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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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".

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.