tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72508670231954474142024-03-13T22:26:29.049+01:00A Pollard A DayAn Attempt To Review Every SongXRayLexxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08594807537578401876noreply@blogger.comBlogger371125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7250867023195447414.post-19150776677788068112013-03-17T09:42:00.001+01:002013-03-17T09:42:30.758+01:00People Are LeavingTaken from "Waved Out" 1998<br />
<br />
<br />
"People are leaving<br />
In total frustration<br />
The throw up their hands<br />
People are leaving<br />
As I stomp into spring<br />
(that don’t mean a thing)<br />
<br />
So:<br />
The angels are making circles<br />
A gift to every naked fat baby<br />
But everyone’s leaving<br />
To look for a new place to dance<br />
<br />
And drilling the heart with sparrows<br />
We’ll try to get up from the ages<br />
And re-write the book of the pharaohs<br />
At least add a couple of pages<br />
And dance<br />
Before everyone leaves<br />
<br />
The servants are making a promise<br />
<br />
We’ll all rise above the depression<br />
The angels are making new circles<br />
A gift to every naked fat baby"<br />
<br />
Wonderful song that actually feels like two songs at once. A lovely melody and dual pollard vocals make this a classic full of melancholy.<br />
XRayLexxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08594807537578401876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7250867023195447414.post-12493082197146795752012-11-28T08:28:00.003+01:002012-11-28T08:28:52.038+01:00Bad and RareTaken from "Suitcase 1" 2003<br />
<br />
<br />
"Bad and rare<br />
Done your own hair<br />
All that lovely money<br />
Makes me want to stare<br />
??? and doctor<br />
Very good talker<br />
Excellence makes you bad and rare<br />
That's not fair<br />
More than a monkey<br />
Or an average bear<br />
All that lovely money<br />
Makes us bad and rare<br />
We like that..."<br />
<br />
This song reminds me of The Rolling Stones "Paint It Black" with that mystical eastern guitar sound. Feels like a jam over the repetitive riff. Interesting.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
XRayLexxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08594807537578401876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7250867023195447414.post-75112855512821641572012-11-28T08:24:00.002+01:002012-11-28T08:24:59.023+01:00Good Luck SailorTaken from "Not In My Airforce" 1996<br />
<br />
<br />
"I can't even save you<br />
I can't even let you know<br />
And no one can reach you<br />
<br />
And now no great philosophy prevails<br />
May the cold wind always ripple in your sails<br />
<br />
Good luck sailor<br />
Good luck sailor<br />
Good luck sailor"<br />
<br />
A very suitcase sounding track with an interesting melody and ends with multi-layered Bob vocals. Short, sweet and to the point.<br />
XRayLexxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08594807537578401876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7250867023195447414.post-90646085845692590982012-11-26T09:16:00.000+01:002012-11-26T09:16:19.262+01:00The Original HeartTaken from "Robert Pollard Is Off To Business" 2008<br />
<br />
"The years have gone by<br />
Without you<br />
Without me<br />
<br />
The years have gone by<br />
Without you<br />
Without me<br />
<br />
My generation is losing it bad<br />
All of the good things that we used to have<br />
All out of patience - don’t know where to start<br />
Got to get back the original heart<br />
<br />
The years have gone by<br />
Without you<br />
Without me<br />
<br />
The years have gone by<br />
Without you<br />
Without me<br />
<br />
More information is making me dead<br />
Nailpoints of contact to drive through my head<br />
Building me up as I'm falling apart<br />
Got to get back the original heart<br />
<br />
All my friends are working hard<br />
Trying to establish themselves<br />
In the heart<br />
To the heart<br />
<br />
They don't listen so loud<br />
Listen so loud<br />
Listen so loud<br />
Listen so loud<br />
Listen so loud<br />
Listen so loud<br />
Listen so loud<br />
Listen so loud"<br />
<br />
An upbeat and choppy sounding pop gem from "Robert Pollard Is Off To Business". The sound is very stuttering but this is still a great song.XRayLexxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08594807537578401876noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7250867023195447414.post-75992260180419352442011-07-03T11:04:00.001+01:002011-07-03T11:06:49.686+01:00On The TundraTaken from "Propeller" 1992<br /><br />"On the tundra<br />We went under<br />We're going under now<br />On the tundra<br />We went to vicious places<br />Of dark and punished faces<br />Couldn't shake it<br />Or outgrow it<br />??Swung hells?? get open now<br />Don't we know it<br />Cause with my second guessing<br />The subject for the testing<br /><br />Chorus: Look over our blunders<br />Our two-fisted wonders<br />The foxy wildest monster dial is<br />More peaceful than a human hammer<br />The great ??king tam?? transmissionaries<br />Evolving without (about) you<br />Dissolving without you<br />As you know<br />It's just too slow on the tundra<br /><br />And then one day<br />Maybe today<br />We'll justify the joke<br />Make it our day<br />And blow the total savings<br />To satisfy our cravings"<br /><br />Classic chugging early Guided By Voices with the sort of catchy tune that Bob can churn out whilst having a crap. A brilliant song. Fuzzy and warm.XRayLexxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08594807537578401876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7250867023195447414.post-79648963263314109462011-05-16T18:32:00.002+01:002011-05-16T18:35:14.633+01:00Teenage FBITaken from "Do The Collapse" 1999<br /><br />"Someone tell me why<br />I do the things<br />That I don't want to do?<br /><br />When you're around me<br />I'm somebody else<br /><br />Someone tell my why<br />I act like a fool<br />When things don't go my way<br />And you're around me?<br />I'm somebody else<br /><br />There is good reason I guess<br />Having it once gone to far<br />When you clean out the hive<br />Does it make you want to cry?<br />Are you still being followed<br />By the Teenage FBI<br />Someone tell me why"<br /><br />A proper hit pop rock song from the mind of Robert Pollard. It just shows with a bit of production Bob can write a Top 10 from another Dimension hit. A great song and famous for its connections to Buffy The Vampire Slayer though never actually appearing on the show.XRayLexxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08594807537578401876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7250867023195447414.post-86008101608037670462011-05-16T18:28:00.002+01:002011-05-16T18:31:44.203+01:00Do They Teach You The Chase?Taken from "Demons & Painkillers" 2003<br /><br />"Will the new suits replace me<br />I'm so worried you'll never see my face again<br />Cuz I can't stand the thought of not being involved<br />in you current disgrace<br />And at the oddlot do they teach you to chase?<br />And back at the factory will they laugh in my face<br />when they read all about it<br />The lacking racking slacking cracking<br />nagging bragging dragging etc..."<br /><br />An almost gothy or Sisters of Mercy type sound to the instrumentation but then Bobs vocals lift the song with great wordplay "lacking racking slacking cracking". Another gem.XRayLexxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08594807537578401876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7250867023195447414.post-61880757616122445582011-04-30T10:58:00.002+01:002011-04-30T11:00:27.450+01:00A Constant StrangleTaken from "Moses On A Snail" 2010<br /><br />Lyrics Unknown<br /><br />Taken from "Moses On A Snail" and a song that sums up the album quite well. A slow to mid-tempo track with an almost lumbering sound. A really good song that sticks in your head.XRayLexxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08594807537578401876noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7250867023195447414.post-34622088533096777132011-04-25T08:29:00.002+01:002011-04-25T08:31:53.539+01:00Heaven's GateTaken from "Blues and Boogie Shoes" 2006<br /><br />Lyrics Unknown<br /><br />The mighty power pop that is Robert Pollard and Tommy Keene as Keene Brothers. Another anthem and always nice to hear synths in a Bobby P song. There will never be too much singing at Heaven's Gate.XRayLexxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08594807537578401876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7250867023195447414.post-55827098281104196822011-04-25T08:23:00.002+01:002011-04-25T08:27:27.580+01:00PressurizedTaken from "Completed Soundtrack For The Tropic Of Nipples" 2002<br /><br />"yes, the fruits and spoils<br />of our good people<br />at peace with equality<br />vast<br />northern<br />neighborly<br />all the properties that call us home<br />from wherever our swollen feet<br />are mistreated<br />by uncompromising streets"<br /><br />Like standing in the next room when a band is playing live. Fuzzy. Distored. Dulled. Antler are too weird for me.XRayLexxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08594807537578401876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7250867023195447414.post-32441049103943888142011-04-25T08:20:00.003+01:002011-04-25T08:23:49.524+01:00Zero FixTaken from "Brown Submarine" 2008<br /><br />Lyrics Unknown<br /><br />Classic Boston Spaceships sound. Built to high kick and punch the air to and a driving almost punk rhythm. Great song from a great Pollard Project. Features the most inhuman scream ever recorded.XRayLexxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08594807537578401876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7250867023195447414.post-27910059029341760832011-04-25T08:16:00.002+01:002011-04-25T08:19:42.667+01:00I Shot A JezebelTaken from "Suitcase 3", 2009<br /><br />Lyrics Unknown<br /><br />Has the feels of an improvised jam. Its always interesting to hear the early stages of the song writing process. Bob sings with a lot of passion on this one.XRayLexxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08594807537578401876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7250867023195447414.post-19182069076505210882011-03-05T09:41:00.002+01:002011-03-05T09:44:56.086+01:00SabotageTaken from "Bigger Trouble" 2005<br /><br />"I never ever hear you say<br />I remember when we used to love<br />You did me wrong, baby<br />I have you now<br />It's sabotage<br />You know it's the work I love<br /><br />She tried to take me to her world<br />I don't know why you tell me now<br />If this is everything you loved<br />It's sabotage<br />Baby that's the worst kind of love<br /><br />Well sabotage is a thing I've thought about<br />Your sabotage is a thing I want to know<br />I don't wanna see you<br />I just don't wanna see you baby<br /><br />I have a lot of things to say<br />You don't want to tell me now<br />It's sabotage<br />I have a lot for you<br />It's sabotage<br />I gotta lot for you<br /><br />You know what I'm talking about<br />You heard a lot of people talking about you baby<br />You heard a lot of people talking about you baby<br />Sabotage<br />Yeah that's sabotage<br /><br />You told me lies baby<br />??? words are going round<br />It's happy when I'm up<br />You hurt me when I'm down<br />It's sabotage<br />We got a lot of words are going round<br /><br />(Play that sad blues song good for me maestro)<br />(Blood curdling howl)<br />Ooh, sabotage, sabotage, sabotage, sabotage"<br /><br />Mr Pollard dips his toe into the land of Blues. This is a moody lo-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">fi</span> pieces that could have been recorded by anyone from an old Blue musician to Joe <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Cocker</span>. An interesting direction.XRayLexxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08594807537578401876noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7250867023195447414.post-47586793235008627052010-11-01T09:12:00.002+01:002010-11-01T09:14:13.934+01:00Johnny OptimistTaken from "Elephant Jokes" 2009<br /><br />Lyrics Unknown<br /><br />A modern Robert Pollard classic with a great guitar hook and hop about and kick the air vocals. You cannot help but smile when you hear this track. It has funny lyrics and is just basically a happy song. Great.XRayLexxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08594807537578401876noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7250867023195447414.post-87390788049260143422010-11-01T09:07:00.002+01:002010-11-01T09:10:17.476+01:00Bad Baby BlueTaken from "Gringo" 2009<br /><br />"Bad Baby Blue<br />We'll I've been lachrymose too<br />Bad baby blues<br />When it's not up to youse yeah<br />Bad Baby Blue<br />Got me talkin' to mountains<br />Bad Baby Blue<br /><br />Ram your fists down through your ripped out rotten shirt<br />Back alive I'm feeling bad enough to kill<br />Spare the seasons of the winters in your soul<br />Name the reasons, please<br />And Bad Baby Blue here's to lookin' at you<br />Bad Baby Blue so very vile I'm with you<br />I found it so hard to listen to you<br />Bad Baby Blue you tell me what you laugh about<br />Bad Baby Blue you tell me when you cry<br /><br />I wanna kiss my television when you're on<br />Count your angels in the suitcase of your heart<br />Angels sitting in your cafeteria mind<br />You're a bad baby"<br /><br />Spooky. This track feels slow and discordant but with a punching Vocal. Circus Devils are there to mess with your ears.XRayLexxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08594807537578401876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7250867023195447414.post-26930381726555582772010-11-01T08:48:00.002+01:002010-11-01T08:58:55.048+01:00Mag Earwig!Taken from "Mag Earwig!" 1997<br /><br />"Blessed is the way to a man's heart <br />Quite so even out of dreadlock <br />But the bastard of an ex-warhorse kicks <br />And I smiled like an electric child"<br /><br />Bob does an impression of a Baby crying. Reminds me a lot of the classic Bee Thousand/Bushes/Lanes era. A fun 40 seconds.XRayLexxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08594807537578401876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7250867023195447414.post-71240603553319004032010-07-13T19:43:00.002+01:002010-07-13T19:45:57.212+01:00Cool Off Kid KilowattTaken from "Vampire On Titus" 1993<br /><br />"Combustions, man--yeah, that's where we live<br />We're starving for the season<br />Jonesin' for a reason<br />Isn't it interesting? Isn't it odd?<br />Picked to finish last<br />I will speed my way past<br />Like a psychodrama, like a skeleton man"<br /><br />Is one of the instruments on this song someone blowing onto the top of a beer bottle? I'm beginning to hear the early formations of Bee Thousand like melodies here.XRayLexxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08594807537578401876noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7250867023195447414.post-309954164137306862010-07-13T19:39:00.002+01:002010-07-13T19:42:29.431+01:00After The Quake (Let's Bake A Cake)Taken from "Suitcase 3" 2009<br /><br />Lyrics Unknown<br /><br />A stream of consciousness jingly jangly acoustic number with some crazy lyrics. Funny stuff.XRayLexxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08594807537578401876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7250867023195447414.post-27907306646723092822010-07-11T09:04:00.002+01:002010-07-11T09:07:59.738+01:00Another Man's BloodTaken from "Superman Was A Rocker" 2008<br /><br />"Working and slaving<br />for another man's blood<br />Working to save up<br />For another man's blood<br />Build up a future<br />For another man's blood<br />Working to save up<br />For another man's blood<br /><br />It's good for the blood<br />Of another man<br /><br />It's good for the future<br />Of another man's blood<br /><br />Blood and bondage<br />And future<br />Saving<br />Not living<br />Slaying<br />Not giving<br />Not given<br />Forgiven<br />Not giving<br /><br />Working and slaving<br />For another man's blood<br /><br />It's good for the blood<br /><br />It's good for the blood<br />of another man"<br /><br />Dark and Grinding with muffled and spooky vocals. I'm not a massive fan of some of Mr Pollards experimental songs and this is certainly not one of my favourite songs. Again, a song where I'm sure the lyrics turn up in a "proper" song.XRayLexxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08594807537578401876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7250867023195447414.post-56480373620554400142010-07-10T11:17:00.002+01:002010-07-10T11:20:51.335+01:00Bomb In The Bee-HiveTaken from "Mag Earwig" 1997<br /><br />"Here I go around the blame <br />Here I go with hand over flame <br />Down on the floor at 9:00 <br />A scene not fully recognized <br />At precisely 9:00 <br />Here I go with clapping hands <br />Here I go with "still no plans" <br />Illuminate the mystery <br />The film is not for view <br />The film is not for you."<br /><br />Good song from Mag Earwig but not one of Bobs best. Sort of middle era, middle of the road Bob and doesnt really build to its potential. Lovely thrashy ending though with some great guitars and drum rolls.XRayLexxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08594807537578401876noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7250867023195447414.post-32645965842842465572010-07-09T08:47:00.001+01:002010-07-09T08:48:51.309+01:00Each Is Good In His Own HouseTaken from "Moses On A Snail" 2010<br /><br />Lyrics Unknown<br /><br />A standout track from the 2010 Robert Pollard Opus "Moses On A Snail". Deceptively simple and achingly beautiful song. Robert Pollard can capture a certain whimsical mood like no other. The lyrics make sense yet make no sense whatsoever but get under your skin. Wonderful.XRayLexxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08594807537578401876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7250867023195447414.post-24381837037711012802010-07-09T08:41:00.003+01:002010-07-09T08:49:07.314+01:00The Lodger Carried A GunTaken from "Suitcase 2" 2005<br /><br />Lyrics Unknown<br /><br />A gentle rustic track. A Pretty song that sounds a bit early REM (obvious cheap parallel). Beautiful.XRayLexxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08594807537578401876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7250867023195447414.post-55433787063017309502010-02-07T09:09:00.002+01:002010-02-07T09:11:48.775+01:00I Share A RhythmTaken from "Suitcase 3" 2009<br /><br />Lyrics Unknown<br /><br />A quickly strummed track, stuck together with sellotape and nails. I'm sure Bob is freestyling as he goes along, trying to get the sound right, to get some phonetic connection to the "real" song that will come later after a little work.XRayLexxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08594807537578401876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7250867023195447414.post-19547083950518507772010-02-07T09:06:00.002+01:002010-02-07T09:09:08.982+01:00A Farewell To ArmsTaken from "Suitcase 1" 2003<br /><br />"A farewell to arms<br />A man with his charms<br />???<br />???<br /><br />You can die if you want to<br />You can live in a penthouse ???<br />??? <br /><br />A farewell to arms<br />A jacket in with his charms<br />Another man with a ???<br />A farewell to arms<br /><br />Every boy ???<br /><br />A farewell to arms..."<br /><br />Isnt this a Hazzard Hotrods songs? My Pollardian mind is reaching here. Muffled vocals over a slinky groove. Words are not clear but this is song has a fantastic feel to it. An enigma.XRayLexxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08594807537578401876noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7250867023195447414.post-59150055687434534532010-02-07T09:00:00.002+01:002010-02-07T09:04:27.546+01:00Volcano DiversTaken from "Fast Japanese Spin Cycle" 1994<br /><br />"Volcano divers<br />Volcano divers<br />You got a lot to say<br />But hey don't say it<br />So much reported and<br />So much distorted<br />Divers<br />Volcano divers"<br /><br />Now I've heard of some Extreme sports.... Great classic sounding GBV. Simple but brilliant sound with a screeching guitar that mysteriously appears halfway. Short and sweet.XRayLexxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08594807537578401876noreply@blogger.com0