Lord Of The Birdcage
(2011, Guided by Voices Inc.)
The 2nd solo LP of 2011, following Space City Kicks, Pollard returned later in the year with a decent, but somewhat forgettable follow-up. For this next act, Lord Of The Birdcage, Pollard reportedly took a different approach to his song writing. The 12 tracks on the LP found their origins as poems which Pollard then constructed music around. An inserting approach, perhaps. Pollard, keepin' it fresh. Dropping the term "poems" repeatedly might give some out there Rollins-chills. No, Polalrd has not gone the way of a Jello Biafra box-set, and "poems" is not to imply Pollard does spoken-word under these. As a result of these "poems" with music fit around it, some phrasing and melodies seems rushed or crammed in at times. A plus to the whole outing, none of these songs are bottom of the barrel on this one. However, none really manage their claws into you on this easy-listening outing either.
SIDE A:
Smashed
Middle Finger-
3
Light and surreal for starters. Cozy niche of a song to shut
yourself off with. Vocals sound strained during the opening section.
Song kicks into full on rock song, but plays out fairly
awkwardly at times. Lyrics are terrible.
Aspersion-
4
Pollard still has a dynamic lead riff in him. Wisely
played over driving punk-pop. Fist-pumping, head bobbing, leg
kicking. Awesome, left-of-center drop-out and reentry with a
completely different song.
Dunce
Codex-
3
Sounds a bit like a Sebadoh song from Bakesale.
Darker, colder pop. Acoustically driven with electric leads. Sullen
but rewarding.
Garden
Smarm-
3
Bouncy, and poppy-punk riff played safely by producer, Todd Tobias. Fairly
toe-tapping. IN FACT, most toe-tapping one of the whole damn bunch, with decent lyrics.
Chorus is fairly flat, however.
You
Can’t Challenge Forward Progress-
3
Mid-tempo, slowly swirling poetic warmness. Grab a cup of hot
chocolate, drape an afghan over your lap, cause you're gettin' old, and listen to this guy.
In
a Circle-
4
Waltzy-schmaltzy meditated grandeur. Sounds pretty paltry and
laughable, but as this 4 and half minute waltz dances out, it somehow
becomes fairly addictive and saddening. Pretty damned beautiful.
You
Sold Me Quickly-
2
Stuttering, start stopper that’s one for the plopper. Here,
Tobias mucks it up, Tobias-style. Not an enjoyable listen.
The
Focus (Burning)-
2
If you’d pile drive yourself right into the meaning of “easy
listening,” this would be the pile of pillows you’d plunge
headfirst into. Nothing really happening here. Music seems to
swell, and go away, and little piddle in. Pollard sing-talks
his poetry throughout. Fade to white.
Ribbon
of Fat-
3
Ugggh. What a title. Mid-tempo, poppy, and deceptively
catchy. Pretty solid, enigmatic pop.
Silence
Before Violence-
2
Multi-sectioned detour of a song. Both rhythmically and lyrically sounds
like an old European folk song. Explodes into mid-tempo, big rock. Pollard’s lost on his melodic search. Violin-sounding synths come
in eventually. Fairly forgettable, and all over the place. But, remember kids. The title is good advice.
Holy
Fire-
3
Short, dark, weirdly inviting pop-rock, dragged through the
unforgiving black hole of the universe. Or just an off-the cuff
song that’s listenable.
Ash
Ript Telecopter-
3
Buzzing, punctuated guitar accents make the song. Boarders
between prog and cock rock, with indie, Sonic Youthian-guitar jangle
interludes. No real hook, but musically potent. Silly Uncle Bob
baritone vocals at the end are always a treat.
Man, I seriously rate Dunce Codex. One of his very best melancholic, restrained tracks. Just different enough to be a wee masterpiece.
ReplyDeleteTotally agree.
DeleteA friend of mine claims In A Circle is Pollard's best song. He's wrong, of course. It's not even the best song on this album - that would be Dunce Codex.
ReplyDelete'In a circle' is still a great tune.
DeleteNot exactly sure why but this is one of my favourite Bob solo albums. I just find it enjoyable and interesting all the way through (with the exception of "You Can't Challenge Forward Progress", which is terrible). The Todd T production and arrangements are pretty varied and subtle, there's none of the stodginess and blandness that ruins a lot of the Bob/Todd albums. Oh and "In a Circle" IS one of his best songs.
ReplyDelete