Squeeze the Needle (2023)

 Squeeze the Needle

(2023, Guide by Voices Inc.)

Circus Devils died a planned death on 2/24/2017, the day their 14th and final LP Laughs Last was released. This ended the prolific, challenging, often demented run of art-damaged rock between Todd Tobias and Robert Pollard (let's not forget brother Tim Tobias' frequent contributions). 

Circus Devils always kept you guessing, but they were never boring (well, does Five count? Sorry, I like it now!). In a sea of Pollard solo LPs, random one-offs, and GBV reunions, Circus Devils were pretty much a sure bet for an annual record (sometimes 2 in a year!). It was Tobias' way to flesh out his manic studio ideas, while Pollard added his free flowing poetry and no-limits ideas loose over a volatile sea of sounds. 

But, lo and behold, just in time for Pollard's birthday (Halloween... a favorite release date for Circus Devils), came the seemingly out of nowhere reunion no one saw coming. Circus Devils' surprise record. Sonically, it picks up right where the group left off. That is, it's like nothing and everything they've done before. The record's a real grab bag of ideas with killer Tobias production as usual in the Circus Devils realm. 

Thank you Circus Devils for reminding us nothing stays dead. 

Wouldn't mind more of these!... 

SIDE A:

Honeymoon in Waynesville- 3 This song is the sonic equivalent of walking into a roadside bar off the highway, feet sticking to the beer soaked floors after being awake for well of 24 hours. A wobbly rocker that sounds like it was written and etched onto tape with minimal effort. Can't pinpoint the uncomfortability here, but I like it. 

Here We Are- 3 Percussive oddities abound as chants of "HERE WE ARE!" echo about. Industrial jazz for your next paranoia fueled cocktail party!

The Owl Presents...- 4 This one gently comes in sounding like an 80s Sonic Youth jangly interlude before building into a reserved track anchored by its bass groove and repetitive guitar hook. Eventually the song breaks down into Pollard driven tribal howls before coming back around to the beginning. 60s psychedelia meets 80s guitar based college rock. 

Getting Better- 5 Trudges out like a car trying to rev up before flatly (and sublimely!) clunking along with its staccato guitar jabs and perfect Pollard vocal prods. Manages a subtle hook in its chanting choruses. Love the upfront Pollard vocals in the subsequent verses. Mildly epic! 

Age of Transfusion- 5 Classic Circus Devils stuff here. Haunting piano with prickly guitar (and vocal sample?) ballad bolstered by absolute killer vocal takes by Pollard.  References Lifeguards' "Paradise is Not So Bad" off Waving At Astronauts. 

(I Am) a Happy Boy- 4 In a normal world, this could pass as breezy 90s indie jangle perfection. Thankfully, Tobias mucks it up with a bunch of unnecessary sounds scrapes and scraps while Pollard drops some dopey ass lyrics, babbling away with a vocal performance that I wouldn't change for the world. 

Strawberry Limousine- 3 Short and sweet, something that could've been off a mid 00s Tobias produced Pollard LP (possibly sans the "every German scientist" line, but also totally could've been in there too). 

Talking In Circles- 4 If Czech New Wave film was a song, this would be it. Eerie, and eerily comforting, and somehow jarring. Like waking up already hungover in a haunted tiki lounge with no semblance of time or logic. Hypnotic; funny if you need it to be, unsettling if you need that too. 

Street Toughs- 3 A Harold Pig Memorial outtake? A big swing, guitar crunch track that's both sonically bombastic and vocally bonkers. A weird, sweaty gelatinous concept of what aliens might think of if they were tasked with recreating "hard rock." 

Online Zombie- 2 Ambient house music with Pollard shout singing over angelic symphony drawls. Big fan of the backing vocals, but don't know where this one fits for me. 

SIDE B:

Mama's Got a Brand New Snake- 3 Great title! Can't wait to see the film. Circus Devils tapping into their inner Melvins (Monster Magnet?) sludge rocker worship. Pollard gives a strong performance over the plodding dirge of Tobias.   This songs sounds like an ashtray smells, and that is a good thing here. 

Laughable Suit- 4 Feels like a mambo from Hell. A brief but great acid headfirst dive full of bad vibes all around. Wonderfully cryptic, subtle, and unsettling lyrics add to the general dark cloud this one drags around with it. 

Bad Queen- 5 If monsters started a garage band (but actual monsters), and were really good, this could possibly be the result. Self reflective monsters too based on the lyrics. Repetitive, monotonous, unforgivingly weird production make this a nightmare gem. 

Franklin's 48th Hallucination- 4 Guitar rock with horror underpinnings. It's a short song, but damn this one feels like it gets dark. A digestible headache in under a minute and a half! Take the ride. 

Difficult Dreamer- 4 The complete antithesis to "Franklin's..." Ethereal material, feeling like one that got away from Escape. A swirling acoustic track that feels like it begins to disintegrate as it goes along, swirling into the unease, ditching all the good will it once started out with. 

Bone of Contention- 3 Music for a motivational VHS video about feelings... but made by literal monsters. And there's a DJ!  Absolutely ridiculous, but addicting, and upsettingly catchy. 

The Gig That Won't Go Away- 3 A brief fever-dream cheerleader practice backed by a band while a UFO hovers above. The band takes advantage of the pedal board to lead us out in this short, sweet, strange trip. 

The Joke Is Over- 4 Is this the most heartfelt ballad hidden on a Circus Devils? Or is it bit of pastiche of a lounge singer in purgatory? Either way, fantastic vocal performance here over acoustic strums. A song that sounds like light peering through your blinds when you know you've only been asleep for less than 4 hours. Beautiful. 

Ferris Wheel- 3 Pulling out a bit of the Gringo vibe, this is another that could have fit somewhere on a Pollard solo track if not for Pollard's seemingly momentary stream of conscience about world news and baseball. 

Squeeze the Needle- 5 When that screaming shit came in the mix over this haunted bullshit... Fuck yeah! Incredible closing track!