Smothered In Hugs

Taken from "Bee Thousand" 1993

"In the summer that you came
there was something eating everyone
And the sunshine fund was low
We couldn't greet you with a simple hello
And the watchers of the flood were busy in their chambers
Making sure there was new blood to sustain their dying veins

But I believed you
No need for further questioning
I'm gonna leave with you
You can teach me all you know
Which way will we go now on our trip to taller windows
I really don't know now
I really don't know

In the winter that you left, there was business as usual
With the same old fears and frustrations
But the word got out, it was really such a pity
But the judges and the saints and the textbook committee
Decided you should be left out - not even mentioned

But I believed you
No need for further questioning
I'm gonna leave with you
You can teach me all you know
Which way will we go now on our trip to taller windows
I really don't know now
I really don't know"

ahhhhh. A GBV classic. A relentless throb of wonderful goodness. Downbeat and sad but uplifting and beautiful all at the same time. Who are the Textbook committee?

I'll Get Over It

Take from "The Grand Hour" 1993

"During the initiation
Please refrain from conversation
Leave your opinions at home
Put your cigarettes out
I've been thinking a lot
I might have difficulty
I've lost my insensity
But I'll get over it"

Lumpen beginning but 60s garage sounding lo-fi shorty from Bob & Co with crashing rolling drums and howled vocals.

Roofer's Union Fight Song

Taken from "Not In My Airforce" 1996

"For every wild weekend
The roofers cry
Under the underdog bullwhip

A "Nothing For Granted" requested
Abusing the signal
Went forth the student of mystery

Out there in the way - let's waste him
Show him the teaching tool
Only "No Ones" get through the gate
...not in my airforce"

Very 70's sounding guitar lick and some wailed Bob vocals. Bob loves planes doesnt he?

To Remake The Young Flyer

Taken from "Under The Bushes Under The Stars" 1996

"To remake the young flyer
yes we must define his high desire
stand erect and not detect
the anythings that we could not admire

from a long line of highmen
number one, is that the one to send?
to restore all the trial
this and then the national pride so proud

a question to the lunatic
does your day seem like night
does your world go to heaven?

gallant men dash forth
he takes his place
he ends the laughter of the slaughter daughters
takes his softness from his hand and goes

to remake the young flyer
yes we must define his high desire"

A wonderful Tobin Sprout song with a very distinctive guitar sound. Languid and beautiful from the classic Guided By Voices album.

Psych Threat

Taken from "Brown Submarine" 2008

Lyrics Unknown

Propulsive. A great Boston Spaceships song with a real sing along refrain. Really kicks in halfway through and launches into a very Sex Pistols like garage rock/punk melody. Bob is having fun. And so are we.

Lizard Food

Taken from "Ringworm Interiors" 2001

"Challenge your stamina
save your breath
challenge your weakness
this is a test
superior broadcasting
extend your feelers
who are we out there?
Up there or under?
The brush of death
lizard food grandfather smoked it"

The usual early Circus Devils rumbling and screeching sound with hollered vocals and a swirly tune. Not a favourite composition.

The Year Nobody Died

Taken from "Bad Football" 2007

""I can’t compete
With the flies in the street",
This she cried

Drank all the beer
Nothing left in the year nobody died

I made it to runaway
I’ll make it to Airway

Pushed to the hills
With your suicide pills
It’s all right

In Metro state
Saving time is impossible
I made it to runaway
I’ll make it to Airway

On last report most folks agreed it was a good year"

Quite a melancholy song from the usually upbeat Takeovers. Again, looking forward to old age and death. Beautiful song.

Solid Gold

Taken from "Bigger Trouble" 2005

Lyrics Unknown

A gentler song from the Hazzard Hotrods, whereas as the rest of Big/Bigger Trouble is a long boogie/jam this is probably the one that sounds most like traditional Pollard. A lovely melody to tug on the heart strings.

I Found The Black Mind

Taken from "Ataxia" 2008

Lyrics Unknown

A spooky Lynchian nightmare from Robert Pollard and the Circus Devils. Conjures up images when I listen to it; Twin Peaks. Dark swishing Trees. Twilight. Wonder where this darker side of Pollard comes from?

14 Cheerleader Coldfront

Taken from "Propeller" 1992

"14 cheerleader cold front
put your nose beyond
creeping boys in alleys
(find them when your gone?)
stick close to locker rooms
and (waving clothes to wear?)
you will hold them dear
to something (queer and stare?)

16 used companions
have nowhere to stay
give them access to parking spaces
no coin meters there"

Perfection. Nothing else to say really.

Atom Eyes

Taken from "Under The Bushes Under The Stars" 1998

"i'm dreaming and so it must be true
nothing else could look as good as you do
and so in a rocket go
up to where the astros flow into space
don't hold me down

atom eyes, don't worry your brain
take a break from everyday
sell the house, the car, the pain
(just be sure to live again)
atom eyes

i'm running away from your clues
atomizer sprinklers are spraying perfume
escape a lobotomy
there's a million heartstrings ready to fly
let's pull them now

atom eyes, don't worry your brain
take a break from everyday
sell the house, the car, the pain
(just be sure to live again)
atom eyes

atom eyes, don't worry your brain
take a break from everyday
sell the house, the car, the pain
(just be sure to live again)
atom eyes"

A classic from classic era-GBV. Sort and beautiful but full of punch and drive. The Beatles would have been proud to have written and sung this song. Good stuff Tobin. Wait no Pollard today?

Sylph

Taken from "The Planets Are Blasted" 2009

Lyics Unknown

Quite a slow song from The Boston Spaceships who usually mode of transport is speedy Garage Rock. This song would fit quite nicely on a Robert Pollard solo album. Its got a nice swingy sort of chorus and definitely makes you feel happy when listening to it. Again, a good song. In case you were wondering ; Sylph (also called sylphid) is a mythological creature in the Western tradition. The term originates in Paracelsus, who describes sylphs as invisible beings of the air, his elementals of air.

Star Peppered Wheatgerm

Taken from "Ringworm Interiors" 2001

"(so long) to sonar (goodbye) to confidence
star peppered wheat germ
dark colonies erratic constellations
compile your filthiness in a balled up corner
star peppered wheat germ like dust
and fragmented waiting so long"

3 Random Words. Is there a machine somewhere that comes up with these titles? A slow track that reminds me a bit of Rodan or Slint or something of that ilk. Tempo picks up a bit at the end. Not bad.

Hello Forever

Taken from "All That Is Holy" 2006

Lyrics Unknown

Im sure this turned into a "proper" song, or at least the backing did. Bob sort of makes "word-noises" over a synth led track. Good song.

Wig Stomper

Taken from "Turn To Red" 2006

Lyrics Unknown

A fuzzy and very lo-fi recording of Wig Stomper and lots of laughing. Is this just Bob leaving a strange and on the fly tune for a friend? A proper version appears on the Little Green Onion Man EP.

He's The Uncle

Taken from "Under The Bushes Under The Stars" 1996

"And now we see eye to eye
That another man's trash is collectible
And every weakness is correctible
Be leaving here quite soon now
Be pushing off to the moon now

And wow - I have had quite a time
And the mosh pit is filled
With memorabilia
And if you'd have stayed
They'd have killed ya
Be takin' you home anytime now
And I had a very nice time now

We are not so cold, are we?
They are not so bold, are they?
And I am getting old, aren't I?

We are not so cold, are we?
They are not so bold, are they?
And I am getting old, aren't I?

And how did you like my clothes?
I wore them so that they wouldn't dump us"

Bonus Track Alert! Great song with a very Paul McCartney vocal with great crunching production. For ages I thought this was on the Tigerbomb EP, I am incorrect. The chorus of "We are No So Sold Are We? They are not so bold, are they? And I am getting old, aren't I?" is jaw droppingly amazing. Thanks Bob.

The Beast Falls Down

Taken from "Gringo" 2009

Lyrics Unknown

Taken from "Gringo", the most accessible of all Circus Devils albums, this is a synth driven ballad with an uplifting feel but also with the hint of oddness and darkness that Circus Devils always have lurking in the background. Love the final two guitar strums. For some reason I think of the Devil during this song. Maybe that's just me.

The Candyland Riots

Taken from "Tonics And Twisted Chasers" 1997

"Over the flames
The plastic airplanes circled
And every ambulance harmonized
A glorious yellow smoke filled the eyes
Of the baby giants given astro-taffy
To keep them happy
While the war raged on
And the friendly army drove to beat the band
How did you escape
Your door was locked
The exit's blocked
Now I know
It's not so impossible
Now I know
We can't go back to where we were
We're back to where we'll be
ooooh
Back to where we were
we'll be"

A lumbering strum and a lovely wilting vocal from Bob and a fantastic melody make this a mini RP classic. Big question? What is an Astro-Taffy though?

I Certainly Hope Not

Taken from "Sandbox" 1987

"The tension was pretty tight
leave you hangin without a fight
Give it all up cause theres no living in
the world of Artic
no giving, acquitting (are you quitting)

{chorus}
I certainly hope not ohhh noooo(*3)
ohhh ohhhh

There's so many things people say
just to help give it away (but get in the way)
I won't try to figure things out
it's complicated so when doubt (I did)
I start crying
stop lying (trying)

{chorus}

Attracted to the light
Everything will be alright (Where everything with you - all right)
Attracted to the light
Everything will be alright (Where everything will be)
Attracted to the light
Everything will be alright"

A pub stomp with a killer chorus, very traditional rock sounding song from the early GBV archives that could have been recorded anywhere between the 60s and late 80s. Good song though not typical GBV fare.

Edison's Memos

Taken from "Choreographed Man Of War" 2001

"How many reach out to see
I'll hide it
And I stow it all away
You reach out to me
In a moment
Sustain
But I wanted to reach you
Elected to greet you now
Did you know?

This strange one gathers the sea
A harvest of clean thinking
What does she get
She owes it to me
At the moment
It explodes
Like an army on horses
Original forces, now

Whether or not you see them move
Distance discovers patterns
Coming up close but far away
But known to crush and crumble schools
We're new discovery channel's fools
Who burst in flames
Who cancel out
Who phase out

Under skies dark with alienation
We exchange love like radiation
Under skies dard with alienation
We exchange love like radiation

How many reach out to see
I'll hide it and
I'll stow it all away
You reach out to me in a moment
Sustain
But I wanted to reach you
But elected to greet you"

A Pollard classic. Such a great melody that again sounds exciting but sad and longing at the same time and some fantastic lyrics and singing. Great guitar part also. Top notch song.

Hound Has The Advantage

Taken from "We've Moved" 2008

Lyrics Unknown

Bob making trumpet noises? A typical Psycho and the Birds track. You have to be in the correct mind set to listen to Psycho and the Birds. Its rough ideas of songs. Some of the added instrumentation is interesting but the lyrics and melodies are just off the fly and border on mumbled madmens ramblings.

Impossible Octopus

Taken from "You Satisfy Me"

No lyrics

You Satisfy Me played backwards. I always used to enjoy the Stone Roses backwards songs as it sounded like new songs. This is just a gimmicky filler. Played the right way round its a great song.

Break My Leg

Taken from "Sgt.Disco" 2007

"Take me to the sun
And break my leg

Don’t expose the kind of thing
The timeless thing
The mindless thing

Look at me I’m still not out of bed
Your memory will soon betray
Your situation baby
Your memory of summer fades away

I want some

You wear the upper hand on me"

A song where Bob sounds very much like Eddie Vedder from Pearl Jam. A very downbeat song which gets darker and darker and more spooky. This song would probably scare small children.

Steeple Of Knives

Taken from "Waved Out" 1998

"I’m tired of you
This occasion rattled me a lot
We build our island towers high

Will it fall on me?
A steeple of knives
Caught in core emotions rising
Now our eyes have seen the hurt
Premonition/relapse
Below"

A propulsive rhythmic track that pretty much sums up a lot of later Pollard material. A cool riff with an explosive finish. Punk with a capital P(op)(ollard). Good song.

Lifetime For The Mavericks

Taken from "Calling Zero" 2002

"I am a dreamer
I'm this far away
You are a screamer
I hear you
This is tomorrow
And where will we stay
In a lifetime for the mavericks?

Was time for the jokers
But maybe too late
And now the punch line is stumbling
Who let them up here?
They're too young, you now
To witness this business

This is tomorrow
But maybe too late

I am a dreamer
This far away"

Some great crunchy fuzzed up guitar at the start of this collaboration between Mr Pollard and Mac McCaughan. Bob vocals sort of jump in and catch you unawares after the long intro. A lot of fans slate this album. Nothing wrong with it as far as I can tell.

I Would Be A Fish Tank

Taken from "The Butler Stands For All Of Us" 2008

Lyrics Unknown

A demo sounding acoustic track with a simple almost nursery rhyme like refrain. The imagery is very surreal as usual. Is this Bob jamming or did he write it? I imagine his days are full of ditties like this.