The Pipe Dreams of Instant Prince Whippet EP
(2002, Fading Captain Series)
Guided by Voices 2002 EP featured a whopping 10 songs! FOR AN EP! That hadn't been done since.... well... since Guided by Voices released their 1996 EP Sunfish Holy Breakfast. While that EP contained the lo to mid-fi sounds of a spontaneous, mid-'90s scrappy, indie band, The Pipe Dreams Of Instant Prince Whippet is a solid, full band, fairly well produced gloomy progressive effort. Released after the slightly awkward LP Universal Truths And Cycles, this EP finds the band in even greater mysticism and dreary wizardry. Six of the songs on this EP were actually released as b-sides on four separate 7''s released for the Universal Truths... LP.
SIDE
A:
Visit
This Place- 4
Prog power-pop completed with swirling guitar crunch and an unsteady
hammering beat. Upwardly arranged choruses are big, and undeniably
catchy. A little bit on the “arena” rock side but this time
with a strong, twisting opening.
Swooping
Energies- 2
Terse and taught. Stilted verses, limp choruses sprinkled with
cock-rock attitude.
Keep
It Coming- 1
Wizard-pop. A ballad fit for this Prince Whippet fella, but not
necessarily for everyone else. Extremely irritating Pollard vocal, as
he melodically matches the exact guitar riff. Slow and gloomy
looses the race. Tuck me in a put me to bed.
Action
Speaks Volumes- 2
Long, drag-ass doom prog. Same repetitive post-punk riff plods
along like a dying train while reverb drenched Pollard vocals are
trying to soar to the high heavens but get lost. Psych guitar and
noise solos are kind of cool.
Stronger
Lizards- 2
Under a minute! Refreshing after the nearly 4 minute dirge of
“Actions Speaks Volumes.” BUT, this song isn’t refreshing at
all. It’s just short and really goes nowhere. Compact boredom.
The
Pipe Dreams of Instant Prince Whippet-
2
Mid-tempo, clean and light pop, with semi-creepy Pollard nasal
harmonies that are surreal and intriguing. Still, not much light at
the end of this tunnel.
Request
Pharmaceuticals- 2
Modulated Pollard vocals over buzzing repetitive stomp. No real
chorus, just a bunch of bleak hammering away. Dim and dull.
For
Liberty- 1
Pollard and electric guitar for under a minute. Welcome to
Dullsville- Population Pollard. Song is as exciting as its title.
Dig
Through My Window- 4
Slow, steady piano rocker, minus the piano. Guitar crunch and
great lead jangle play out in what melodically sounds like the
product of Pollard listening to “Golden Slumbers” one too many
times. No standout hook, no real moments of glory (sans the psych,
lead part at the end that makes it kind of worth hearing). BUT, this
is downright beautiful! After a trail of zzzzzz's leading from Dayton
over the Strait of Giboring, this one saves the day.Check out that
cello fade to boot!
Beg
For a Wheelbarrow- 2
Head-bobber in the most mundane sense of the term. Not too many
standing in line to beg for this wheelbarrow. Over long EP comes to a
close. Feels like a long night of drinking. Goodnight.
One of my least favorite GBV ep's. I was surprised when I first heard it, cos I thought Universal Truths... was a pretty solid album.
ReplyDeleteMy favourite GBV EP. It just flows so effortlessly form start to finish. A real cohesive effort.
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