C or D : Guided By Voices.

unreasonable expectations

What's unreasonable about expecting something more than aimlessness for the most part? Bob still writes a handful of big, anthemic songs every year that he then distributes among his hundred different projects. Unfortunately, he used his most recent batch all up before getting around to making this latest GBV record. I don't mind a little aimless in my GBV, but it's got to be broken up by the BIG songs I can use as trailmarkers.

That wasn't aimed at you, btw, I was just referring to a lot of dismissiveness I've seen online that boils down to, "this sucks, Alien Lanes was so much better". Well, duh.

In terms of your complaints, I think there are a handful of those BIG songs. And I really like the aimlessness, particularly with Toby back in the mix.

Where I'm coming from is this - the first GBV music I heard was the 7"s from the time (Get Out of My Stations, Grand Hour, Fast Japanese Spin Cycle, Clown Prince of the Menthol Trailer) and then Vampire on Titus and then Bee Thousand, which had just come out. In that batch of music there are rock/pop anthems, sure, but overall there's more weird stuff that would probably fit your definition of "aimlessness". What I love about the new album is in spirit it goes back to that era. Plus, it surprises me, like their music originally surprised me - some of those Tobin songs in particular sound nothing like what he usually does, or like anything that's been on a GBV album before.

But I do imagine that if my first encounters with GBV were with the later lineup, more 'arena rock' stuff (which I also love, don't get me wrong), and I was looking for them to go that route (to pick up where GBV left off), I'd be disappointed.

Where I'm coming from is this - the first GBV music I heard was the 7"s from the time (Get Out of My Stations, Grand Hour, Fast Japanese Spin Cycle, Clown Prince of the Menthol Trailer) and then Vampire on Titus and then Bee Thousand, which had just come out. In that batch of music there are rock/pop anthems, sure, but overall there's more weird stuff that would probably fit your definition of "aimlessness". What I love about the new album is in spirit it goes back to that era. Plus, it surprises me, like their music originally surprised me - some of those Tobin songs in particular sound nothing like what he usually does, or like anything that's been on a GBV album before.

^^^ absolutely

yeah i think i agree. haven't spent *too* much time with the new one, but i like the fact that it isn't just jampacked w/ anthems. gbv, at their core, are a WEIRD band! and this is a weird album that I'm interested in exploring more. not sure if i'd be saying the same if Factory was just a bunch of Baba O'Riley soundalikes or w/e.

"Fats Domino" gets stuck in my head all the time. awesome song.

I dig the new album and agree it hearkens back to the sound of those '93-'94 eps but I would like to hear some more anthems on Class Clown.

Let It Beard and Mars Classroom and even the Lifeguards album from last year all had much stronger songwriting. In fact, I'm astonished Let It Beard in particular wasn't cited more (or at all) as one of the best rock albums of 2011...

I still recall playing Bee Thousand for a friend (with very well-informed and eclectic taste) when it came out. His comment was that inevitably the band was going to try to tighten up the songwriting and improve the production, and that they'd never live up to what he was hearing. He was mostly right...

Gotta say that "big anthemic songs" is about the *last* thing that impressed me about GbV the first time around. Personally "Hot Freaks" was the one I loved back in the day. It's really pretty amazing that they/he can still manage to 97% approximate the original sound at this point. It's almost like there'd been a Syd/Floyd reunion in the 80's that wasn't bad.

the sound of 'factory' + the songwriting of 'let it beard' would have been a total winner

I dig the new album and agree it hearkens back to the sound of those '93-'94 eps but I would like to hear some more anthems on Class Clown

i think that'll be the case. when i interviewed the band before xmas, kevin said he was surprised how much leeway to experiment bob had given tobin on factory, and that clown was a much more 'rock' record by comparison.

Where I'm coming from is this - the first GBV music I heard was the 7"s from the time (Get Out of My Stations, Grand Hour, Fast Japanese Spin Cycle, Clown Prince of the Menthol Trailer) and then Vampire on Titus and then Bee Thousand, which had just come out. In that batch of music there are rock/pop anthems, sure, but overall there's more weird stuff that would probably fit your definition of "aimlessness". What I love about the new album is in spirit it goes back to that era. Plus, it surprises me, like their music originally surprised me - some of those Tobin songs in particular sound nothing like what he usually does, or like anything that's been on a GBV album before.

this is exactly where i came in, except that i started w/ propeller followed by the singles and then the scat albums. if the new one (which i haven't heard) is anywhere near that good, i'll be in heaven. but those albums and singles were packed with anthems, right? "weed king", "mesh gear fox", "my impression now", "shocker in gloomtown", "wished i was a giant", i mean cmon...

"bears for lunch" thoughts? at the moment i'm liking it as much as class clown (and both way way more than factory)

bob's songwriting is holding up really well though i'm not loving tobin's stuff on the reunion records

obviously: I want to believe

That said I have enjoyed the first 8 tracks so far. First Tobin joint a joy.

I like Bears a lot and I think the three reunion records are equally good but not great. All 5 Boston Spaceships records are superior.

I've only heard White Flag from the latest batch of material, but it's one of the best things to come out of these new(ish) sessions imo.

Listening to The Bears for Lunch right now and it is hands down the best of the three reunion albums so far. Maybe the guys just had to fall back into a comfortable groove or something, but this is what I was hoping for initially.

Number of GBV songs about aircraft has to be way greater than 30 at this point.

I'm gonna have to listen to the new one a few more times, but so far I'm not really feeling it. Loved Class Clown Spots a UFO, though; so far I'd say the new one is more consistently good than Let's Go Eat the Factory but the highs on Factory are better than anything on here. Just my initial impression, though.

Also, really really disappointed with pretty much all of the Tobin songs on all three of these.

Yeah I think Tobin is being spread too thin. His songs on Bears sound like they belong on another record, they just don't sound like GBV songs. Also, his Forever Until It Breaks really dragged down the first side of Class Clown...

it's kind of amazing how good the guided by voices official greatest hits is

I've loved most of the Tobin songs! Particularly because they don't sound like typical GBV songs. I've actually found them to be a nice break from the Pollard songs, they kinda keep these interesting.

I really like "God Loves Us", and there's one towards the end of the new one that I like a lot but can't remember the name of right now, but I agree with ColinO that they sound like they belong on another record, not as much because of the songs themselves being too different, but it seems like Tobin goes off on his own and records his songs with minimal input from the rest of the band so they just don't fit with the sound of the rest of the album. Plus, I don't know, it bums me out to say it because I love his contributions to the '90s GBV records and his first couple solo albums are worthwhile, but I just think his new material is pretty weak.

old bones off the first reunion LP is one of my fave tobin songs of all time

^^^ thats a great one

and we're finally here
and shit yeah it's cool
and shouldn't it be?

yeah the greatest hits record was a total home run

OK time to contribute to this thread. I'd avoided these reunion albums because I thought "The Unsinkable Fats Domino" was such a feeble downer, but I've finally got around to listening to them. To start off with, releasing 3 albums and 60 tracks in one year is ridiculous and typical of the self-indulgence that's hobbled Pollard's career and led to former admirers deserting his cause in droves but that's an old debate and pointless because he's obviously not going to change now. Some good points: every successive album has been notably better than the one before, so they're headed in the right direction at least. Second, his vocals are sounding good - I've always thought his singing was one of the best things about his records but there was a time a few years back when they were in danger of becoming one of the worst things about them - but he's sounding really strong and confident again. Third, these albums have prised him from the airless deathgrip of Todd Tobias and that conveyor belt of prissy proggy albums that ALL SOUND EXACTLY THE SAME. (You could say that's he's gotten away from overwritten songs and gotten back to underwritten songs - tbh written songs are preferable to both). It's great to hear some Bob Pollard which isn't all bombastic heavy-handed drumming and flashy sub-Entwistle bass flummery, he's been trying to get his rhythm sections to play like it's "Quadrophenia" since "Universal Truths" (if not before) and it's FUCKING BORING, stop it! Ol' Tobin's pretty much the same as he's always been, reliable for one or two good songs an album but that's about it. All in all, I'm probably sounding a bit negative but I have actually enjoyed listening to these albums and if there had been ONE good one instead of three OK ones I would have been a hell of a lot more positive, But that's fucking Pollard for you!

yeah you could get a very strong GBV record taking the best third of these 3 combined but that's not really what GBV is about at this point

Yeah, you're talking about the asshole who released an album called The Kids Eat It Up: The Best of Robert Pollard 2010-2011!

Tom D otm -- lots of good points in there. As a ship-jumper (I still haven't heard any of these new albums yet, I'll admit it!), I feel like it's my right to reclaim my listening for something other than Bob Pollard -- he's just the guy who needs the most attention I guess. I don't have a lot of patience for attention hogs!

STILL, he is the way he is and has always been. He's a cherished Ohioan who has been at this for a really long time and I will always love him for that.

Now tell me the truth - which one of these new album do I need to hear? I am going to start with one.

The newest of the three, The Bears for Lunch.

i havent listened to Bears yet but Class Clown has been worthwhile

like as long as you were into GBV deeper than bee thousand/alienlanes you'll find something to enjoy on these new records i think

Ok. I'm a serious old timer at this point, I'll give it a try!

I only listened to the first of the three new ones and wasn't into it. maybe I'll give Bears For Lunch a shot.

The first one is definitely the worst. Class Clown is my favorite so far, but still giving Bears For Lunch time to sink in.

I bought all GBV, and most side projects, through about 2006, but I've heard most everything since. I'm a big Pollard apologist. But... the only ones from the 2000s that I honestly keep going going back, not out of sheer obligation, are:

Keene Brothers
Moon
Go Back Snowball
Hold on Hope EP
Suitcase #1
Live at the Wheelchair Races
Crickets

Wow same list for me but I would add 'waving at astronauts' by lifeguards & 'let it beard' by Boston spaceships & 'new theory of everything' by mars classroom

Oh you said 2000s - my bad

i actually liked Normal Happiness a bunch, am i the only one?

No, I think Normal Happiness is great, lots of great pop moments on that record though it does tail off a bit on the second side...

I find that a lot of Bob's albums are major growers. Songs that feel kind of awkward at first turn out to be brilliant after a few listens. I had From A Compound Eye for a few years before I really got into it. Now I think it's one of the best things he ever put out...

I'm looking forward to his latest project Sunflower Logic. Songs recorded in his new home studio with his brother, Greg Demos, and another guy. Due out in February, And in January we get GBV's Down By The Racetrack EP!

going through the post-reunion albums right now on spotify - already 4 full-lengths and 1 EP - dudes are still crazy huh?

anyway...unfortunately for them Let's Go Eat the Factory, the one that got the most attention by virtue of being the "reunion album" -- so far at least -- seems to be BY FAR the worst...about halfway through The Bears For Lunch right now (third full length post reformation) and it's a damn good GBV album

gonna make a "best of reunited GBV" spotify mix i'll post

I keep meaning to make a "best of re-united GBV" playlist but haven't gotten around to it yet. I probably prefer the pre-split Stadium Rock Years to the super lo-fi stuff, so these may not be for me.

this band is getting so much more complicated than i ever would have imagined, and it was complicated to begin with

one thing that's also very evident - MAN it's good to have tobin sprout back in the band, his songs really help break up the albums in a nice way

I probably prefer the pre-split Stadium Rock Years to the super lo-fi stuff, so these may not be for me.

Of the new albums, I'd rank them thusly: 4 > 3 > 2 > 1

In fact, I don't rank Let's Go Eat the Factory at all. It's trash.

yeah only pulled a few off that one on this playlist

Anybody got advice/strategies for listening to Pollard bands? I must have had about maybe 13 albums from Guided By Voices and solo stuff from Bee Thousand to Robert Pollard Is Off to Business (2008) and never got anything since then. Always been curious about The Takeovers - Bad Football because it has Malkmus on it (a proper collaboration?)

I think the Pollard/Phantom Tollbooth 'Beard of Lightening' record is worth checking out - It's just Pollard riffing new lyrics over the 'Power Toy' PT record, and it's kinda dope - GBV used to have 'Mascara Snakes' from this in their setlists for a year or two. Also, the 'Jar of Jam Ton of Bricks' record by Cosmos (postal rock collab with Richard Davies from Moles/Cardinal) is quite lovely. Probably his best collab is with Tommy Keene on the Keene Brothers record. The Big Dipper collab on 'Mars Classroom' is an energetic and fun listen, too.

The Takeovers record is a good rock record and my only gripe may be it's too short. It came out just before the run of superior Boston Spaceships records - which may be Pollard at his 'Rock' consistent best.

I couldn’t get through bad football, but it does contain the excellently titled “father’s favorite temperature”

The takeovers’ records are both pretty good but Malkmus’ involvement is minimal. I think he adds some guitar noise to one of the instrumentals.

Second the Keene Bros record for “Death of the Party” alone. Lotta classic Pollard in that one song.

I’d put beard of lightning and the cosmos record way down on a list of essential Pollard records. But I agree Keene brothers and mars classroom are pretty great.

I think one reason I'm partial to the Cosmos record is that when I saw Bob on a bookstore tour with Jim Greer for the "21 years of hunting accidents...brief history of GBV" paperback (Chicago DePaul B&N), I asked him as he signed my GBV record/book wares, 'who are you diggin' listening these days,' he replied, 'lots of Moles and Cardinal.' I kinda got it at the time, and realized he may be making a baroque pretty pop record. Little did I know he actually was postal swapping with Richard Davies at the time, and the Cosmos record came out two months later. He kinda repeats the sunny pop attempt with Cub Scout Bowling Pins. I've interacted with Bob a few times due to some Northern KY/Ohio family and friend connections, and I still remain a fan despite his obvious Midwestern Good Ol Boy/xenophobic schtick, which is super-apparent in that book.

This is why we need Hadrian back, so he can re-up the excellent "best of Pollard side projects" comp that he made several years ago. It's indispensable.

"Surgical Focus" is also my favorite track on DTC, Pollard's voice is in top form

calstars awake
take me through the voodoo, buddha
you do not understand
why DTC is great

Dtc is a pile of hot turds

Honestly cannot understand how fans of the OG GBV can get with theGillard dogshit

did doug gillard steal your girlfriend calstars

Maybe I’m misplacing my discontent. Maybe it should be directed at bob for continuing on post 95.

surely u mean 96?

I guess. I meant prior to 97 so yes, 96 works. Assume that is when the under the bushes b sides were vomited onto tape at that fancy studio

Tbh I could give a shit. I should just unsubscribe from this thread

DTC doesn't thrill me much but Speak Kindly Of Your Volunteer Fire Department is easily one of my top 3 Pollard releases, and that is Gilliard wall-to-wall

That is a good album but, for some reason, his playing is less annoying on that album.

Doug Gillard brought his kid into a bar once.