Welshpool Frillies (2023)

 Welshpool Frillies 

(2023, Guided by Voices Inc.)

Guided by Voices... IN STUDIO! During the incredible output since 2016, many of GBV's records have been recorded in various studios, patched together by recording engineer (and 6th member), Travis Harrison. Here, after many years on the road together, GBV finally get back into the studio as a band (Pollard's vocals recorded separately, as usual), and crank out an organic, and at times bombastic (other times hints of olden-days-experimental) LP.  It's an LP that's meant to be played loud with a Side A that I would argue is one of the strongest of this prolific iteration of Guided by Voices. A refreshing record that carries some welcomed rawness. 

SIDE A:

Meet the Star- 5   The first single released for the record wastes no time making it known the band was together in the room for this one. They're locked in. Shue's bass is snarling, the guitars crunch behind Pollard's doubled smooth-as-silk vocals.  The chorus opens up behind orchestration, and it's as if light has been let in. Some of the tight-wound pressure of the verse momentarily released before jumping back into the infectious pummel of said verse. Pollard's back in heavenly form on the choruses. A first time listen winner!

Cruiser's Cross- 5 The grind of the celebratory opener gives way to this lighter, but no-less potent indie rocker carried by its simplistic, moving repetitive guitar leads. Familiar mid-tempo territory that Pollard and band have lived in most comfortably during this iteration of the group, but one that holds court above most in this wheelhouse. A melancholic undercurrent flows beneath some delicious melodies delivered with an ease. Evokes a timelessness, as Pollard so often does. 

Romeo Surgeon- 5 Pollard is never afraid to bust out a bit of scuzzier rock tune, to some varying results. This one hits you out of the gate with its fuck-it attitude, but those angular guitar jabs cutting through the locked in rhythm section. And cut they do!...giving this some post-punk lean. Everything from the vocal effect to the melodies hit. That "message of love" lead-out on the bridge is a full-on psych feast. A song that builds in intensity without you realizing it. Stand up job, Travis Harrison! 

Chain Dance- 4 Throwing back to some scrappier ass GBV, "Chain Dance" recalls a bit of early 90s EP vibes. A clunkier beauty elevated with its organ drawls and unreliable tambourine. One could argue a throw away track here, but this carries a deeper weight beneath it in melody than may first hit the ear. 

Why Won't You Kiss Me?- 5 A track that sounds ricketier than some of its opening predecessors, but it fits like a glove. Pollard busts out this infectious chorus that sneaks the hell up on you with its joyous vocal belting, and sits in your brain consistently tapping you on the prefrontal cortex reminding you to put this one back on again. 

Animal Concentrate- 4 Tom pounding verses chill out for a lighter bomping prechorus into some declarative choruses of longing. Actually, this song has a good amount of parts, and what could possibly be a tonal nightmare in lesser hands flows in from start to finish It's one of those songs that's insanely catchy but you can't quite pinpoint down the exact spots for recommendation (in every GBV fanatics fantasy world where they are asked about suggestions that never happen).

Cats On Heat- 4 A quick guitar saturating crunch with a strong lone Pollard vocal track. Like many of the great numbers, the hooks are sprinkled about in the phrasing. Gillard's solo in this- delivered with a downright scorched-earth mentality. 

Mother Mirth- 5 A very barebones acoustic track, again sounding as if from the 90s EP days. Another melancholic ride that feels both hopeful and painful on equal playing fields. "On the morning of the aftermath..." repeated parts that close it out seal the deal this as one home run of a Side A!

SIDE B:

Don't Blow Your Dream Job- 3 After a run of self-proclaimed prog-heavy LPs from camp GBV prior to "Welshpool...", this is about as prog heavy as the record gets. A song constructed over several sections that tonally fit, but make for a track that I often listen to in anticipation of hearing specific parts still waiting for it to all fall into place in my head. Pollard sounds like he's sent back to his TVT studio sounding days with honey and conviction in voice. 

Awake Man- 4 The band deals the listener a heavy chug backed with the rock-solid double vocals Pollard consistently delivers on this record. The breezy end portion of the song rightfully propels this one upward. AWAKE!

Rust Belt Boogie- 3  The longest track of the record for what it's worth. The first minute showcases some incredible interplay between Bare Jr and Gillard, with Shue's base snaking in and out of the melee. This feels like a live performance build up into a song finally come to record. When Pollard enters at a minute and half, it's as if he's bellowing from the mountaintops over the surge of the band, the dudes who've  had their foot on the gas since go. 

Seedling- 3 The first online single released by the band in conjunction with the announcement of the LP. Springtime jangled indie rock that eventually expands into something much larger. One of the biggest GBV has sounded on record; an almost hymnlike song. 

Better Odds- 3 A late LP sleeper hit. Practically a midtempo ballad; equally celebratory and haunting. A rainy day anthem. 

Radioactive Pigeons-4  Pollard dropping more late LP nuggets, laying down an almost free flowing vocal melody with utter confidence and saccharine. Nothing flashy, just a master laying down a line songwriters would kill to dream up, but it's just another day at the office.

Welshpool Frillies- 3  A mini epic to lead out the record in prog cloak. You can practically see the goddamn fog show listening to this epic bridge before Pollard kicks back in, reminding us this is a GBV record before the appropriate band freak/fade out live in studio!