Heaven Beats Iowa EP (2021)

 Heaven Beats Iowa

(2021, Guided by Voices Inc.)

Originally, word that a project under the name Cub Scout Bowling Pins was casually dropped in a rare Pollard interview a few months prior to the release of GBV's Styles We Paid For. A few weeks later, a sneak peak track popped up in the GBV weekly steaming service, Hot Freaks. 

Following that, a few weeks of Cub Scout Bowling Pins radio-silence followed. Without warning, early one January day, the pre-orders were up on Rockathon Records, less than a month after SWPF's street release date. 

The 6 song 12 minute EP is a GBV collaboration consisting of the current line-up, seemingly pieced together by regular engineer Travis Harrison from what feels like a variety of different recording contributions by the band. This weirdo pop friendly quickie of a release is a much welcomed surprise in an already, and prolific-even-for-Pollard pool of recent GBV LPs over the past few years. 

Limited to 1000 CDs and blue 7''s, respectively. 

SIDE A:

Hobson's Beef-  3 A solid amalgamation of the pop meets rock aspect that runs through each track on the EP. This opener finds Pollard dipping in and out of tune with varying levels of tape hiss in the mix. Hooky, optimistic guitar lines carry this over drum stomp. Feels like the most patched together, if not progressive of the tracks on the EP. 

Gear Balloon Mouse Trap- 5 A melding of vintage early '90s Pollard crashing head on with Universal Truths... era GBV. A minute and a half crooner that calls back some nostalgia. Benefits from its brevity; a short one that packs an emotionally gratifying wallop.

Moon Camera- 4 A shadowy prog pop number bolstered by some marimba type backing. A creeping indie rock mystery that's subtly great. A 2 minute track that continues to surprise with each revisit.

SIDE B:

School School- 4  What a complete glorious mess. A melancholy, yet fist pumping guitar jangle punk pop anthem in just over a hair of a minute. The lyrics are complete repetitive nonsense, but delivered with a conviction that only adds to the power of this revelatory song.

Funnel Cake Museum- 3 After nearly a minute of airy breathable intro noise, this one takes a hard left into standard guitar stunted mid-tempo rocker. Feels like a Warp and Woof bonus track. No great shakes, but a wholly familiar, digestible nugget.  

Heaven Beats Iowa- 5 Released as a preview single track online before release, this closer holds the distinction of being an infectious number that you recognize as a good song, that only gets better with each listen. It sticks with you, that nearly annoying but necessary melody from the organ. Pollard sounds like he's got honey in his voice singing the ending. Keeps you flipping the record over for more.