 September 2008
French Horn Litigation
Taken from "Sgt.Disco" 2007
"I love tuba
I think a song for you
I drink over Mondays
Einstein was lonely
I’ll like you always
I dream of always wishing for groovy things
Faced down and naked
I order you pearls
Emotion is running high
The time is a wasted thing
Oh, my throat is dry
Don’t you let it out
Don’t you sing about a thing
I love a tango
I faded away
I find it all too clean anyway
No way will you ever know
No way will you cover the spread
No way will you mention
When you’re bound and thrown
Carol, will you do me favor?
Carol, we will truly rise
Count on me to dream myself awake"
What a strange voice Mr Pollard effect during this song at certain points. Instrumentally this song is very "normal" for a Circus Devils and could easily fit on a standard Robert Pollard release. A very strong song. Sgt.Disco is the King of Circus Devils albums.
"I love tuba
I think a song for you
I drink over Mondays
Einstein was lonely
I’ll like you always
I dream of always wishing for groovy things
Faced down and naked
I order you pearls
Emotion is running high
The time is a wasted thing
Oh, my throat is dry
Don’t you let it out
Don’t you sing about a thing
I love a tango
I faded away
I find it all too clean anyway
No way will you ever know
No way will you cover the spread
No way will you mention
When you’re bound and thrown
Carol, will you do me favor?
Carol, we will truly rise
Count on me to dream myself awake"
What a strange voice Mr Pollard effect during this song at certain points. Instrumentally this song is very "normal" for a Circus Devils and could easily fit on a standard Robert Pollard release. A very strong song. Sgt.Disco is the King of Circus Devils albums.
Sunday 14 September 2008
The Baby That Never Smiled
Taken from "Sgt.Disco" 2007
"He is peaches and wild
Run away child
The baby that never smiled
Saturn and sun
Baby with gun
Look out for the baby
The baby that never smiled"
A short ditty. Catchy. To The Point.
"He is peaches and wild
Run away child
The baby that never smiled
Saturn and sun
Baby with gun
Look out for the baby
The baby that never smiled"
A short ditty. Catchy. To The Point.
Wednesday 10 September 2008
Planet's Own Brand
Taken from "I Am A Scientist EP" 1994
"Everything is insane
The prices never change
The aisle of truth is zero and cold
The aisle of truth is zero and cold
Come to planet
Follow the search
Come to me especially
Drive me to drink
...in a car
Something tells me 'no'
But I can slip through the bars
Under the bushes under the stars
Come to planet now
It's just a start
Come to me religiously
Rent me a room in your heart"
A choppy poppy garage funk type number that references the great GBV album "Under The Bushes Under The Stars". Threatens to fall apart a few times but manages to hold it together in it's own messy way. Not a bad little song.
"Everything is insane
The prices never change
The aisle of truth is zero and cold
The aisle of truth is zero and cold
Come to planet
Follow the search
Come to me especially
Drive me to drink
...in a car
Something tells me 'no'
But I can slip through the bars
Under the bushes under the stars
Come to planet now
It's just a start
Come to me religiously
Rent me a room in your heart"
A choppy poppy garage funk type number that references the great GBV album "Under The Bushes Under The Stars". Threatens to fall apart a few times but manages to hold it together in it's own messy way. Not a bad little song.
Sunday 7 September 2008
Back To The Farm
Taken from "Superman Was A Rocker" 2008
Instrumental
Starts with a strange radio clip that I think is Bob Pollard (Hiram Campbell) ringing in and winding up a couple of his friends (Mitch Mitchell and Kevin Fennell). Its quite funny and then leads into a great instrumental track with a chiming acoustic guitar. Very catchy and quite joyful. Possibly the best track on "Superman Was A Rocker".
Instrumental
Starts with a strange radio clip that I think is Bob Pollard (Hiram Campbell) ringing in and winding up a couple of his friends (Mitch Mitchell and Kevin Fennell). Its quite funny and then leads into a great instrumental track with a chiming acoustic guitar. Very catchy and quite joyful. Possibly the best track on "Superman Was A Rocker".
Saturday 6 September 2008
Messenger
Taken from "Suitcase 1" 2003
"Why can't you see that it's not cool?
To wait in handing (?) after school
Tell you what I'll do
I'll leave it up to you
Messenger, messenger
I wanna be your boy, your messenger
Messenger, messenger
I wanna be your boy, your messenger
I know it gets so hard to choose
I'll be the one to break the news
Tell you what I'll do
I'll leave it up to you"
A very 60s garage pop slice of early Guided By Voices pleasure. A great upbeat tune and some fantastic vocals. The chorus is amazing and would easily make it onto a "proper" album release by GBV or REM. Great song.
"Why can't you see that it's not cool?
To wait in handing (?) after school
Tell you what I'll do
I'll leave it up to you
Messenger, messenger
I wanna be your boy, your messenger
Messenger, messenger
I wanna be your boy, your messenger
I know it gets so hard to choose
I'll be the one to break the news
Tell you what I'll do
I'll leave it up to you"
A very 60s garage pop slice of early Guided By Voices pleasure. A great upbeat tune and some fantastic vocals. The chorus is amazing and would easily make it onto a "proper" album release by GBV or REM. Great song.
Saturday 28 June 2008
Be In The Wild Place
Taken from "Happy Jack Rock Records" 2008
Lyrics Unknown
One of the groovy B-Sides from the Happy Jack Rock Records Single Collection. Some of these songs are surprisingly strong and this is a great upbeat Pollard song with a fantastic melody and great production. Its crazy that some of Bobs strongest work will be hidden away on a "fans only" b-side of an obscure 7". Great song.
Lyrics Unknown
One of the groovy B-Sides from the Happy Jack Rock Records Single Collection. Some of these songs are surprisingly strong and this is a great upbeat Pollard song with a fantastic melody and great production. Its crazy that some of Bobs strongest work will be hidden away on a "fans only" b-side of an obscure 7". Great song.
Saturday 7 June 2008
Lay Me Down
Taken from "Standard Gargoyle Decisions" 2007
"YOU MIGHT LAY ME DOWN
BUT YOU CAN'T LULL ME ALL THE TIME
YOU GOT A NERVE
YOU GOTTA GO
AND WERE IT NOT FOR YOUR EYES
YOU MIGHT LAY ME DOWN"
A song from the "other" Pollard album of 2007. A short acousticy type song with Bobs trademark up and down vocals. He really is the Beyonce of the Lo-Fi world. Ends with a speeding up drum section. A bit fillerish.
"YOU MIGHT LAY ME DOWN
BUT YOU CAN'T LULL ME ALL THE TIME
YOU GOT A NERVE
YOU GOTTA GO
AND WERE IT NOT FOR YOUR EYES
YOU MIGHT LAY ME DOWN"
A song from the "other" Pollard album of 2007. A short acousticy type song with Bobs trademark up and down vocals. He really is the Beyonce of the Lo-Fi world. Ends with a speeding up drum section. A bit fillerish.
Sunday 18 May 2008
Hot Lettuce
Taken from "Sgt.Disco" 2007
Instrumental
The whole idea of Lettuce being hot makes me feel slightly sick. An instrumental track with a sort of burbling or mumbling in the background. Sounds like a Jazz jam and probably would almost fit on Phantom Tollbooth. No great shakes and a bit filler.
Instrumental
The whole idea of Lettuce being hot makes me feel slightly sick. An instrumental track with a sort of burbling or mumbling in the background. Sounds like a Jazz jam and probably would almost fit on Phantom Tollbooth. No great shakes and a bit filler.
Friday 16 May 2008
Excellent Things
Taken from "Suitcase 1" 2003
"Mirrors reflect only what we expect
Just what we wanna see
Clothes looking fresh
Cotton, Rayon, and Mesh
Household warm and germ free
I filled up a jar with colorful capsules
Jewelry and rings
Notice how we constantly thrive on excellent things
Came here to stay
Incarnated I sway
Toward material needs
Television hums
Busy hand pounds and strums
Two or three knuckles bleed
Boats and trains and commercial flight airplanes
That whistle and sing
See how we persistently thrive on excellent things
Mirrors reflect only what we expect
Just what we wanna see
Clothes looking fresh
Cotton, Rayon, and Mesh
Household warm and germ free
I filled up a jar with colorful capsules
Jewelry and rings
Notice how we constantly thrive on excellent things
Came here to stay
Incarnated I sway
Toward material needs
Television hums
Busy hand pounds and strums
Two or three knuckles bleed
Boats and trains and commercial flight airplanes
That whistle and sing
See how we persistently thrive on excellent things"
A very melancholic and downbeat song that also has a hint of hope. A very catchy song that has an early Smiths like quality. Shame it didn't grow up onto a proper album but that's Bob for you.
"Mirrors reflect only what we expect
Just what we wanna see
Clothes looking fresh
Cotton, Rayon, and Mesh
Household warm and germ free
I filled up a jar with colorful capsules
Jewelry and rings
Notice how we constantly thrive on excellent things
Came here to stay
Incarnated I sway
Toward material needs
Television hums
Busy hand pounds and strums
Two or three knuckles bleed
Boats and trains and commercial flight airplanes
That whistle and sing
See how we persistently thrive on excellent things
Mirrors reflect only what we expect
Just what we wanna see
Clothes looking fresh
Cotton, Rayon, and Mesh
Household warm and germ free
I filled up a jar with colorful capsules
Jewelry and rings
Notice how we constantly thrive on excellent things
Came here to stay
Incarnated I sway
Toward material needs
Television hums
Busy hand pounds and strums
Two or three knuckles bleed
Boats and trains and commercial flight airplanes
That whistle and sing
See how we persistently thrive on excellent things"
A very melancholic and downbeat song that also has a hint of hope. A very catchy song that has an early Smiths like quality. Shame it didn't grow up onto a proper album but that's Bob for you.
Tuesday 13 May 2008
Let's Go Back To Bed
Taken from "Ringworm Interiors" 1991
"Let's go back to bed
and crash for a bucket of tears
of the heart and self-righteous throne
they make out words
the interpreters and writers vile and feely
migratory centers
international heart stamps
oh, let's go back to bed"
A strangely hypnotic and spiralling Circus Devils track that could push you over the edge if you are a bit Drunk or on the verge of Mental Illness. Ends with repetition and swirling keyboards. As wilfully odd as ever.
"Let's go back to bed
and crash for a bucket of tears
of the heart and self-righteous throne
they make out words
the interpreters and writers vile and feely
migratory centers
international heart stamps
oh, let's go back to bed"
A strangely hypnotic and spiralling Circus Devils track that could push you over the edge if you are a bit Drunk or on the verge of Mental Illness. Ends with repetition and swirling keyboards. As wilfully odd as ever.
Monday 24 March 2008
Sister I Need Wine (Cromag Demo)
Taken from "Crickets" 2007
"Sister, I need wine
For color in my skin
And darkness for my eyes
But I can see the light burn through
Still it is the night brings me to you
Sister, use your gift
The backed up river spreads
On ground for fighting words
And I am hating the ignorance in my body
And I can't feed on the heaviness
Sister, I need you
And we will dance for gold
And straddle the hour of fear
And learn the real story
Drink the truth
Shed not one tear"
Another demo of an Isolation Drills track that begins with Bob and friends talking. This is a real broody piece with a great melody and hushed vocals. This demo has more scope and feeling than many other bands "proper" songs.
"Sister, I need wine
For color in my skin
And darkness for my eyes
But I can see the light burn through
Still it is the night brings me to you
Sister, use your gift
The backed up river spreads
On ground for fighting words
And I am hating the ignorance in my body
And I can't feed on the heaviness
Sister, I need you
And we will dance for gold
And straddle the hour of fear
And learn the real story
Drink the truth
Shed not one tear"
Another demo of an Isolation Drills track that begins with Bob and friends talking. This is a real broody piece with a great melody and hushed vocals. This demo has more scope and feeling than many other bands "proper" songs.
Love Your Spaceman
Taken from "Superman Was A Rocker" 2008
Lyrics Unknown
Taken from Robert Pollards collection of old GBV songs and old abandoned or lost recordings with added lyrics and vocals this is a catchy tune which I think features many of the old members of GBV. Probably one of the most realised songs on the SWAR album. A great sitar type Indian vibe to this too. Good song.
Lyrics Unknown
Taken from Robert Pollards collection of old GBV songs and old abandoned or lost recordings with added lyrics and vocals this is a catchy tune which I think features many of the old members of GBV. Probably one of the most realised songs on the SWAR album. A great sitar type Indian vibe to this too. Good song.
Saturday 22 March 2008
Gonna Never Have To Die (Demo)
Demo
"Be a motorcycle
Be a getaway car
Be a house of sparrows
I am waiting
This is where you are
Thinking about the lines
That cross the sky
Mine for you and I
Never have to die
I have plans engaging
All of these points connecting one
My trap is simple
I will forgive you
For all you've never done
Lessons of the crime
Of sick and tried
In a forest crucified
You're gonna never have to die"
The Demo version of the track from "Half Smiles of the Decomposed". Love the simplicity of this version, just Bob and his guitar with some fantastic solo work mid way through. One of Bob's catchiest songs that rattles round your brain for days. Simple and effective.
"Be a motorcycle
Be a getaway car
Be a house of sparrows
I am waiting
This is where you are
Thinking about the lines
That cross the sky
Mine for you and I
Never have to die
I have plans engaging
All of these points connecting one
My trap is simple
I will forgive you
For all you've never done
Lessons of the crime
Of sick and tried
In a forest crucified
You're gonna never have to die"
The Demo version of the track from "Half Smiles of the Decomposed". Love the simplicity of this version, just Bob and his guitar with some fantastic solo work mid way through. One of Bob's catchiest songs that rattles round your brain for days. Simple and effective.
Friday 21 March 2008
It Is Divine
Taken from "Calling Zero" 2002
"The colorful summer
I still remember
The smell of the chlorine
The diving hairline
It is divine, my child
And it only lasts a second
To study the plants
To hike the trails
Stray out from strange echoes
Collect the lights
Advice from the cows
It is divine, my child
And it only lasts a second
To polish the pearl
To open the tomb
To piss on the hot street
Like transistor sunman
It is divine, my child
And it only lasts a second"
There is something about the acoustic intro on this song that is so Pollard. A very summery song with a great melody. As usual it is gibberish lyrics but somehow touches the soul. Good song.
"The colorful summer
I still remember
The smell of the chlorine
The diving hairline
It is divine, my child
And it only lasts a second
To study the plants
To hike the trails
Stray out from strange echoes
Collect the lights
Advice from the cows
It is divine, my child
And it only lasts a second
To polish the pearl
To open the tomb
To piss on the hot street
Like transistor sunman
It is divine, my child
And it only lasts a second"
There is something about the acoustic intro on this song that is so Pollard. A very summery song with a great melody. As usual it is gibberish lyrics but somehow touches the soul. Good song.
Sunday 9 March 2008
You Drove The Snake Crazy
Taken from "Superman Was A Rocker" 2008
Lyrics Unknown
2008 and the first 2008 Song. "Superman Was A Rocker" is a collection of old recordings where Bob has added new melodies or lyrics. Love the little "trumpet" fanfare before this song then we are into a simple strumathon with some good hand claps and backing vocals. Feels like a jam. Goes a bit wobbly in places but not bad.
Lyrics Unknown
2008 and the first 2008 Song. "Superman Was A Rocker" is a collection of old recordings where Bob has added new melodies or lyrics. Love the little "trumpet" fanfare before this song then we are into a simple strumathon with some good hand claps and backing vocals. Feels like a jam. Goes a bit wobbly in places but not bad.
Saturday 8 March 2008
Red Whips and Miracles
Taken from "Mist King Urth" 2003
"This is a view with no room to spare
Where the pony won't travel
Nor the lion
The fresh preamble
To a nuclear future
The morning curse
Sunfist
Surely we can agree over lunch
That the path least traveled
Is a straight one
Look as we see
Corruption and gossip
Well, piss up a tree
Hark
Naked, smoke
Eat more meat
Choke
On a friendly woman/man
Whatever gets you off
Come to the protest
Where flowers in your hair may bring forgiveness
Like a God no longer jealous
Free to be actors and kings"
The Lifegaurds have a classical sound to them. Classic American Rock. Love the piano sound in this song. Bob needs to integrate the Piano more into his songs. Its a wonderful Rock instrument in the right hands. Great song and its over 8 minutes long!
"This is a view with no room to spare
Where the pony won't travel
Nor the lion
The fresh preamble
To a nuclear future
The morning curse
Sunfist
Surely we can agree over lunch
That the path least traveled
Is a straight one
Look as we see
Corruption and gossip
Well, piss up a tree
Hark
Naked, smoke
Eat more meat
Choke
On a friendly woman/man
Whatever gets you off
Come to the protest
Where flowers in your hair may bring forgiveness
Like a God no longer jealous
Free to be actors and kings"
The Lifegaurds have a classical sound to them. Classic American Rock. Love the piano sound in this song. Bob needs to integrate the Piano more into his songs. Its a wonderful Rock instrument in the right hands. Great song and its over 8 minutes long!
Wednesday 27 February 2008
Choking Tara
Taken from "Mag Earwig!" 1997
"Days into weeks
She rattled my mind
We stayed out all week
And got happy this time
She fills empty space
I kinda need it that way
Crybaby says bye to me
I can't imagine that all our troubles will go away
But I could catch her and break the falls
I could snatch her with breaks and claws
Today when every "fake it"
Decides to make it
They just can't take it away
Shove it, cus I'll just stay
Like an ugly unwanted stray
Don't care what you say"
A short song with lots of different versions. This is the classic album version with echoey vocals. A great song and a must for any Guided By Voices compilation tape. "Days Into Weeks, You Rattled My Mind". You did indeed Bob.
"Days into weeks
She rattled my mind
We stayed out all week
And got happy this time
She fills empty space
I kinda need it that way
Crybaby says bye to me
I can't imagine that all our troubles will go away
But I could catch her and break the falls
I could snatch her with breaks and claws
Today when every "fake it"
Decides to make it
They just can't take it away
Shove it, cus I'll just stay
Like an ugly unwanted stray
Don't care what you say"
A short song with lots of different versions. This is the classic album version with echoey vocals. A great song and a must for any Guided By Voices compilation tape. "Days Into Weeks, You Rattled My Mind". You did indeed Bob.
Tuesday 26 February 2008
Buzzards and Dreadful Crows
Taken from "Suitcase 1" 2003
"The lifeblood lighthouse flashing
Sixteen chicks remain on watch
The wheels took a rolling in
And they do
Hey oh hey they always do
I'd be disappoint'n'bored if they didn't
Buzzards and dreadful crows
Right on the tip of my nose
They wait like cats and fly out
For the light in my eyes to die out
And it does
Hey it always does
I'd be shocked and appalled if it didn't
Buzzards and dreadful crows
A neccessary evil I suppose
There's something in this deal for everyone
Did you really think you were the only one?"
The Suitcase version of Buzzards that appears in it natural form on "Bee Thousand". This one has more crazy rock vocal histrinoics from Bobs and a bit of screaming. Prefer the original version but its nice to have this little oddity.
"The lifeblood lighthouse flashing
Sixteen chicks remain on watch
The wheels took a rolling in
And they do
Hey oh hey they always do
I'd be disappoint'n'bored if they didn't
Buzzards and dreadful crows
Right on the tip of my nose
They wait like cats and fly out
For the light in my eyes to die out
And it does
Hey it always does
I'd be shocked and appalled if it didn't
Buzzards and dreadful crows
A neccessary evil I suppose
There's something in this deal for everyone
Did you really think you were the only one?"
The Suitcase version of Buzzards that appears in it natural form on "Bee Thousand". This one has more crazy rock vocal histrinoics from Bobs and a bit of screaming. Prefer the original version but its nice to have this little oddity.
The Right Thing
Taken from "From A Compound Eye" 2006
"I CROSSED A MOMENT OF LOVE
TO ENGULF THE MOON THAT HIDES
I WANNA LINE SOMETHING UP
AND I LIKE THE WAY YOU SLIDE
THE RIGHT THING I ALONE DECIDE
FOR YOU AND I
FAST FORWARD TO FROM NOW ON
TO INSIST THE PRICE IS MINE
EXPOSE THE HEART OF IT ALL
WITH MINERS' LUNGS ON EITHER SIDE
THE RIGHT THING I ALONE DECIDE
FOR YOU AND I
CALL IT PRIDE
I AM HIGH
TOO SMALL IN A WAY
I'M HIGH
YOU CRY
AND I DIE
OH
MY, MY, MY"
This song builds from a muffled lo-fi track into a full blown Rock Epic! With a great riff. Its like some of the tracks on Suitcase where you get 2 different versions of the same song in succession. Good song.
"I CROSSED A MOMENT OF LOVE
TO ENGULF THE MOON THAT HIDES
I WANNA LINE SOMETHING UP
AND I LIKE THE WAY YOU SLIDE
THE RIGHT THING I ALONE DECIDE
FOR YOU AND I
FAST FORWARD TO FROM NOW ON
TO INSIST THE PRICE IS MINE
EXPOSE THE HEART OF IT ALL
WITH MINERS' LUNGS ON EITHER SIDE
THE RIGHT THING I ALONE DECIDE
FOR YOU AND I
CALL IT PRIDE
I AM HIGH
TOO SMALL IN A WAY
I'M HIGH
YOU CRY
AND I DIE
OH
MY, MY, MY"
This song builds from a muffled lo-fi track into a full blown Rock Epic! With a great riff. Its like some of the tracks on Suitcase where you get 2 different versions of the same song in succession. Good song.
Sunday 24 February 2008
Cinnamon Flavored Skulls
Taken from "Suitcase 1" 2003
Lyrics Unknown
Crazy title. Drum sticks click. Lumbering tempo. Lumbering vocals. Shouting. All over quickly, thankfully.
Lyrics Unknown
Crazy title. Drum sticks click. Lumbering tempo. Lumbering vocals. Shouting. All over quickly, thankfully.
Saturday 23 February 2008
Zarkoff's Coming
Taken from "Suitcase 2" 2005
Lyrics Unknown
Zarkoff. The crazy scientist from Flash Gordon. Wonderfully played by Topol in the Cheesy 1980s Film. This song sounds like it was recorded by a mad man too. Some impassioned shouting in a muffled production. Has its moments, like the single chime of the final note.
Lyrics Unknown
Zarkoff. The crazy scientist from Flash Gordon. Wonderfully played by Topol in the Cheesy 1980s Film. This song sounds like it was recorded by a mad man too. Some impassioned shouting in a muffled production. Has its moments, like the single chime of the final note.
Back to Saturn X Radio Report
Taken from "Propeller" 1992
Lyrics Unknown
A collection of snippets from songs from an abondoned project. Many of these songs crop up on "King Shit and The Golden Boys". Hard to comment on a mish-mash and bits of songs. Fun to play spot the song though.
Lyrics Unknown
A collection of snippets from songs from an abondoned project. Many of these songs crop up on "King Shit and The Golden Boys". Hard to comment on a mish-mash and bits of songs. Fun to play spot the song though.
Gold (Demo)
Demo
An early demo version of the "From A Compound Eye" track. Recorded on a cheap deck live by the sounds. You can see the beginnings of this FACE track and how it began to take form. It's Gold Baby.
An early demo version of the "From A Compound Eye" track. Recorded on a cheap deck live by the sounds. You can see the beginnings of this FACE track and how it began to take form. It's Gold Baby.
White Car Creek
Taken from "Tower In The Fountain Of Sparks" 2001
"White as night
Black as day
Birds will sing you yesterday
born in to a colorform
the wave will bring you evermore
spring is here now"
Very 60s. Very Trippy. Very Short. Is that Bob singing? He sounds different. Oooo Phasing.
"White as night
Black as day
Birds will sing you yesterday
born in to a colorform
the wave will bring you evermore
spring is here now"
Very 60s. Very Trippy. Very Short. Is that Bob singing? He sounds different. Oooo Phasing.
Like I do
Taken from "Forever Since Breakfast" 1986
"In my life I've seen people rushing painfully
Trying to be happy -- but they're never happy
Pushing to clear a path, hurting without knowing
Like I do, like I do, like I do, like I do
Everybody wanting something, with no regard for anybody at all
Years go by and mistakes are repeated over
Until they're corrected -- but they're never corrected
In my life I've seen people rushing painfully
Like I do, like I do, like I do, like I do
[Everybody wanting something, with no regard for anybody at all]"
Love the bar-music/Spanish guitar intro with signs of how Bob and GBV will come to record a lot of their later work. Lo-Fi with the background overtaking the music at times. A lovely melody.
"In my life I've seen people rushing painfully
Trying to be happy -- but they're never happy
Pushing to clear a path, hurting without knowing
Like I do, like I do, like I do, like I do
Everybody wanting something, with no regard for anybody at all
Years go by and mistakes are repeated over
Until they're corrected -- but they're never corrected
In my life I've seen people rushing painfully
Like I do, like I do, like I do, like I do
[Everybody wanting something, with no regard for anybody at all]"
Love the bar-music/Spanish guitar intro with signs of how Bob and GBV will come to record a lot of their later work. Lo-Fi with the background overtaking the music at times. A lovely melody.
Monday 18 February 2008
Feathering Clueless (The Exotic Freebird)
Taken from "Tower In The Fountain Of Sparks" 2001
"The heavens convened
awfully well to do
feathering clueless if it were up to you
would you even care?
Or would you be aware
of the weatherman
stone with fruit
the twinkling housewife
she is, I swear
in despair
feathering clueless
look at the things
look up the things
look up the things
and I swear in no time
I will be
awfully well to do
if it were up to you
would you even care?"
A classic Pollard introduction to this song from Airport 5. Very poppy much in the vein of "Dayton, Ohio-19 Something And 5" with a hint of melancholy. Nice.
"The heavens convened
awfully well to do
feathering clueless if it were up to you
would you even care?
Or would you be aware
of the weatherman
stone with fruit
the twinkling housewife
she is, I swear
in despair
feathering clueless
look at the things
look up the things
look up the things
and I swear in no time
I will be
awfully well to do
if it were up to you
would you even care?"
A classic Pollard introduction to this song from Airport 5. Very poppy much in the vein of "Dayton, Ohio-19 Something And 5" with a hint of melancholy. Nice.
Sunday 17 February 2008
Beauty Of The Draft
Taken from "Blues and Boogie Shoes" 2006
Lyrics Unknown
Another fantastic Keene Brothers song. Full of verve and melody. Bob just sounds so happy and lost in the song with the Keene Brothers. I really hope there will be a new Keene Brothers album as this album rates as one of the best Bob albums in the whole in his career. Wonderful stuff.
Lyrics Unknown
Another fantastic Keene Brothers song. Full of verve and melody. Bob just sounds so happy and lost in the song with the Keene Brothers. I really hope there will be a new Keene Brothers album as this album rates as one of the best Bob albums in the whole in his career. Wonderful stuff.
Saturday 16 February 2008
Youth Leagues
Taken from "Coast To Coast Carpet Of Love" 2007
"I'M SITTING OUT - YOU'RE CALLING OUT FOR BALL
WELL I CAME OUT - MAYBE I SHOULD STAY
MISS THE GAME - NEVER HAD YOUR HANDS
DON'T MISS YOUR GAME - I NEVER WAS A FAN
LOOK NOW - SPITTIN' OUT YOUR MIND
I'M SITTIN' OUT - I'LL NEVER BE YOUR KIND
SITTIN' OUT - I'LL NEVER CROSS THAT LINE
SITTIN' OUT - I'VE NEVER PAID NO MIND
SITTIN' OUT - I'VE NEVER PAID NO MIND
LOOK AND TELL - HOW I MISSED THAT WORLD
PROUD ONES PLAY WITH NO WORRY
GOOD LUCK TO YOUR HEART
NO OPTIONS WITHSTAND DEVOUTNESS
RED STREAMERS RUN
WHERE BOYS STILL FIGHT WITH THEIR MIGHT
OUR CHANCE MAY DIE TONIGHT
MAKING HOME LIFE GLOOMY
EVERY DREAM THAT YOU'LL NEVER KNOW
EVERY UNDYING OPTIMIST
LOOKS IN YOUR HEART
THE GAMES ON YOUR MIND IMPRESSED
WHERE REASONS DIE BUT DESIRE REMAINS ALL THE WAY
BELIE INTUITION
THEY RUN OUT OF GAS AND THEY BURN A LOT
HAPPENS TO MOST BUT THEU LEARN A LOT
'TIL THEY'RE DEAD
NO MORE SAID
SAVE GOODNIGHT"
A chirpy little song from "Coast to Coast Carpet Of Love" with a joyful spirit, drums and some good vocal by Bob. The drums and guitar are great and the song almost turns into "Duelling Banjos" midway. I like this song.
"I'M SITTING OUT - YOU'RE CALLING OUT FOR BALL
WELL I CAME OUT - MAYBE I SHOULD STAY
MISS THE GAME - NEVER HAD YOUR HANDS
DON'T MISS YOUR GAME - I NEVER WAS A FAN
LOOK NOW - SPITTIN' OUT YOUR MIND
I'M SITTIN' OUT - I'LL NEVER BE YOUR KIND
SITTIN' OUT - I'LL NEVER CROSS THAT LINE
SITTIN' OUT - I'VE NEVER PAID NO MIND
SITTIN' OUT - I'VE NEVER PAID NO MIND
LOOK AND TELL - HOW I MISSED THAT WORLD
PROUD ONES PLAY WITH NO WORRY
GOOD LUCK TO YOUR HEART
NO OPTIONS WITHSTAND DEVOUTNESS
RED STREAMERS RUN
WHERE BOYS STILL FIGHT WITH THEIR MIGHT
OUR CHANCE MAY DIE TONIGHT
MAKING HOME LIFE GLOOMY
EVERY DREAM THAT YOU'LL NEVER KNOW
EVERY UNDYING OPTIMIST
LOOKS IN YOUR HEART
THE GAMES ON YOUR MIND IMPRESSED
WHERE REASONS DIE BUT DESIRE REMAINS ALL THE WAY
BELIE INTUITION
THEY RUN OUT OF GAS AND THEY BURN A LOT
HAPPENS TO MOST BUT THEU LEARN A LOT
'TIL THEY'RE DEAD
NO MORE SAID
SAVE GOODNIGHT"
A chirpy little song from "Coast to Coast Carpet Of Love" with a joyful spirit, drums and some good vocal by Bob. The drums and guitar are great and the song almost turns into "Duelling Banjos" midway. I like this song.
Red Hot Halos
Taken from "Calling Zero" 2002
"And sometimes
When it's "Look out below"
The people move too slow
Sometimes the people move too slow
Sometimes
They see and care
And sometimes wear
Red Hot Halos
And other times
When we get back
Everyone's sleeping until next time
They see and care
And sometimes wear
Red Hot Halos"
A very tuneful song by Bob and Mac. The Go Back Snowball album is overlooked or maligned by some fans but I quite like the simplcity of it all. Some good songs on here and this is an interesting one. Nice mixture of strummed guitar and keyboard. Nice.
"And sometimes
When it's "Look out below"
The people move too slow
Sometimes the people move too slow
Sometimes
They see and care
And sometimes wear
Red Hot Halos
And other times
When we get back
Everyone's sleeping until next time
They see and care
And sometimes wear
Red Hot Halos"
A very tuneful song by Bob and Mac. The Go Back Snowball album is overlooked or maligned by some fans but I quite like the simplcity of it all. Some good songs on here and this is an interesting one. Nice mixture of strummed guitar and keyboard. Nice.
The Tumblers
Take from "Devil Between My Toes" 1987
"sleephouse - not a sound - the world outside large sky-
losing ground - no words inside
lost hope brings not the tired eyes
one mistake - two mistake
don't mistake your mistake for my mistake
house pet chasing birds across
the earth big ground fading now - scope, span, girth"
Scope, Span, Girth. The sign of things to come. An early GBV song with a very gentle vocal and a "tumbling" drumbeat. Very pleasant. The Sound of drifting off to sleep.
"sleephouse - not a sound - the world outside large sky-
losing ground - no words inside
lost hope brings not the tired eyes
one mistake - two mistake
don't mistake your mistake for my mistake
house pet chasing birds across
the earth big ground fading now - scope, span, girth"
Scope, Span, Girth. The sign of things to come. An early GBV song with a very gentle vocal and a "tumbling" drumbeat. Very pleasant. The Sound of drifting off to sleep.
Chicken Blows
Taken from "Alien Lanes" 1995
"Chicken blows
I suppose we could have a girl or a boy
And I see what you mean
I'm not here to drink all the beer
In the fridge (oh, la la la)
In the room (oh)
In the house
In the place (oh, la la la)
That we both (oh)
So love
Can you sink to the depths (lots of "oh"ing)
I don't know
I don't even care
And our lives slip away
In the end we will probably reach
All the way (oh, la la la)
To the walls (oh)
over there
Have you flown? (oh, la la la)
Our courage (oh)
Is only a taste
And I'll get paid (ooh, ooh)
If you'll get laid (ooh, ooh)
It's our parade (ooh, ooh)"
Love this song. The wobbly vocals. The delicate Guitars. The clunks and atmosphere. The "oh, la la la" backing vocals. The saddest sounding song in the the world. What are Chicken Blows? A Classic.
"Chicken blows
I suppose we could have a girl or a boy
And I see what you mean
I'm not here to drink all the beer
In the fridge (oh, la la la)
In the room (oh)
In the house
In the place (oh, la la la)
That we both (oh)
So love
Can you sink to the depths (lots of "oh"ing)
I don't know
I don't even care
And our lives slip away
In the end we will probably reach
All the way (oh, la la la)
To the walls (oh)
over there
Have you flown? (oh, la la la)
Our courage (oh)
Is only a taste
And I'll get paid (ooh, ooh)
If you'll get laid (ooh, ooh)
It's our parade (ooh, ooh)"
Love this song. The wobbly vocals. The delicate Guitars. The clunks and atmosphere. The "oh, la la la" backing vocals. The saddest sounding song in the the world. What are Chicken Blows? A Classic.
Nerve Gas
Taken from "Suitcase 2" 2005
Lyrics Unknown
Strum, Strum, Strum. Wobbly Vocals. Strum, Strum, Strum. A throwaway scribble of a song.
Lyrics Unknown
Strum, Strum, Strum. Wobbly Vocals. Strum, Strum, Strum. A throwaway scribble of a song.
Surgeon Is Complete
Taken from "Mist King Urth" 2003
"My scenic meter
Where she gets tender
A few from her hand
As far as a flame thrower gets
Chasing black fingers
Legs and flowers
Hands won't sleep
Kink fooles people
They have not seen
Nor have they bridged
Any woolly temples
Any rocking formations
Not that I know of
Take it out now
Take it out now
Heal me!"
A really meaty funky Rock Guitar begins the Lifeguards song. Nice to see Bob doing some proper Rock style music with a good groove. Love the treacle like sticks in this song too. Then it goes Weird. He couldn’t resist the strange psychedelic bit in the middle. Good song.
"My scenic meter
Where she gets tender
A few from her hand
As far as a flame thrower gets
Chasing black fingers
Legs and flowers
Hands won't sleep
Kink fooles people
They have not seen
Nor have they bridged
Any woolly temples
Any rocking formations
Not that I know of
Take it out now
Take it out now
Heal me!"
A really meaty funky Rock Guitar begins the Lifeguards song. Nice to see Bob doing some proper Rock style music with a good groove. Love the treacle like sticks in this song too. Then it goes Weird. He couldn’t resist the strange psychedelic bit in the middle. Good song.
Sunday 10 February 2008
Amazed
Taken from "Electric Chairs: Professional Music By Nightwalker" 1999
Lyrics Unknown
Back to the wobbly world of Nightwalker. This is a very odd album. So Lo-Fi it almost hurts. As a whole its a big mess of semi-improvised doodlings. Much like Phantom Tollbooth its a tough album to sit through in one listening but strangely when broken down into individual tracks there is a the odd tune hidden in there and I am Amazed that "Amazed" sounds much better in isolation. Odd that.
Lyrics Unknown
Back to the wobbly world of Nightwalker. This is a very odd album. So Lo-Fi it almost hurts. As a whole its a big mess of semi-improvised doodlings. Much like Phantom Tollbooth its a tough album to sit through in one listening but strangely when broken down into individual tracks there is a the odd tune hidden in there and I am Amazed that "Amazed" sounds much better in isolation. Odd that.
Saturday 9 February 2008
Janus Pan
Taken from "Beard of Lightening" 2003
"JANUS PAN
A RIGHTEOUS LIFE IS WAITING
A GENTLE HEART’S CONDITIONS
A PROGRAMMED TRIED
BUT COULDN’T LET GO
OF THE OLD MAN’S PLAN
TO WALK ALONE
HE SAID "YOU HAVE NO
ONE TO HOLD YOUR HAND
WHEN YOU WALK THROUGH
THE GATES OF JANUS PAN"
JANUS PAN WALKS ALONE
JANUS PAN WALKS ALONE
JANUS PAN WALKS ALONE"
A usual proggy jazz fuelled Phantom Tollbooth track with slightly disconcerting rhythms and melodies. Its a nice change from the usual Bob sound but I find it hard to get my head round the changing tempos and the "all over the place" guitar parts. I think I prefer these PT tracks in isolation. Listening to Beard of Lightening as a whole is too much like hard work.
"JANUS PAN
A RIGHTEOUS LIFE IS WAITING
A GENTLE HEART’S CONDITIONS
A PROGRAMMED TRIED
BUT COULDN’T LET GO
OF THE OLD MAN’S PLAN
TO WALK ALONE
HE SAID "YOU HAVE NO
ONE TO HOLD YOUR HAND
WHEN YOU WALK THROUGH
THE GATES OF JANUS PAN"
JANUS PAN WALKS ALONE
JANUS PAN WALKS ALONE
JANUS PAN WALKS ALONE"
A usual proggy jazz fuelled Phantom Tollbooth track with slightly disconcerting rhythms and melodies. Its a nice change from the usual Bob sound but I find it hard to get my head round the changing tempos and the "all over the place" guitar parts. I think I prefer these PT tracks in isolation. Listening to Beard of Lightening as a whole is too much like hard work.
Friday 8 February 2008
Christian Animation Torch Carriers
Taken from "Universal Truths and Cycles" 2002
"Sometimes her mother will work with her
But There's nothing wrong with her
There's nothing wrong with her
There's nothing wrong
So such is life that it writes itself
Trying to right itself
But There's nothing wrong with it
There's nothing wrong
And every single day without much to say
These apparitions raise a toast to their kind
The people who are these things
Are not afraid with you
And caring must go with the wisdom
Of their selections
Never can touch their sign language
So is the cost of sound barriers
Even as though she's still searching
For a cloud with a silver lining
We pray for her
She's burning slow
Out on a mission's light
Christian animation torch carriers
This is a shallow hole but faith makes it safe
Hiding inside a grave with no sound
No witness to see
With or without you
Christian animation torch carriers
However will you learn their sign language
However will you try to hide
Within their eyes?
Within them in life?"
A spooky sounding start to this classic later period GBV. The main song is a choppy staccato style that would later become prevalent in his Solo work. Some nice keyboards and a good song with a Kick-Ass Chorus. The song eventually builds to a great swirling climax. Great stuff.
"Sometimes her mother will work with her
But There's nothing wrong with her
There's nothing wrong with her
There's nothing wrong
So such is life that it writes itself
Trying to right itself
But There's nothing wrong with it
There's nothing wrong
And every single day without much to say
These apparitions raise a toast to their kind
The people who are these things
Are not afraid with you
And caring must go with the wisdom
Of their selections
Never can touch their sign language
So is the cost of sound barriers
Even as though she's still searching
For a cloud with a silver lining
We pray for her
She's burning slow
Out on a mission's light
Christian animation torch carriers
This is a shallow hole but faith makes it safe
Hiding inside a grave with no sound
No witness to see
With or without you
Christian animation torch carriers
However will you learn their sign language
However will you try to hide
Within their eyes?
Within them in life?"
A spooky sounding start to this classic later period GBV. The main song is a choppy staccato style that would later become prevalent in his Solo work. Some nice keyboards and a good song with a Kick-Ass Chorus. The song eventually builds to a great swirling climax. Great stuff.
Thursday 7 February 2008
She Wants To Know
Taken from "Forever Since Breakfast" 1986
"She wants to know which way the wind blows
And which way to go, I'm never gonna tell her
And she wants to know why I'm been hiding myself out on the road alone
Where no one knows my number
She wants to know why I can't take it slow
And why I can't settle down, but I'm never gonna burn out
She wants to know why I've been lyin' to myself -- playing a loser's game
Fightin' a losin' battle
Far away, that's where I'll be
Shine a light down hard on me
[She wants to know which way the wind blows
And which way to go, I'm never gonna tell her
And she wants to know why I'm been hiding myself out on the road alone
Where no one knows my number]
[Far away, that's where I'll be
Shine a light down hard on me
Down hard on me
Down hard on me]"
An ancient blast from the formative days of Guided By Voices with a very REM sounding track. The chime of the guitars and melody could come straight from an IRS REM album. Good song though and showed the early potential of this band I have become to love.
"She wants to know which way the wind blows
And which way to go, I'm never gonna tell her
And she wants to know why I'm been hiding myself out on the road alone
Where no one knows my number
She wants to know why I can't take it slow
And why I can't settle down, but I'm never gonna burn out
She wants to know why I've been lyin' to myself -- playing a loser's game
Fightin' a losin' battle
Far away, that's where I'll be
Shine a light down hard on me
[She wants to know which way the wind blows
And which way to go, I'm never gonna tell her
And she wants to know why I'm been hiding myself out on the road alone
Where no one knows my number]
[Far away, that's where I'll be
Shine a light down hard on me
Down hard on me
Down hard on me]"
An ancient blast from the formative days of Guided By Voices with a very REM sounding track. The chime of the guitars and melody could come straight from an IRS REM album. Good song though and showed the early potential of this band I have become to love.
Wednesday 6 February 2008
Hit
Taken from "Alien Lanes" 1995
"This is called "the coming of age"
Coming into town with the giggling faggots
Starting blizzards and other weird weather patterns
We participate in the shit
Now that's a hit
Now that's a hit!"
Twenty odd seconds of anti-hit song. Manages to pack in more melody than most 3 minute pop songs. One of the old fashioned Guided By Voices snippet classics that really endeared me to the band.
"This is called "the coming of age"
Coming into town with the giggling faggots
Starting blizzards and other weird weather patterns
We participate in the shit
Now that's a hit
Now that's a hit!"
Twenty odd seconds of anti-hit song. Manages to pack in more melody than most 3 minute pop songs. One of the old fashioned Guided By Voices snippet classics that really endeared me to the band.
Bow Before Your Champion
Taken from "Pinball Mars" 2004
Lyrics Unknown
A small swirly track with scratching and repetition. I would imagine this song on drugs would be a total mind-f*ck.
Lyrics Unknown
A small swirly track with scratching and repetition. I would imagine this song on drugs would be a total mind-f*ck.
Monday 4 February 2008
Summer Is Set
Taken from "Sgt.Disco" 2007
"I crumbled
Through open star ways
Into the arms
Of a heartless widow
She stamped me as PERFECT TARGET
"Right on the side would be perfect", I said
For now I know my position
In her atmosphere of pure Herzog
And much better yet
Summer is set
For mouse games and tattoos
Somewhere in the Catskills
Summer is set
I can’t get my hands out of the icebox
Until they pass the litmus test
On her acid base
Competition in an arm’s length race
Perchance my final peccadillo
An avalanche of mumbo jumbo
Crashing down like Inno Mostro
Taken me lower into the labyrinths
Of a twisted child’s erector set
I have become the perfect pet
In the autumn of my life
And I’ll remember the sun
And all the shadows on the run
Did not apply to me
When I was young"
Very interesting instrumentation here. Love the keyboards and drums. Yet again a Circus Devils song that is not dark and brooding. This song almost builds to an Arcade Fire like blast of Organ. I like this song despite its changes in tempo and melody throughout. "In the Autumn of My Life..." crushing.
"I crumbled
Through open star ways
Into the arms
Of a heartless widow
She stamped me as PERFECT TARGET
"Right on the side would be perfect", I said
For now I know my position
In her atmosphere of pure Herzog
And much better yet
Summer is set
For mouse games and tattoos
Somewhere in the Catskills
Summer is set
I can’t get my hands out of the icebox
Until they pass the litmus test
On her acid base
Competition in an arm’s length race
Perchance my final peccadillo
An avalanche of mumbo jumbo
Crashing down like Inno Mostro
Taken me lower into the labyrinths
Of a twisted child’s erector set
I have become the perfect pet
In the autumn of my life
And I’ll remember the sun
And all the shadows on the run
Did not apply to me
When I was young"
Very interesting instrumentation here. Love the keyboards and drums. Yet again a Circus Devils song that is not dark and brooding. This song almost builds to an Arcade Fire like blast of Organ. I like this song despite its changes in tempo and melody throughout. "In the Autumn of My Life..." crushing.
Sunday 3 February 2008
Come Outside
Taken from "Silverfish Trivia" 2007
Instrumental
A short instrumental string piece that starts of the great Silverfish Trivia EP. A big departure from the usual Pollard stuff and really good to see Bob putting something different from just "Indie-Rock" on his releases. This and "Speak In Many Colors" bookend the Trivia EP perfectly.
Instrumental
A short instrumental string piece that starts of the great Silverfish Trivia EP. A big departure from the usual Pollard stuff and really good to see Bob putting something different from just "Indie-Rock" on his releases. This and "Speak In Many Colors" bookend the Trivia EP perfectly.
Saturday 2 February 2008
Tight Globes
Taken from "Speak Kindly Of Your Volunteer Fire Department" 1999
"Blonde machine in yellow spacecar
zip your legs in smooth rubber
You pass me and harass me
#1 is on the run
I saw you outta my cave
you didn’t see me
you never see me
Ugliest affairs in print
jumbled societies’ children
where’d you pop in?
Blonde machine....
All the glands that you shoot through
tight globes
international she goes out
fresh from the sweat factory I’m in love tonight -
perhaps we’ll be best friends for a week"
Another GBV classic in both Recorded and Live format. A song full of invention, chord changes and tempo changes but manages to hang together perfectly. Good stuff indeed. "Tight Globes"? Is he referring to a lovely pair of breasts? lol. Classic.
"Blonde machine in yellow spacecar
zip your legs in smooth rubber
You pass me and harass me
#1 is on the run
I saw you outta my cave
you didn’t see me
you never see me
Ugliest affairs in print
jumbled societies’ children
where’d you pop in?
Blonde machine....
All the glands that you shoot through
tight globes
international she goes out
fresh from the sweat factory I’m in love tonight -
perhaps we’ll be best friends for a week"
Another GBV classic in both Recorded and Live format. A song full of invention, chord changes and tempo changes but manages to hang together perfectly. Good stuff indeed. "Tight Globes"? Is he referring to a lovely pair of breasts? lol. Classic.
Fair Touching
Taken from "Ask Them" 1999
"Under the iron shop
The farewell ladies wink
Always promising no one to crush them
Always pockerfaced before bingo
Does it snap or just happen?
But a queen's prize awaits
She might rub her legs
But a queen's prize awaits
Currently fabulous
And perhaps at last the song that you sing
will have meaning"
The Original version that later crops up on Isolation Drills and is a definate Live favourite. This version is slighlty more shrill and less produced but is still a superb Guided By Voices song (though it does have a very REMish sound to it). Only GBV can create that feeling of joy of chiming guitars and languid bass. A great and classic GBV song.
"Under the iron shop
The farewell ladies wink
Always promising no one to crush them
Always pockerfaced before bingo
Does it snap or just happen?
But a queen's prize awaits
She might rub her legs
But a queen's prize awaits
Currently fabulous
And perhaps at last the song that you sing
will have meaning"
The Original version that later crops up on Isolation Drills and is a definate Live favourite. This version is slighlty more shrill and less produced but is still a superb Guided By Voices song (though it does have a very REMish sound to it). Only GBV can create that feeling of joy of chiming guitars and languid bass. A great and classic GBV song.
Friday 11 January 2008
I Am Produced
Taken from "Mag Earwig!" 1997
"I am pressed, printed, stomped
And strategically removed
I am everybody
Insane without innocence
I am trapped, tricked, packaged
And shipped out
I am produced
I am produced
Pressed, printed, stomped, tripped
Trapped, tricked, packaged, shipped..."
Is this Bobs song about the pressure of being on a major label? Or just mans place in society these days? A classic song with a great message. Quite dark but a belter when done Live especially.
"I am pressed, printed, stomped
And strategically removed
I am everybody
Insane without innocence
I am trapped, tricked, packaged
And shipped out
I am produced
I am produced
Pressed, printed, stomped, tripped
Trapped, tricked, packaged, shipped..."
Is this Bobs song about the pressure of being on a major label? Or just mans place in society these days? A classic song with a great message. Quite dark but a belter when done Live especially.
Thursday 10 January 2008
The Fink Swan (Swims Away)
Taken from "In Shop We Build Electric Chairs: Professional Music By Nightwalker" 1999
Lyrics Unknown
I fight Nightwalker stuff hard to get into. Its scrappy, mostly tuneless, recorded terribly, fuzzy, freeform. To be honest this is one of the more focused songs on this album. The melody, if there is one, goes all over the place, whilst a guitar is strummed to death in the background. A song. Not one of my favourite Pollard offerings. Harsh but even Rock God Bob has off songs/albums.
Lyrics Unknown
I fight Nightwalker stuff hard to get into. Its scrappy, mostly tuneless, recorded terribly, fuzzy, freeform. To be honest this is one of the more focused songs on this album. The melody, if there is one, goes all over the place, whilst a guitar is strummed to death in the background. A song. Not one of my favourite Pollard offerings. Harsh but even Rock God Bob has off songs/albums.
Wednesday 9 January 2008
Cyclops
Taken from "Devil Between My Toes" 1987
"Tom the happy pretender
One eye on the mend
One eye on his watch
His parents told him
Don't worry, Tom, there's plenty o' jobs in the big
city but with one eye only
It gets so hard
No depth perception
Cyclops
No depth perception
Cyclops
No depth perception
Cyclops
No depth perception"
I wonder where Bob gets his musical ideas from? Did the Cyclops lead to the no depth perception just through riffing through his song? Or did he have a thought one day about Depth perception and wrote Cyclops? This song is from the very early days of GBV and has that brittle production sound but is quite a mature song. "Bom" as the packing singing goes.
"Tom the happy pretender
One eye on the mend
One eye on his watch
His parents told him
Don't worry, Tom, there's plenty o' jobs in the big
city but with one eye only
It gets so hard
No depth perception
Cyclops
No depth perception
Cyclops
No depth perception
Cyclops
No depth perception"
I wonder where Bob gets his musical ideas from? Did the Cyclops lead to the no depth perception just through riffing through his song? Or did he have a thought one day about Depth perception and wrote Cyclops? This song is from the very early days of GBV and has that brittle production sound but is quite a mature song. "Bom" as the packing singing goes.
Tuesday 8 January 2008
Where I Come From
Taken from "Suitcase 1" 2003
"No sense in arguing
about something you believe in
Can't hope for knowledge, someones good advice
Don't have much money to lay around and grieve in
Better off just keep your mouth shut
Come on boys be nice
You can't hurt me now
I don't know how to cry
But I'm still young
I see the outstretched arms that beckon me
But I can't come
I hear the spoken words that make no sense
Where I come from
Keep everyone happy with county recreation
work 50 hours a week, take out frustrations on the field
put bars and churches on every other corner
nice the working conditions with much better yield
You can't hurt me now
I don't know how to cry
But I'm still young
I feel the stinging truth
The slaps me hard
And makes me numb
I eat the bitter fruit that grows on trees
Where I come from"
Love the gently military drumbeat that pervades that starts this song. This is very early GBV. Where they sounded like early REM. Very tuneful and wistful. This is a gem of a song and any fan of REM would love it. Whatever happened to REM? I remember their last album being crushingly dull and bland.
"No sense in arguing
about something you believe in
Can't hope for knowledge, someones good advice
Don't have much money to lay around and grieve in
Better off just keep your mouth shut
Come on boys be nice
You can't hurt me now
I don't know how to cry
But I'm still young
I see the outstretched arms that beckon me
But I can't come
I hear the spoken words that make no sense
Where I come from
Keep everyone happy with county recreation
work 50 hours a week, take out frustrations on the field
put bars and churches on every other corner
nice the working conditions with much better yield
You can't hurt me now
I don't know how to cry
But I'm still young
I feel the stinging truth
The slaps me hard
And makes me numb
I eat the bitter fruit that grows on trees
Where I come from"
Love the gently military drumbeat that pervades that starts this song. This is very early GBV. Where they sounded like early REM. Very tuneful and wistful. This is a gem of a song and any fan of REM would love it. Whatever happened to REM? I remember their last album being crushingly dull and bland.
Chance To Buy An Island
Taken from "Not In My Airforce" 1996
"Chance to buy an island - I'll sell it to you
It's not so bad
Check out the "For Sale" sign - It's for you
And hey, it's really nice
Can I offer you a find?
Can I oil your rusty mind?
If I tell you all I know
Can I pack it up and go?
And now you're ten years colder
At least you're alive
And that's not too bad
And you can't afford an island
Put it up for sale
And hey, don't think twice"
What mic does Bob use to get that sound? Like he is on the radio. It rocks. A quite slow moving but emotional sounding song from Mr Pollard here. The main riff reminds me of another more famous composition but I cant put my finger on it.
"Chance to buy an island - I'll sell it to you
It's not so bad
Check out the "For Sale" sign - It's for you
And hey, it's really nice
Can I offer you a find?
Can I oil your rusty mind?
If I tell you all I know
Can I pack it up and go?
And now you're ten years colder
At least you're alive
And that's not too bad
And you can't afford an island
Put it up for sale
And hey, don't think twice"
What mic does Bob use to get that sound? Like he is on the radio. It rocks. A quite slow moving but emotional sounding song from Mr Pollard here. The main riff reminds me of another more famous composition but I cant put my finger on it.
Sunday 6 January 2008
Picture Me Big Time
Taken from "Do The Collapse" 1999
Picture me big time
Up along the range
With this woman of mine
Driving me insane
"Parasites baby....
Don't you know
I can't lie to you
There was a band from Beantown
They drove the now sound
With a girl at the top of her lungs now
Yeah, a girl at the top of her lungs
She'd tell the people baby
The world will settle down for no one
I will deliver to you
To one another in every place
Who speak like brothers
And leave no trace
Of a world still divided by tongues
Yeah, the world's still divided by tongues
You want to keep it closer now,
don't you
But there are words that speak to everyone
Which I will deliver to you
I will deliver to you
I will deliver to you"
Quite a standard rock song from Bob and the Boys here. Perhaps this is one of those songs on "Do The Collapse" that have done with less production and would have sounded more edgy being a bit scratchy. Still not a bad song but a bit rock by the numbers.
Picture me big time
Up along the range
With this woman of mine
Driving me insane
"Parasites baby....
Don't you know
I can't lie to you
There was a band from Beantown
They drove the now sound
With a girl at the top of her lungs now
Yeah, a girl at the top of her lungs
She'd tell the people baby
The world will settle down for no one
I will deliver to you
To one another in every place
Who speak like brothers
And leave no trace
Of a world still divided by tongues
Yeah, the world's still divided by tongues
You want to keep it closer now,
don't you
But there are words that speak to everyone
Which I will deliver to you
I will deliver to you
I will deliver to you"
Quite a standard rock song from Bob and the Boys here. Perhaps this is one of those songs on "Do The Collapse" that have done with less production and would have sounded more edgy being a bit scratchy. Still not a bad song but a bit rock by the numbers.
Saturday 5 January 2008
Pattern Girl
Taken from "Sgt.Disco" 2007
Lyrics Unknown.
Circus Devils did an odd thing in 2007. They released a new album that wasn't permeated by dread and darkness. "Pattern Girl" is almost sweet song. Circus Devils Sweet, but still not as dark as many CD tracks. This is one of the stand out tracks from "Sgt.Disco" and good to see CD adding some light to their brooding skylines. Vocals go a bit weird at the end though.
Lyrics Unknown.
Circus Devils did an odd thing in 2007. They released a new album that wasn't permeated by dread and darkness. "Pattern Girl" is almost sweet song. Circus Devils Sweet, but still not as dark as many CD tracks. This is one of the stand out tracks from "Sgt.Disco" and good to see CD adding some light to their brooding skylines. Vocals go a bit weird at the end though.
Will You Show Me Your Gold?
Take from "Ask Them" 1999
"Outstretched and glazed
He politely insisted
An exact number of days
With no direct linkage
Will you show me your gold?
Are you in the direction?
Are you part of the salt?
Will you show me your gold?
No wonder boy
You fall through the floors
And you grow increasingly heavy
'Til you fall through the floors"
Some rate the Lexo and the Leapers album one of the best Pollard offshoot albums and it does has some fines tracks on it. Even the odd Classic. This is another slow and lumbering song with a powerful chorus. Good song.
"Outstretched and glazed
He politely insisted
An exact number of days
With no direct linkage
Will you show me your gold?
Are you in the direction?
Are you part of the salt?
Will you show me your gold?
No wonder boy
You fall through the floors
And you grow increasingly heavy
'Til you fall through the floors"
Some rate the Lexo and the Leapers album one of the best Pollard offshoot albums and it does has some fines tracks on it. Even the odd Classic. This is another slow and lumbering song with a powerful chorus. Good song.
Good For A Few Laughs
Taken from "Suitcase 1" 2003
"Driving northwards
Well-mapped cautious
All that we knew and ???
All night parties
Drinks and deliveries
Suddenly vanished
No more the explorer
Consider this
There was a dark side
Perhaps the real self
Never emerged
Gouge changed that (?)
All those powerful lines
Swim in a bottle
Now let's pay our last respects"
A delicate tap of cymbals begins this song in a mysterious manner before the guitar chimes in and Bob mumbles some hung over sounding and weary vocals. A song about the day after some drinking perhaps?
"Driving northwards
Well-mapped cautious
All that we knew and ???
All night parties
Drinks and deliveries
Suddenly vanished
No more the explorer
Consider this
There was a dark side
Perhaps the real self
Never emerged
Gouge changed that (?)
All those powerful lines
Swim in a bottle
Now let's pay our last respects"
A delicate tap of cymbals begins this song in a mysterious manner before the guitar chimes in and Bob mumbles some hung over sounding and weary vocals. A song about the day after some drinking perhaps?
Girl From The Sun
Taken from "Tonics And Twisted Chasers" 1997
"Girl from the sun
The color red
She melted my gun
She melted my head
She's got me
Talking to myself
I sit in restaurants
Forever and talk to myself
She's a girl from the sun
And she sings like a parrot
I'm a very nice fellow
She's right for me
And the full-colored kingdom
Of trickery and chaos
I like her tremendously
And to turn those objections
Into (beer without directions?)
I'll fight for the free
And people who live in glass houses should get stoned
Like the girl from the sun and me"
A song of two tempos. Quite dull sounding but has quite a cool riff to it. Very Rolling Stones.
"Girl from the sun
The color red
She melted my gun
She melted my head
She's got me
Talking to myself
I sit in restaurants
Forever and talk to myself
She's a girl from the sun
And she sings like a parrot
I'm a very nice fellow
She's right for me
And the full-colored kingdom
Of trickery and chaos
I like her tremendously
And to turn those objections
Into (beer without directions?)
I'll fight for the free
And people who live in glass houses should get stoned
Like the girl from the sun and me"
A song of two tempos. Quite dull sounding but has quite a cool riff to it. Very Rolling Stones.
Cruise
Taken from "Suitcase 1" 2003
"It runs throughout
The place of fate
She can keep you up to date
And her ???? to intervene
Coming closer in between you now
Between you now
And so the plan is up to you
But no one tells you what to do
And if they do you'll make a scene
Nothing will get in between you now
Between you now"
The bass at the start of this sort of sits halfway between Joy Division and some Jazz improv. Quite a slow throbbing song but not too bad. Has the classic GBV sound to it and overall is quite good.
"It runs throughout
The place of fate
She can keep you up to date
And her ???? to intervene
Coming closer in between you now
Between you now
And so the plan is up to you
But no one tells you what to do
And if they do you'll make a scene
Nothing will get in between you now
Between you now"
The bass at the start of this sort of sits halfway between Joy Division and some Jazz improv. Quite a slow throbbing song but not too bad. Has the classic GBV sound to it and overall is quite good.
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