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Hey Man, He's Guided By Voices Again!
Robert
Pollard Is Off
To Business By
Evan
Chase
Robert
Pollard Is Off to Business
(CD/LP) 
Personnel:
Robert
Pollard, Todd Tobias
Track
Listing
The
Original Heart
The
Blondes
1
Years Old
Gratification
to Concrete
No
One but I
Weatherman
and Skin Goddess (also a forthcoming EP)
Confessions
of a Teenage Jerk-Off
To
the Path!
Western
Centipede
Wealth
and Hell-Being
After
the now-legendary, myth-making years in the basement with a guy named
Tobin
(while
still teaching middle school Social Studies, no less) and Spin's review naming same
"Record
of The Year," some say it's all been downhill for Pollard and his
raving gangs of rockers.
And
how much ink has been spilled over the past decade-plus regarding
Guided By Voices
and
lead singer Robert Pollard's penchant for what he calls the three p's: pop, progressive,
psychedelia
--and
of course when talking about Dear Old Big Daddy King Shit Himself, the
sweet booze?
Can
we just say, a lot?
Nonetheless,
every now and then, Robert Pollard rewards his fans and new listeners
by
giving them exactly what they want: a solid Rock album (in the old-time
sense---think
"Who's
Next" and Pete Townsend's often-brilliant early solo work) chock full
of pop ditties meant to be
cranked
in the summertime while driving,
windows down, through your shitty,
wonderful suburban town.
"Robert
Pollard Is Off To Business" is that record this time around.
This
is the sound of Pollard and producer/bandmate
Todd Tobias having a whole hell of a lot of
fun
in the studio. Maybe it's the
launch of their own label, GBV Inc.,
that's reinvigorated the duo---
whatever
the reason, there's good reason to celebrate.Yes
the formula's pretty well set in stone
by
now, but so what? It's a formula
because it works.
Haters
will say Pollard keeps making the same record over-and-over, and
there's some
truth
in that, but not enough to
matter.
"Off
To Business" feels closest to late-era GBV jewels like “Isolation
Drills” as it's wholly comprised
which
is as good as almost anything on "Alien Lanes," and the same can be
said for
shit-hot
lead single "Gratification to
Concrete." Sure there are one or two clunkers like "Confessions of A Teenage Jerk-Off," but that's a small qualm in an otherwise sunny ride and view. Robert
Pollard knows what he's doing, and
"Robert
Pollard Is Off To Business" is a clear declaration of intent he'll stay
on his A-Game
throughout
the decade, and likely beyond into the gleaming rock n' roll sunset and
one day earn his
rightful
place in the Great Indie
Rock Hall of Fame. |