Crickets: Best Of The Fading Captain Series 1999-2007

Crickets: Best Of The Fading Captain Series 1999-20007

(2007, Fading Captain Series)

Crickets was a compilation of Pollard related bands released as the final offering from Pollard's own Fading Captain Series label. It was the 44th release on the label, spanning 8 years. The double disc collection was available on CD only, containing 56 tracks (7 of those were previously unreleased, and exclusive to the Crickets collection).  

The following track is one of the few official Freedom Cruise releases.  The other's being the split 7'' w/ Nightwalker and the inclusion of the official version of "Sensational Gravity Boy" on the Red Hot and Bothered... compilation. 




Sensational Gravity Boy [Refraze version]-  5 Slightly faster, muted vocals, sharper snare snaps, no organ, no Deal sisters.  Basically, a mid-fi demo that could have fit perfectly on UTBUTS.  Still, beyond amazing. If you like your“versions” on the raw side, this one's for you.

Red Hot and Bothered: The Indie Rock Guide To Dating comp. (1995)

Red Hot And Bothered: The Indie Rock Guide TO Dating comp.

(1995, Kinetic Records)

A nifty Compilation released in 1995, this collection contains an exclusive track from Pollard as Freedom Cruise, one of three Freedom Cruise appearances on record. Additionally, the comp. includes tracks from Built to Spill, Folk Implosion, Noise Addict, The Verlaines, East River Pipe, among others.

Sensational Gravity Boy- 5  What a great hidden gem from ‘95 featuring the Deal sisters on backing harmonies. Mid-tempo, airy, beyond catchy in almost every sense. There’s even a cool organ part floating around in the background! Classic. 

Freedom Cruise/Nightwalker split 7''

Freedom Cruise/Nightwalker split 7''

(1994, Simple Solution Records)

One of the few split releases that Pollard has released alongside one of his other projects, this slab of wax saw the light of day just 4 months prior to the release of Bee Thousand.  This split between Freedom Cruise and Nightwalker is a bizarre pairing of basement recordings with different Pollard and the gang "bands."  The original pressing was limited to 1000, with a repress of another 1000 following soon after.

The following is a review of the Freedom Cruise side. The Nightwalker side can be read here.

Side A:

Freedom Cruise:

Cruise- 3 Ominous, bass plodding into over-blown downstrokes. Monotone, haunting melodies from Pollard. Song comes complete with ripping, eerie solo. Short and potent fuzz. Additionally, for the completests, an alternate version appears on GBV's Disc 3 of Suitcase.

Side B:

Nightwalker
Lucifer's Arching Revolver- You can read the review of this side here.

Brown Submarine (2008)

Brown Submarine

(2008, Guided by Voices Inc.)

2008 saw the debut of Robert Pollard's new "band."  I saw band, because it marked the first time that one of his side-projects hit the ground running with not only a solid LP, but intent to tour.  Boston Spaceships was comprised of Pollard, Chris Slusarenko (GBV, The Takeovers), and John Moen (Decemberists).  Slusarenko played all the instruments, with Moen on drums, in Portland, OR.  The tracks were shipped over to Ohio, where Pollard added lyrics and vocal melodies.  The debut was met with general critical praise up on its release.  In the midst of spotty Pollard solo material, and hay-wire side projects, Brown Submarine was a welcomed listen.

 

SIDE A:

Winston’s Atomic Bird- 4 Classic late period GBV shines here. Angular arena rock status, with all the surreal lyricism, and sly hooks of some classic memories from the period, something that had been absent from much of the side-project output up until this point.

Brown Submarine-  3 Dark and foreboding. Also, sneakily catchy with its two time harmony over the 1 minute plus song.

You Satisfy Me- 4 Fairly average verses, with great guitar hooks, and ad nauseaum pop ending following said guitar line. A little reminiscent of Isolation Drills material, but so again so refreshing to hear here.

Ate It Twice-  4 Big acoustic sounds lead into enjoyably guilty choruses that are pumped full of believable attitude.

Two Girl Area- 4  More big acoustics with electric leads popping in and out. On the whole, a very poppy song with some awkwardly laid out vocal melodies. On the whole though, airy and enjoyable.

North 11 AM- 2 Downwardly depressing, plodding song, that makes an attempt at the end to pick it up a bit, but ultimately continues on it’s depressed trek across the grooves.  The Weakest track of the album thus far.

Zero Fix- 2 Buzzing, down-strokes over pounding drums. Cool, hard-rock guitar riff but not much else to hang your hat on.

SIDE B:

Psych Threat-  3 Some pretty poor choruses, but damn great verses? Huh.  Choruses sound like a annoying Buzzcocks chorus, repeated over and over, but the verses are just too good. 

Andy Playboy- 4 Short, whimsical number that’s shamelessly light and catchy.

Rat Trap- 2 Getting a bit silly here with this damn Rat Trap business.  High energy rock littered with big accents, but some damn silly Pollard melodies that he takes one step too far. I am, however, digging that moody piano that creeps into the mix toward the end.

Soggy Beavers-  3 Ok. Yes, this song is called “Soggy Beavers.” Can a song loose merit for it’s terrible douche-chilling title? Unfortunately, the song’s not much to write home about either. Easy listening pop, with out-of-tune vocals.  It’s okay then, that this song is called “Soggy Beavers,” one guesses.

Ready to Pop­- 4  Bright, and brittle guitars over bouncy Kinks-like basslines. Great, short lazy choruses that stick too easily. Pollard’s vocals boarder on the ridiculous in sections, but manages to keep it together.

Still in Rome- 2 Baritone Uncle Bob vocals over proggy guitar effects. Some musical explosions, some string-instruments scrape in at one point. Let down penultimate track.

Go for the Exit- 5 The best saved for last. After an album of the most promising side-project tracks in a while, this closer is vintage mid-90s GBV pop that fits snuggly on any indie-pop mix-tape, Pollard related or otherwise.

Life Starts Here (2002)

Life Starts Here

(Fading Captain Series, 2002)

The 2nd, and to date, final Airport 5 record hit the world with a shrug in 2002. All of the bright spots the might have shone through in the debut pretty much fizzle upon impact here. Again, the powerhouse GBV combo of Tobin Sprout and Robert Pollard teamed up for another go round of home recorded tunes. Tobin Sprout recorded the music in Lealand, Michigan while Pollard recorded vocals in Ohio. Unfortunately, this LP is essentially one drab outing from the two both musically and vocally. Following this LP, the Airport 5 ship was permanently grounded. Flying pun!

SIDE A:

Intro- 2 Dark, bouncy piano intro with Pollard’s surreal, ominous vocals on top. Opener mood track, but not much else.

We’re in the Business­ - 4 The surreal intro doesn’t lead into an equally weird track, but DOES lead into an airy East River Pipe sounding rendition of lofty bedroom pop.  Some poor, out-of-tune singing by Pollard hurts a bit, but an overall standout

Yellow Wife No. 5- 4 Cold, wintry pop track with simple, melodic hooks. You can almost see your breath while listening to this distant track.

Wrong Drama Addiction (…And Life Starts Here…)-  1 Repetitive vocal riff of “And
 life starts herrrerrerer…), over and over again. Hypnotic, for sure. Oddly soothing even.  Yea.  But at 7 interminable minutes in the middle of the album, it is to say the least, daunting. 3 minutes of recorded rain and muddling around at the end.

However Young They Are- 2 Adult contemporary stuff that sounds like it should be playing in a documentary about the saving of the rain forest or something.  Hackneyed percussion, and far too LiteFM.

The Dawntrust Guarantee- 1  Bad robotic pulsating noises, and modulated vocals over one plus minutes of junk noise. No thanks.

SIDE B:

Forever Since- 2 Light track.  Upfront vocals in desperate need of a touch of reverb, and feathery strums leading the way behind it.  Not much of note here.

Impression of a Leg- 3  One of the catchiest vocal hooks on this album, even if Pollard doesn’t always seem to be singing with the muted music in the background.  He seems to be off on his own melodic trip, but no matter.

How Brown?- 2 Wire thin guitar lines, steadily holding it together with automated hi-hat hits buried underneath Pollard crooning, and a rather epic GBV sounding chorus. The song, however is about 2 minutes longer than necessary.  

Natives Approach the Plane­- 1  Kill me. Repeat over and over on top of crappy, dated music released 10 years after it sounds dated.

I Can’t Freeze Anymore- 1 Another cold sounding robotic track. Sounds like it’s played from inside a frigid factory in outer space. You know, where all the music comes from? Pollard can’t do much with this since the music’s so damn bad.

Out in the World- 3 Silly blips and bloops, but a great vocal performance saves this song. Somehow becomes catchy, and a strange closer to a cold, dull album.

Tower In The Fountain Of Sparks (2001)

Tower In The Fountain Of Sparks

(Fading Captain Series, 2001)

In the current 'classic" line-up reunion of GBV, this meeting of the minds might not have meant so much .However, in 2001, 4 years removed from the classic line-up split, Tobin Sprout and Robert Pollard collaborating on fresh tunes was an indie Lennon/McCartney kick in the indie wisdom tooth. In 1997, Pollard reportedly kicked Tobin Sprout out of Guided by Voices (along with the rest of the line-up). The truth being, Tobin Sprout moved to Michigan and thus ended the era.

SO, the formation of Airport 5 brought upon much speculation of past gems lost. After all, this was the songwriting duo that collaborated on such classics as "14 Cheerleader Coldfront" for christsakes. Unfortunately, the packaging was flashier than the tunes. Airport 5 never lives up to the hype on paper, nor does it live up to much of anything in the overall picture. Still, for the hold-on-hopers  out there, of the two LPs, Tower In The Fountain Of Sparks is the winner. 

SIDE A:

Burns Carpenter, Man of Science-  4 Very similar music track to “Dayton Ohio 19-Something and 5.”  Relaxed tempo with great lead part.  Bedroom melodies on the chorus after off-kiletered verses.  Killer home-recorded track. A promising start to a pairing of the giants of GBV.

Total Exposure- 5 Acoustic guitar with melodic bass-line. Sparse like most of the other Airport 5 stuff. This track is a slow-burner, but can be a soul-burner after repeated listens. Insanely melodic and uplifting track. Classic GBV if pounded out in a live setting, but more pensive here.

Subatomic Rain- 2  Dark and ‘80s metal sounding. A moody and dull head trip/ache.

One More- 3 Mid-fi, mid-tempo, lolly-gagging expo with Pollard getting a little wild with the title of this song.  ONE MORE!

Mission Experiences- 1 Short, dull, and drab. Life's short. Don't waste it, kids!

The Cost of Shipping Cattle- 3 Heady spoken-word piece over pulsating guitar tremolo and ambient bass lines. A total mood piece that’s great it you hang with it. Don’t use this as any kind of introductory piece for anyone, just own personal enjoyment. And don't operate heavy machinery.

Circle of Trim- 3 Spiraling guitar jangle with haunting vocals by a tuneful Uncle Bob. Pretty and affecting.

SIDE B:

War & Wedding- 4 Great, lounge-in-your recliner vocal hook. More spiraling, guitar reverb! Keep it comin'. It's workin'. It's alive. I'm dead.

Stifled Man Casino- 5 GBV material from the slide melodic bass lines, chorus that kills, but backed by the sparse guitar crackle of Airport 5. Most familiar territory on this Airport 5 release in relation to classic Pollard-related material. It's goddamn good.

Up the Nails- 4 Acoustic led track with melancholy leads. Mid-tempo and one of the subtly better songs on the LP. This one grows on you over time, and is worth the repeats.

Tomorrow You May Rise- 1 Short and dull mood piece. Forgettable.  What was I saying?

Feathering Clueless (The Exotic Birdman)-  4 Classic late ‘60s inspired spiraling hazy-lazy day song from Sprout. YES!

Mansfield on the Sky- 3  Reflective, simple tune with ghostly melodic vocals. Would dream pop be the appropriate term?

White Car Creek- 1  Sprout sung cut with space-guitar. Filler track. Nobody cares.

Remain Lodging (At Airport 5)-  4  Great vocal melody that oozes regret, loss, but a dash of hope. Exceptional closer to a moody, avant-basement rock project.

Selective Services [bonus track]

Selective Services [bonus track]

(Fading Captain Series, 2001)

Conveniently packaged in a single, easy to loose between your car seat sleeve, a bundle of some pretty run of the mill, out of print 7''s were released for the digital man. A Fading Captain Series collection, the CD reissue features Airport 5's Total Exposure and Stifled Man Casino 7''s along with GBV's Dayton, Ohio-19 Something and 5 7''. In true Pollard fashion, an unreleased Airport 5 track was tacked on at the end because you can never have to many Pollard songs in your house. Below is that song.

In the Brain- 2 Acoustic, easy listening tune but with warbled vocals that sound like it was kind of improvised on the spot with a half finished lyric sheet.  Decent melodies could have been placed over this, but it sounds like my needle's skipping over warped grooves. BUT, it's only available on CD!

Stifled Man Casino 7'' (2001)

Stifled Man Casino 7''

(Fading Captain Series, 2001)

The second of two singles released off the Tower in the Fountain of Sparks LP. Limited to 1,000 copies on black vinyl, the 7'' contains two exclusive b-sides listed below. The 7" was rereleased  in a CD collection, Selective Services, later in 2001.

Side A:

Stifled Man Casino- Same version as one on Tower in the Fountain of Sparks. Read review there.

Side B:

Peroxide- 2 Noisy, garage jam song that’s over before it materializes into anything much. Long fade at the end. Pollard lyrics in which he says “Man” a lot.  Shrug.

Eskimo Clockwork- 1 Great title.  Piano instrumental played by Sprout. Sounds like an intermediate piano recital number mimicking a tv theme song. Goes nowhere, and a useless, uninspired b-side.

Total Exposure 7'' (2001)

Total Exposure 7''

(Fading Captain Series, 2001)

The first of two singles released off the Tower in the Fountain of Sparks LP. Limited to 1,000 copies, the 7'' contains two exclusive b-sides listed below. The 7" was rereleased  in a CD collection, Selective Services, later in 2001.

Side A:

Total Exposure- Same version as one on the Tower in the Fountain of Sparks LP.  Read review here.

Side B:

Cold War Water Sports- 3  What a great title.  Song is a bit too long for it’s own good. Repetitive line repeated off a moderately priced Casio keyboard. “Cold War Water Spots,” vocal part is the shining moment of this otherwise yawner.

The Wheel Hits the Path (Quite Soon)-  4 Catchy in a ‘80s college rock way. Great lead guitar line.   Pollard slightly lackluster vocal wise on this satisfying short tune.

Ask Them EP (1999)

Lexo and the Leapers

Ask Them EP

(1999, Fading Captain Series)

This one-off side project remains the only release by the Robert Pollard led Lexo and the Leapers. The band was fronted by Pollard with Dayton, OH's The Tasties as his backing band.  The EP is a fairly solid package of GBV style rock, with Pollard still riding the seemingly endless wave of his highly revered '90s output. Two songs here would later appear on GBV releases in different forms, or were played live at GBV shows for years to come. 

Also of some possible interest to those taking notes, the EP was released the same day as Nightwalker's In Shop We Build Electric Chairs: Professional Music by Nightwalker 1984-1993. What does it all mean? I dont' know but it has something to do with being prolific, I think.

Side A:

Time Machines- 5 Would later appear as a GBV track on disc 4 of the Suitcase box-set in early demo form. Absolutely great song. High leg kicks abound for sure. Powerful, overtly catchy. Razor, buzz guitars can cut ears in some media listening capacities, and it fucking rules. Short and sweet.

Alone, Stinking, and Unafraid- 5 Acoustic intro into spoken word. Erupts into anthemic sonic blast with bellowed, top-of-the-word vocals.  Basement anthem to snub out your own pathetic basement anthem. “This time the world did, what it told me it would”  This shit is golden.

Plainskin-  3 Repetitive, mood piece with steady dynamic, and streamlined Pollard vocals. Sounds like a outtake from Not In My Airforce.

Side B:

Will You Show Me Your Gold-  4  Slow anthem, arena downer. A helping of acid washed riffs with a side of stoner rock washed down with big bellowing hooks.

Fair Touching [Original version]- 5  Original version of what would later appear as the opening track on GBV’s Isolation Drills LP.  Consider this the mid-fi version of the later day classic opener.  Preferably, I’ll take the Isolation Drills version but this is still a great song no matter what the “fi” of it might be. Still a goddamn twinkle in my eye, son.

Circling Motorhead Mountain- 3   Fairly run of the mill song. Attitude with no real delivery, dynamic, or climax. Comparably, a weak closer to a killer EP. 

Bonus and Miscellaneous Offically Released Tracks (1994-2018)

Bonus and Miscellaneous Officially Released Tracks (1994-2018)

The following tracks listed below are additional bonus tracks found on several releases.  Crying Your Knife Away is the first of six official "LIVE bootlegs" to be released through GBV. This '94 show in Columbus, OH contains a cover of The Breeders "Invisible Man.

The second series of selections are three tracks that were added on to another official "bootleg" live show double LP, Jellyfish Reflector.  The three added tracks to the end of Jellyfish Reflector were previously unheard studio recorded tracks, and are only available on the LP version and its reissue, not the CD version.

The next selection is an exclusive track to the Japanese version of Under the Bushes Under the Stars.

Following that is a bonus track added to the CD version of Mag Earwhig!

The next selection is from yet another official live "bootleg," issued by the band. The tracks are all cover versions released on the 2001 double LP + 7'' bootleg King's Ransom: Happy Motherfuckers and Sad Clowns, recorded live in Asheville, NC in early 2000.  GBV were apparently in the cover mood that night, adding plenty of sloppy numbers to tape. The collection also features two The Who cover songs released on compilations that are reviewed here and here.

Following, we have a Doug Gillard composition off GBV's planned final LP in 2004, Half Smiles Of The Decomposed.  

And the newest addition, from the live LP Ogre's Trumpet, we have a cover version of the The Monkees "Saturday's Child," recorded 2017 in Asbury Park, NJ.

from Crying Your Knife Away official bootleg live LP (1994)

Invisible Man- 2  Live recording from 1994 of the Breeders “Invisible Man.” Poorly recorded, brittle fuzz with nearly inaudible vocals and sloppily strummed guitar. A valiant effort, but ultimately a failed late night, drunken performance. If you love the original, this one’s not gonna do it for ya. If you hate the original.... c'mon now! What's your problem?! If I was at this show there is no doubt I would be loving this, but I don't need to hear this half-assed version recorded.

from Jellyfish Reflector official bootleg live LP (1996). These three tracks are studio versions.

Bug House- Same version as the 2nd version off Disc 2 of Suitcase. Read review there.

Pantherz-  4 Originally intended for the aborted The Power of Suck LP, this eventually surfaced as a demo off the Suitcase collection.  Here, the full band is in prime form, stirring up a punk-pop bouncy jumper with simple, high end guitar lead that’s pretty killer. Excellent lost song.

I’ll Buy You a Bird-  2 Acoustic, lonely confessional song.  Not much here of worth the over a minute and a half listening effort. Add one point for classic, Pollardian lyrical surrealism.

from Under the Bushes Under the Stars Japanese bonus track (1996)

Finks- 3  As if the LP wasn't long enough. Sounds like mid-‘60s British Blues rock, when everything was starting to get a little drug tinged.  The crunch of the verses are the most memorable part, as the choruses are a bit of let down to the steady walk down of the guitar melody.

from Mag Earwhig! Japanese bonus track (1997)

Running Off with the Fun City Girls- 2  Fairly short and streamlined song that just doesn't do it for me. Forgettable enough to be a bonus track on the first (arguably) lackluster Guided by Voices album in a while.

None of Them Any Good- 3 Reminiscent of a Pavement or rickety Railroad Jerk slow jam. On shaky legs, and warbled vocals, the song hazily lurches forth.

from King's Ransom: Happy Motherfucker's and Sad Clowns official live "bootleg" double LP +7 (2001)

I Am The Walrus- 4 While it's been documented GBV covered several Beatles songs throughout their live tenure, however,  "I Am The Walrus" remains the only to see official release. The track opens the live set, as Pollard announces it the final show of the Do The Collapse tour, introduces the band, and declares they're going to improvise on a Beatles song they don't know. Whether this is strictly improvised, or simply unrehearsed, it's a brilliantly short, fumbled pounding version of a great Beatles track. 

Ziggy Stardust- 4 Another fairly choppy version, but more substantial than their Beatles opener. A wonderful, blaring rendition of one of David Bowie's cornerstones, lead by worthy guitar slinger, Doug Gillard. 

Wild Horses- 3 Pollard, the jokesmith is let loose again. "We'd like to do a medley for your called 'Your Name Is Wild Horses.'" This is funny to about two people on any given month, me being one of them. GBV opens up with a minute and a half of The Rolling Stones classic "Wild Horses," before shifting into the next original track "Your Name Is Wild." Entertaining short snippet rendition. 

Highway To Hell- 1 A shat snippet, ramshackle version of AC/DC's track that barely pans out. The band drops out after about 20 seconds, and Pollard bellows "I'm on a hi...." and then it ends in feedback, and crowd cheers. Pollard then says "you are an asshole," to someone. Not a cover. Unfairly labeled on the LP as a song. Oh well. Can't win 'em all. Still, it's kind of funny.

from Half Smiles of the Decomposed Japanese bonus track (2004)

The Mind Refuser- 1 Completely insufferable five and half minutes of Doug Gillard messing around with ‘70s self-indulgent piano schmaltz. The fact that this was included as the last track, of the last Guided by Voices album over there is just crazy.  Long-winded, boring, depressing, and completely uninspired. AND, it’s ALL Gillard. It doesn’t ever end either. It's still going on, somewhere...

from Ogre's Trumpet, GBV LIVE in Asbury Park, NJ (2018)

Saturday's Child- 4 Recorded on 9/1/17, this faithful cover version of The Monkees' tune became a live staple, and encore fixture throughout the year. In 2018, the track was etched in wax, and made official. Bob and company have covered many of their heroes through the year, and "Saturday's Child" is just another fitting addition. For such a late in the show fixture, the harmonies hold up well despite the obvious drinking implied  Gillard's guitar antics are Monkees' spot on with the original. A grand pop-prog, bubblegum tune. Necessary? No, but certainly a welcome addition.