Pop Zeus: Creating the Guided By Voices Tribute Comic Book

Ich Bin Ein Nerd

2009-02-04T09:39:00.000-08:00

Doug Gillard Live Residency At Pianos In NYC!

2009-01-02T21:17:00.000-08:00

Doug Gillard and his band will be playing every Wednesday night in January at Pianos in New York City, starting this Wednesday, January 7th! And each show will feature special guests and friends. Here is the schedule thus far...

January 7th - Regal Standard (acoustic version), including Chicago's own Jason Narducy (of Ascended Masters and Boston Spaceships fame) and Larry Schroeder will lead off at 9 PM. Doug Gillard and band will take the stage at 10 PM.

January 14th - Gramercy Arms with Dave Derby (Dambuilders) at 11 PM, DG and band at 10 PM.

January 21st - Arrow (Russ Fink), Nights (NYC) at 9 PM, followed by DG and band at 10 PM.

January 28th - Mascott featuring the great Kendall Meade at 9 PM, DG and band at 10 PM.

And while there, make sure to pick up a copy of Gillard's brilliant new LP Call From Restricted!

Guided By Voices - Matter Eater Lad Live 1996 Video

2009-01-02T20:20:00.000-08:00

Along time ago (1996) in a galaxy far far away (Canal Street Tavern, Dayton, Ohio), Guided By Voices had a release party for Under The Bushes Under The Stars and played the lost (and comic book related) classic Matter Eater Lad. Behold and Happy 2009!..

Robert Pollard / Boston Spaceships Music & Merch Now Available at Rockathon Records!

2009-01-02T20:03:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the lack of updates in late oh-eight, good people. December was a beastly month for your boy- mountains of life, work and holiday stress. But the good news for you fans is that Robert Pollard's Facebook page has had consistent updates by yours truly for much of 2008. And the simple interface makes it a lot easier to keep up with than this blog. So if I disappear round here, you can rest assured that all the latest news and updates can be found over there.

Speaking of long overdue updates, Rockathon Records has continued to be your one-stop source for all Bob music and merch in spite of my lack of reportage. So here's a list of what you may have missed from October to December...

1. Boston Spaceships Tour Merch, including tour tee shirts, EAT 6 (another all-collage issue), and the Bostons Spaceships sticker. And don't forget that every purchase of a BS tee shirt includes a MP3 download card with a song from new and upcoming Robert Pollard/Boston Spaceships/Circus Devils releases!

2. Robert Pollard - The Butler Stands For All Of Us 7"- released on November 4th, the latest Robert Pollard EP features the magnificent first "single" off of January's The Crawling Distance and 4 non-album b-sides, which are...

1) First Wave
2) Elevator To Far Worse
3) The Throat Is Young
4) I Would Be A Fish Tank

This vinyl-only release is limited to 500 copies on black vinyl, so get your order in before they are gone!

3. Boston Spaceships - Headache Revolution 7"- the incredibly powerful remake of the classic Suitcase 2 track off of February's The Planets Are Blasted includes 3 full band non-album b-sides...

1) Dementia Is Rising
2) Take That Off (And Put This On)
3) 7 Is The Hot Noose

Again, this is a web-only limited edition release. So order now or be prepared to bid later...

4. Robert Pollard - The Crawling Distance LP/CD. In spite of its January 20th release date, pre-orders of Bob's latest solo LP have already been shipping and arriving! Every vinyl order comes with a free promo CD of the record, as well! And you will get a break on shipping if you combine this order with the Headache Revolution 7", using the special buttons on the order page.

And while you are at Rockathon's music page, give a listen to the lovely yet creepy Imaginary Queen Anne MP3, track 8 off of The Crawling Distance!

More news to come...

Guided By Voices Music Featured In Soderbergh 3-D Movie Musical- Updated!

2009-01-02T18:36:00.000-08:00

1/2/09 Update- As reported by Defamer and Variety, Hugh Jackman is out for leading man role Marc Anthony in Cleo, citing "scheduling conflicts"...

Huge news! As reported by Variety and Ain't It Cool News, Guided By Voices and Robert Pollard music will soon be the cornerstone of a 3-D rock opera entitled "Cleo", scripted by former GBV bassist Jim Greer and directed by longtime GBV fan Steven Soderbergh!

As you may recall, Robert Pollard music was an integral part of a earlier Soderbergh indie film, Bubble. But a big-budget musical extravaganza based on the life of Cleopatra, (potentially) starring Catherine Zeta-Jones and Hugh Jackman with Bob singing the vocals for one of the characters, is a whole other thing entirely!

Apparently, this project has been in the works for quite a while, with Soderbergh hand-picking a bunch of appropriate Bob songs (Little Lines rumored to be among them) and Greer, Pollard and Soderbergh rewriting some of the lyrics to match the story. If I were to guess, the film shouldn't be hitting the theaters until sometime in 2010, considering the early phase it's in. But count me among those in line on opening day! And the pontential for Bob's music to get wide exposure and acclaim is limitless. So congrats to Bob and keep your eyes glued to this spot for updates as they come in....

Guided By Voices - Alone, Stinking And Unafraid Live 2001 Video

2008-11-27T11:51:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving! Here's a special holiday treat to savor while you loll off into a ubiquitous food coma- Guided By Voices (the Jon McCann on drums configuration) performing the classic Alone, Stinking And Unafraid on the rarely seen 2001 HBO Reverb show. And is that Bababooey in the crowd at the beginning of the clip!? Anyway, enjoy the music and see you in December!

Doug Gillard's New LP "Call From Restricted" Now Available For Download!

2008-11-24T16:03:00.000-08:00

Doug Gillard's fantastic new album Call From Restricted is now available for download on iTunes! Physical CD copies (and with any luck, vinyl?) will follow and be available shortly- stay tuned.

I had the pleasure to preview many of the tracks on Call From Restricted, both live in 2007 and as a regular MySpace and Facebook friend of Gillard's. And that early excitement was more than confirmed over the last few days of careful listening. The same brilliant musicianship and unique pop/rock songwriting of 2004's Salamander (if you don't own this, for shame!) comes roaring back with a vengeance on Call From Restricted. Highlights include the relentless guitar blast of the title track, From What I've Done's anthemic wall-of-sound, the angular pop of No One Above You, and my favorite surprise- the moody timelessly melodic (When Will You Be) Driving By. Juicy harmonies, guitar solos to make you weep, sweet production- the Doug Gillard you know and love is back.

And if you are lucky enough to live in the Austin, Texas metro region, go see Doug and his band tomorrow night (11.25.08) at Club Deville, with Cavedweller and Jacob Schulze...

Robert Pollard Limited Edition Collage Prints

2008-11-24T15:03:00.000-08:00

Hey now! Long time, no post. Been uber busy with work and life- you know the deal. And as always with the ever-prolific Mister Pollard and Co., there are tons of news items to catch up on. So please stay tuned to this blog in the coming days for more noteworthy updates...

First on the docket is Robert Pollard's debut set of art prints, the first of which, "Greetings From Camp Confusion", is already for sale at Rockathon Records and Hard Pressed Studios (each website selling half of the run)! Produced in conjunction with Hard Pressed Studios, this set of five high quality fine art screen prints are strictly limited to 100 copies each. Every 15" X 20" print is numbered and signed by Robert Pollard. So don't delay- this low cost alternative to purchasing original Pollard collages won't last forever...

Upcoming Doug Gillard NYC Live Shows - Updated!

2008-10-23T10:01:00.000-07:00

Guitar god Doug Gillard and his band will be appearing at New York City's CMJ Music Marathon And Film Festival next Wednesday, October 22nd and Saturday, October 25th! The first Wednesday gig will be at Alphabet Lounge on Avenue C in Manhattan starting at 8 PM, followed by an 11 PM appearance at Southpaw on 5th Avenue in Brooklyn for a Surfrider Foundation Fundraiser.

Then on Saturday afternoon (1:45ish), Gillard and band will play a free show at the BrooklynVegan party at NYC's Knitting Factory. Don't miss this opportunity to see Gillard's amazing solo work live and in person, including kick-ass tracks from his upcoming LP!

Also, Doug will be appearing tomorrow evening, October 16th, sitting in as guest musical sidekick (along with Moby and Walter Schreifels) for The Dave Hill Explosion comedy show at the Upright Citizen's Brigade Theatre in Manhattan! And admission is only 5 bucks, cheap. Very cool!

And if you are a part of the Facebook revolution (or something like that), be sure to check out Doug Gillard's new Facebook music page. You can find news updates, show info and preview tracks from Doug's entire musical career...

Guided By Voices - "Wished I Was A Giant" 1996 Soundcheck Video

2008-10-23T09:41:00.000-07:00

Guided By Voices (including Tobin Sprout, Mitch Mitchell, Kevin Fennell and Greg Demos) broke out into a spontaneous "Wished I Was A Giant" during a soundcheck at Canal Street Tavern in Dayton, Ohio on April 6th, 1996. And thankfully, Dayton resident and frequent mid-90's videographer Scott (aka Chapter 18) was there to capture the moment. Great stuff and look for more of the same in the upcoming Some Drinking Implied 2 DVD. Thanks Scott!

The Textbook Committee At Chicago's Beat Kitchen - This Friday!

2008-10-14T15:35:00.000-07:00

The Textbook Committee, Chicago's own brilliant Guided By Voices tribute band, will be hitting the stage of Beat Kitchen this Friday, October 17th at 10PM! TBC played a private party for Robert Pollard, family and friends in Dayton this past summer and completely blew the roof off the dump. So if you live in the greater Chicago area, don't miss your chance to see Blob Pollard, Tobin Stout and the boys in action. And sharing the stage with TBC are Georgia's mighty Ninja Gun. Rock on, Chicago!

Upcoming Robert Pollard Projects - Late 2008 Edition... Updated Again!

2008-10-13T11:01:00.000-07:00

Updated with 2009 Boston Spaceships, Robert Pollard solo and Circus Devils previews and tracklists, "The Butler Stands For All Of Us" EP news, EAT 6 and much more...

So we find ourselves more than half-way through the Year Of The Rat (my Chinese astrological sign, by the by), aka 2008. And it's about time to update one of the more popular posts on Pop Zeus, namely the upcoming Robert Pollard release calendar! Info has been scarce for projects beyond October. But here is what we know, including stuff from July and August in case you missed it...

Carbon Whales "South" EP/CD
(Happy Jack Rock Records. July 15th, 2008.)
Happy Jack Rock Records continues to deliver the goods with the release of Carbon Whales' 4 song EP entitled South (now available)! The tracklisting is...

01 Welcome To Miami
02 Work Into Me
03 False Teeth
04 The Jeep

But who are Carbon Whales? The liner notes provide only cryptic names and the press release claims that the are an Ohio band from the 70's with a singer that sounds like Bob Pollard, but it actually "Bob Evans". Rumors abound that the backing band are actually Paddy Considine's (Bob friend and fan) Riding The Low. I have also heard that the bass is unmistakable Chris Slusarenko. For years, Bob similarly denied that the psych band Nightwalker were Guided By Voices (they were). The truth is out there somewhere.

Robert Pollard "EAT 5 - The Dogshit Chronicles" Art/Literary Journal
(Rockathon Records. July 15th, 2008.)
EAT 5: The Dogshit Chronicles, an all text issue of Robert Pollard and Rockathon Records' series of literary/art journals, is something special. Check the word from my main man, Rich T...

EAT 5 will be out shortly and it is unlike any of the other EATs. It is actually a book of stories written by Bob. True stories of his times in Northridge. Really crazy stories written about some really crazy people.

And Bob sez...

It’s just going to be the very best drinking, crazy-ass party stories that I can conjure. The “How the hell did I survive that?” kind of thing. Kind of like the Basketball Diaries, but it’s the Dogshit Chronicles. It mainly has to do with alcohol, not heroin or whatever... I’ve got shitloads of them. But I can’t always come up with them, because they’re not like we went out and fucking burned a building down or something. It’s just where we went out and shit that we didn’t expect to happen would happen. The next day we go, “Jesus Christ, we’re lucky we didn’t kill ourselves.” Those kinds of things.

This issue of EAT is a hilarious "can't miss", trust me!

Boston Spaceships "You Satisfy Me b/w Impossible Octopus" 7" single
(Happy Jack Rock Records. August 5th, 2008.)
You Satisfy Me is the "promotional" red vinyl 7" single from the new Boston Spaceships album Brown Submarine. And the B-side is Impossible Octopus (written by Trebor Drallop), You Satisfy Me played backwards. It's a hauntingly beautiful track and a taste of the softer side of BS. And this vinyl-only, internet-only 500 copy limited edition is sure to go fast...

Robert Pollard "Town of Mirrors : The Reassembled Imagery of Robert Pollard" Hardcover Book
(Fantagraphics Books. Late August 2008.)
This may be the 2008 project I'm most excited about. Following a December art gallery show in Manhattan, Fantagraphics Books (home to many of my favorite comic books) will be releasing this deluxe 10"x10" coffee-table book collection of over 140 Bob-picked collages and favorite song lyrics! If you already love Pollard's literary/art journal EAT, Town Of Mirrors is a no-brainer. Operators are standing by for your pre-order with Rockathon Records...

Boston Spaceships "Brown Submarine" LP/CD
(Guided By Voices Inc.. September 16th, 2008.)
The band's debut album, Brown Submarine (dropping [pun intended] on Pollard's own label Guided By Voices Inc.) was recorded in Portland with Chris Slusarenko on everything but drums (The Decembrists' John Moen). Bob's vocals were recorded sometime later by Todd Tobias at Waterloo Studios. And the tracklisting is...

01 Winston's Atomic Bird
02 Brown Submarine
03 You Satisfy Me
04 Ate It Twice
05 Two Girl Area
06 North 11 A.M.,
07 Zero Fix
08 Psych Threat
09 Andy Playboy
10 Rat Trap
11 Soggy Beavers
12 Ready to Pop
13 Still in Rome
14 Go for the Exit

If you have been paying attention, you will instantly recognize Go For The Exit as a re-titled and re-worked Suitcase 1 song (and one of my personal favorites) Go For The Answers. And that's one of the coolest things about the Boston Spaceships project. Pollard is using the band as a way to fully realize old songs that were either released only on Suitcase or weren't released at all. Suitcase songs like Soggy Beavers, It's Easy and Dorothy's A Planet will be among the "brown nuggets" on Boston Spaceships' docket. Another 1/3rd of the songs will be old songs never heard. And the final 1/3rd will be brand new Pollard compositions. Unlike The Takeovers, all the music will be penned by Pollard.

The news gets even better. Bob considers Boston Spaceships to be his new band. So a new BS album will be released every year! The follow up to Brown Submarine is already in the works. This is not to say that the yearly solo and Circus Devils albums will cease production. Never underestimate the Pollard work ethic!

Soon after Brown Submarine launches, the fully formed Boston Spaceships (supplemented by the excellent Tommy Keene on lead guitar and keyboards and Jason Narducy on bass) will hit the road to bring you the rock! Expect to hear an all-new setlist (GBV free, so I've heard) of Boston Spaceships tunes, new solo Pollard and other surprises. Here are the dates and opening acts...

09-25 Cincinnati, OH - Midpoint Music Festival *
09-26 Cleveland Heights, OH - Grog Shop *
09-27 Washington, DC - Black Cat *
09-29 Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's *
09-30 Boston, MA - Paradise #
10-01 New York, NY - Highline Ballroom *
10-03 Ann Arbor, MI - Blind Pig *
10-04 Dayton, OH - Dayton Music Festival
10-06 Chicago, IL - Double Door *
10-07 St. Paul, MN - Turf Club *
10-09 Champaign, IL - Higher Ground *
10-10 St. Louis, MO - Bluebird *
10-11 Memphis, TN - Hi-Tone *
10-14 Austin, TX - The Parish *
10-15 Dallas, TX - The Loft *
10-17 Atlanta, GA - The Earl *
10-18 Nashville, TN - Mercy Lounge *

* with the High Strung
# with Big Dipper

And while you are enjoying the live performance, the merch table will be featuring 2 brand new Boston Spaceships tee shirts. And if you are so inclined to buy one, you will get a free download card which will download the following mp3s...

1) Robert Pollard - Gratification To Concrete
from the album Robert Pollard Is Off To Business - 2008
2) Boston Spaceships - Go For The Exit
from the album Brown Submarine - 2008
3) Circus Devils - The Girls Will Make It Happen - 2008
from the album Ataxia - 2008
4) Carbon Whales - Welcome To Miami
from the single South - 2008
5) Circus Devils - Every Moment Flame On
from the album Gringo - October, 2009
6) Robert Pollard - By Silence Be Destroyed
from the album The Crawling Distance - January 20, 2009
7) Boston Spaceships - Heavy Crown
from the album The Planets Are Blasted - February 17, 2009

Wow!

Robert Pollard "EAT 6" Art/Literary Journal
(Rockathon Records. September 2008.)
Like EAT 4, EAT 6 will be another all-collage issue. And the latest news is that EAT 6 will be on sale at merchandise table at all upcoming Boston Spaceship shows (along with 2 styles of BS tee-shirts, Town of Mirrors, Carbon Whales, You Satisfy Me, Brown Submarine, etc). Looking forward to picking one up!

Circus Devils "Ataxia" LP/CD
(Happy Jack Rock Records. October 31st, 2008.)
The follow-up to Sgt. Disco (what many consider to be the best Circus Devils album) is already recorded and on its way! According to inside sources, Ataxia "fucking rocks", is the heaviest Pollard release in years and is influenced by Black Sabbath and Devo(?). And it looks to be another "October Surprise" for Ataxia, as Circus Devils returns to their traditional Halloween release date. Here is the final tracklist...

01 Under Review
02 I-Razors
03 Freedom's Monster
04 That's The Spirit
05 Backwash Television
06 The Girls Will Make It Happen
07 Mayflower Brought Disease
08 Stars, Stripes And Crack Pipes
09 Ataxia
10 Nets At Every Angle
11 Hi I'm Martha, How Are You?
12 Lunatic Style
13 Get Me Extra!
14 I Found The Black Mind
15 He Had All Day
16 Fuzz In The Street
17 Rat Faced Ballerina

Robert Pollard "The Butler Stands For All Of Us" 7"/CD
(Guided By Voices Inc., Mid-Late November, 2008.)
Want to hear a bit of what Bob has in store for us in 2009? Well, you won't have to wait too long. The Butler Stands For All Of Us will feature 4 non-album B-sides off of January 2009's Pollard solo album, The Crawling Distance (see below). Dig it!

Guided By Voices "Some Drinking Implied 2" DVD
(Rockathon Records. Tentative release date late 2008, early 2009?)
Even though this home brew Guided By Voices DVD from the folks at Rockathon didn't see the light of day in 2007, 2008 might just be our lucky year! Already confirmed for the DVD are videos for "Bughouse, War Horsies, Love Is Stronger Than Witchcraft, The Best of Jill Hives, Circle Saw Boys Club, Get Me Extra!, Bogus Reactions, Shadow Port, Eye Razors, Sons Of Apollo as well as some amazing vintage footage of GBV performing in Dayton and all sorts of other crazy clips." I'm in!

Robert Pollard "The Crawling Distance" LP/CD
(Guided By Voices Inc., January 20th, 2009.)
A little birdy from Cleveland told me that Robert Pollard's next solo album (and follow up to this year's "Robert Pollard Is Off To Business") is already in the can! As expected, ace producer Todd Tobias is behind the board once again. And By Silence Be Destroyed can be downloaded for free with purchase of a Boston Spaceships tour tee shirt (see above)! The rest of the LP tracks (including two Suitcase gems, It's Easy and On Short Wave) are...

01 Faking My Harlequin
02 Cave Zone
03 Red Cross Vegas Night
04 The Butler Stands For All of Us
05 It's Easy
06 No Island
07 By Silence Be Destroyed
08 Imaginary Queen Ann
09 On Shortwave
10 Too Much Fun

Boston Spaceships "The Planets Are Blasted" LP/CD
(Guided By Voices Inc.. February 17th, 2009.)
Boston Spaceships returns at the speed of light with the follow-up to 2008's Brown Submarine! Chris Slusarenko (all guitars) and John Moen (drums) will return with, of course, Robert Pollard penning the tunes and singing the melodies plus guest appearances by ex-GBVer Greg Demos, Gary Jarman of the Cribs, and Chris Funk of the Decemberists. As with all records in the Boston Spaceships oeuvre, expect to hear unearthed old songs, brand new songs and newly realized songs from the Suitcase box sets- case in point being Heavy Crown, the first revealed track off of The Planets Are Blasted, available for free download with purchase of a Boston Spaceships Tour tee shirt! And the rest of the tracklisting is...

01 Canned Food Demons
02 Dorothy's a Planet
03 Tattoo Mission
04 Keep Me Down
05 Big O Gets an Earful
06 Catherine From Mid October
07 Headache Revolution
08 Slyph
09 UFO Love Letters
10 Lake of Fire
11 Queen of Stormy Weather
12 The Town That's After Me
13 Sight on Sight
14 Heavy Crown

Full band versions of Catherine From Mid-October from the Zoom EP and Suitcase classics Dorothy's A Planet and Headache Revolution? Booyah!

Circus Devils "Gringo" LP/CD
(Happy Jack Rock Records. February 2009?)
Following up on an anonymous tip in the comments of this very post, our friends the Circus Devils are ready to blow your mind once again with Gringo, the follow up to October 2008's Ataxia (described above)! Lead-off single Every Moment Flame On is available for download with purchase of a Boston Spaceships tour tee shirt (see above). The entire tracklist is as follows...

01 Witness Hill
02 Every Moment Flame On
03 Shipped From Prison to Prison
04 Bad Baby Blue
05 Easy Baby
06 Before it Walks
07 Monkey Head
08 When the Beast Falls Down
09 Letters From a Witch
10 Arizona Blacktop Co.
11 Hot Water Wine
12 In Your Hour of Rescue
13 The Ants
14 Stars Out all Night
15 Gasoline Drinkers
16 Yellow Cloud

Circus Devils "Untitled" LP/CD
(Happy Jack Rock Records. October 31st 2009?)
Rumor has it that there will be not one, but two Circus Devils records out in 2009! Huzzah!

And that just about covers it for this year (and a chunk of 2009), kids!

3 New Circus Devils' Ataxia Tracks Available For Free Download!

2008-09-26T10:18:00.000-07:00

Been an exciting couple of days for Robert Pollard fans! The Boston Spaceships tour launched last night at the historic Southgate House in Cincinnati. And reports are overwhelmingly positive. The setlist was one of the most diverse and exciting in a long time (I will post it in the comments section below, for those who don't care about spoilers... like me). And the band supposedly blew the roof off the dump. Rawk!

For those of us stuck at home (like me), don't despair! There are 3 new tracks off of Circus Devils' Ataxia available for free download at the official Circus Devils website to get you through! This album is shaping up nicely- I'm already a huge fan of I-Razors and Get Me Extra. And my instant favorite of these new tracks is the spooky and beautifully sung He Had All Day...

And The Winner Of The Boston Spaceships Video Contest Is...

2008-09-16T14:43:00.000-07:00

The Man Sherm is victorious with his trippy video for Boston Spaceships' "Winston's Atomic Bird" off of their debut LP Brown Submarine (in stores today)! Congratulations! And here is the clip one more time, in higher resolution (for a limited time only, since it's messing with my formatting)...

Ataxia Pre-Order & Brown Submarine Digital Download

2008-09-12T15:02:00.000-07:00

Gentlemen, start your PayPals. Circus Devils newest foray into the musical world of the weird, Ataxia is ready for your preorder from Rockathon(g) Records! Here are the details from Richard the T, Rockathon guru...

1) Album release date is October 31 through Rockathon; in stores November 4th

2) Due to my being on the road for the Bob tour I will be closing the Rockathon online ordering pages between Sept 18th and October 21st.

3) Any orders between now and September 18th that contain Ataxia will be shipped when I return from the tour.

4) All prices INCLUDE shipping. All vinyl is shipped priority mail. If you want to combine multiple vinyl items and want a shipping break please let me know what you want to order and I can put together a better price.

5) Vinyl is limited to 500 copies; 300 to Rockathon and 200 in stores

6) Vinyl copy DOES NOT come with any digital version of the album

So get your orders in quick, vinyl peoples.

Those with one of them new-fangled iPods will be pleased that Boston Spaceships' Brown Submarine is now available for digital download, a few days before it hits store shelves! Its a great record and the perfect primer for the upcoming Boston Spaceships tour, so don't miss it...

Boston Spaceships - Video Contest Vote & New Wallpapers!

2008-09-08T14:45:00.000-07:00

The four finalists in the Boston Spaceships Video Contest have been chosen and the voting is now open to one and all! You will have until noon on my birthday, Monday September 15th (just a coincidence), to cast your ballot for the best of the best. The winner shall receive an autographed vinyl copy of Boston Spaceships LP, Brown Submarine, signed by the entire band. To refresh your memory, here are the finalists...

And while you are perusing the Boston Spaceships website, download yourself some spiffy new wallpapers for your computer desktop (as previewed at the top and bottom of this post)!

Boston Spaceships Video Contest Entry # 11 & 12

2008-09-08T14:22:00.000-07:00

Friday brought us these late but great, just-under-the-wire entries into the Boston Spaceships video contest! First, bstro75 trips us out with a psychedelic video collage of sorts. Then, TheManSherm blows us away with a reference heavy (maroon blazer, Mag Earwhig sun-head, golden tickets, etc.) trip through the looking glass...

Boston Spaceships Video Contest Entry # 8, 9 & 10

2008-09-05T09:43:00.000-07:00

This is it- D-Day for the Boston Spaceships video contest. And rounding things off are three under-the-wire entries from R. Stacey Palmer (lo-fi psychedelia), Scott Oullette (Americana softball) and foolishslug (monkey-kid weirdness)...

Boston Spaceships Video Contest Entry #7

2008-09-03T09:21:00.000-07:00

BillyBaloney2000 has whipped up this animated late entry into the Boston Spaceships video contest. Excellent stuff! Only 2 more days left, future Spielbergs...

Boston Spaceships Video Contest - Entry # 4, 5 & 6

2008-09-02T11:15:00.000-07:00

As the Boston Spaceships video contest enters its final week, the competition heats up with three new entries. Here are the clips in chronological order from their YouTube posting, created by Jarrod Holloway, CILANTRO and yetigolfcourse respectively. Nice work, folks!

Boston Spaceships Video Contest- Entry #3!

2008-08-27T10:00:00.000-07:00

Director Mike Postalakis throws his hat into the ring with this provocative entry in the Boston Spaceships video contest. Nice work, Mike! The contest forges on until September 5th, so get cracking kids...

"Town Of Mirrors - The Reassembled Imagery Of Robert Pollard" Book Available For Pre-Order

2008-08-25T10:50:00.000-07:00

Strangely, one of the most anticipated Robert Pollard releases of 2008 is a book! "Town Of Mirrors - The Reassembled Imagery Of Robert Pollard" collects over 175 of Robert Pollard's hand-picked collages (as seen on most Pollard related releases) and poetry/lyrics in a deluxe 10" X 10" hardcover book. Fantagraphics Books, the publisher of Town Of Mirrors, have a long standing history of beautiful art publications, including the works of Charles Schulz, Robert Crumb, Peter Bagge, Los Bros Hernandez, E.C. Segar and Daniel Clowes, to name but a few. And here's a neat thing: check out this video preview of the book courtesy of Fantagraphics. Our long-lived friends at Rockathon Records are now taking pre-orders for Town Of Mirrors, shipping soon. So get your order in and introduce your coffee table to the Bob!

Original Robert Pollard collages are still available at reasonable prices from Bob's online art gallery. Now would be the time to take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, before this book hits the shelves and the prices go up.

Boston Spaceships' "Winston's Atomic Bird" Video Contest

2008-08-22T14:20:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the lack of updates lately. Was on vacation in Poland (of all places) for a week and really stressed out and uber busy before and after my trip.

But the good news is that the Bob train keeps on a rollin'! Pollard's new band, Boston Spaceships is sponsoring his first ever video contest, with a grand prize of a vinyl copy of their debut LP, Brown Submarine, signed by the entire band! Here is the skinny from the good folks at BS...

On this site you will find an MP3 of "Winston's Atomic Bird"-- the lead track off of Brown Submarine. We're looking for talented (and crazed) souls to create some fantastic visions to this tune. Anything is possible... straight out freak fests, sad British-styled dramas, whatever you think will do the song justice. And did you check out the grand prize above? Not too shabby. So get crackin' on these fine pieces of work and make us all proud.

The mumbo jumbo:
Post your finished videos on YouTube and then contact us at our MySpace page to notify us that your video is ready for viewing. Please don't send us any video files -- just links to your posted YouTube videos. We will then post a link to it from our lovely site for maximum viewing. Only folks who contact us about their work being online will be eligible for the grand prize. After the end date, the band will pick the top 3 and then we will have you, the jury, pick the final winner!

Videos will be accepted until noon PST on Friday Sept 5th. We will post the final 3 videos on Monday Sept. 8th and then you will have until noon PST on Monday Sept. 15th to vote for your favorite video.

And here are the first two entries! Carefully assembled (not unlike Bob's collages) from public domain footage, The Public Library's video is a lot of fun and sexy, to boot. Check it out...

The Heedonists' own Mike Jueneman has crafted his own animated masterpiece, sprinkled with inside jokes and references. Love the rock-out scene in the bandshell, especially...

Why not join in on the fun and make your own Bob-tastic music video? It's not too late...

Winston's Atomic Bird is an excellent lead off track and I am now officially incredibly stoked for Brown Submarine. Speaking of, the album is now available for pre-order from Rockathon Records! It should be shipping earlier than the official September 16th release date. And if you buy it on vinyl through Rockathon, you will get a burned CD copy of the album- cool! And don't forget about the promotional 7" single, "You Satisfy Me", now available from Rockathon and Bostons Spaceships' fall tour, coming to a city near you in September/October...

Robert Pollard - Love Is Stronger Than Witchcraft Video

2008-07-14T15:55:00.000-07:00

Wow, this came out of nowhere. Never knew of this videos existence until a few minutes ago. The clip was apparently shot in the days leading up to the final Guided By Voices show in Chicago on December 31st, 2004 (and is also the source for the Meet The King: Asshole 2 album cover). Bob and his wife Sarah are shown cavorting around his house, driving around town, at a pizza place (Marion's? Hoagie's?), writing up the setlist for the final show and behind the scenes footage shot from the edge of the Metro stage. Great video for a classic tune (off of 2006's From A Compound Eye)...

1997 Guided By Voices Interview Video

2008-07-07T09:23:00.000-07:00

Before their 1997 appearance at Summerstage in Central Park, Guided By Voices (GbVerde) sat down on the bleachers and spoke to MTV about their history and music...

In Bob's Room

2008-07-01T09:43:00.000-07:00

Didja ever wonder what's in Robert Pollard's room? With this month's Spin magazine (article available on the internets here), wonder no more! From Bob's records, to Bob's collage making materials, to Bob's famous boombox, to Bob's boxers- it's all in there. Check it out!

Circus Devils - Get Me Extra! Video

2008-07-01T09:24:00.000-07:00

Dear mutant,

Circus Devils presents GET ME EXTRA!, a short video for a song taken from their upcoming album ATAXIA.

PS: Please be advised that this video contains scenes of unusual magic and interdimensional travel that may upset some viewers. And don't forget to express your outrage and indignation in the comment box. Thanks for watching!

Who Are Carbon Whales?

2008-06-19T11:36:00.000-07:00

Happy Jack Rock Records continues to deliver the goods with the July 15th release of Carbon Whales' 4 song EP entitled South. And the pre-order is now available! The tracklisting for South is...

01 Welcome To Miami
02 Work Into Me
03 False Teeth
04 The Jeep

But who are Carbon Whales?

The band's MySpace page reveals the lineup as...

bob evans: guitar, vocals
joustin clarke: bass, vocals
ride: drums

And here is an mp3 clip from "The Jeep", one of the 4 tracks on South.

The official story from Happy Jack/Rockathon guru Rich T is...

This is a Bob SPONSORED release. Some obscure band from the 70s that Paddy Considine turned Bob on to. There are these 4 songs they did that apparently are the only things they ever recorded. It was never released. Bob really loves it so we tracked them down and asked if we could release it. The singer sounds EXACTLY like Bob. More details next week. It'll be a 7" and a slip jacket CD release.

Sounds great but suspiciously like a Robert Pollard side project. Some quick online investigation reveals no record of a band named Carbon Whales. And for years, Bob similarly denied that the psych band Nightwalker were Guided By Voices (they were). A 70's sounding band that has a singer named Bob, who sounds exactly like Bob, with an album cover by Bob? Hmmm (scratching chin)...

Regardless, color me stoked for another bitchin' Happy Jack release in the not too distant future!

EAT 5 And 6 Announced!

2008-06-18T16:36:00.000-07:00

As a regular reader of Pop Zeus, you already know that EAT is Robert Pollard and Rockathon Records' continuing series of literary/art journals. And EAT 5 (to be released on July 15th, pre-order now available!) and EAT 6 (September 15th, 2008) are primed and ready to warp your mind and melt your eyeballs.

First up is EAT 5: The Dogshit Chronicles. This all text issue is something special, check the word from my main man, Rich T...

EAT 5 will be out shortly and it is unlike any of the other EATs. It is actually a book of stories written by Bob. True stories of his times in Northridge. Really crazy stories written about some really crazy people.

And Bob sez...

It’s just going to be the very best drinking, crazy-ass party stories that I can conjure. The “How the hell did I survive that?” kind of thing. Kind of like the Basketball Diaries, but it’s the Dogshit Chronicles. It mainly has to do with alcohol, not heroin or whatever... I’ve got shitloads of them. But I can’t always come up with them, because they’re not like we went out and fucking burned a building down or something. It’s just where we went out and shit that we didn’t expect to happen would happen. The next day we go, “Jesus Christ, we’re lucky we didn’t kill ourselves.” Those kinds of things.

Sounds hilarious! And like EAT 4, EAT 6 will be another all-collage issue.

If the print runs of these EATs are anything like the others, they will be limited editions and could go out of print. So make sure you order early and often, kids...

Boston Spaceships Revealed! Band Members, Tracklist, Preview MP3, Tour Dates, Etc...

2008-06-16T17:39:00.000-07:00

As reported earlier, Robert Pollard has a new band called Boston Spaceships! And many more details have come to light regarding who, what, where, when and why...

First and foremost, the all-star touring lineup for Boston Spaceships is...

Robert Pollard: vocals and songwriter

Tommy Keene (The Ascended Masters and Keene Brothers): lead guitar and keyboard

Jason Narducy (The Ascended Masters and Bob Mould Band): bass

Chris Slusarenko (Guided By Voices and The Takeovers): other guitar

John Moen (The Decembrists and The Takeovers): drums

It's like the ultimate Marvel Team-Up with the Ascended Masters joining forces with The Takeovers! A powerhouse unit, without a doubt...

The band's debut album, Brown Submarine (dropping [pun intended] September 2nd on Pollard's own label Guided By Voices Inc.) was recorded in Portland with Slusarenko on everything but drums (Moen, obviously). Bob's vocals were recorded sometime later by Todd Tobias at Waterloo Studios.

And the tracklisting is...

01 Winston's Atomic Bird
02 Brown Submarine
03 You Satisfy Me
04 Ate It Twice
05 Two Girl Area
06 North 11 A.M.,
07 Zero Fix
08 Psych Threat
09 Andy Playboy
10 Rat Trap
11 Soggy Beavers
12 Ready to Pop
13 Still in Rome
14 Go for the Exit

And Go For The Exit is available right now as an MP3 courtesy of those shaggy haired folks at Pitchfork!

If you have been paying attention, you will instantly recognize Go For The Exit as a re-titled and re-worked Suitcase 1 song (and one of my personal favorites) Go For The Answers. And that's one of the coolest things about the Boston Spaceships project. Pollard is using the band as a way to fully realize old songs that were either released only on Suitcase or weren't released at all. Suitcase songs like Soggy Beavers, It's Easy and Dorothy's A Planet will be among the "brown nuggets" on Boston Spaceships' docket (and some may even be hiding in the tracklisting above, under new titles). Another 1/3rd of the songs will be old songs never heard. And the final 1/3rd will be brand new Pollard compositions. Unlike The Takeovers, all the music will be penned by Pollard.

The news gets even better. Bob considers Boston Spaceships to be his new band. So a new BS album will be released every year! The follow up to Brown Submarine is already in the works. This is not to say that the yearly solo and Circus Devils albums will cease production. Never underestimate the Pollard work ethic!

Thankfully, we won't have to wait until September to get some Boston Spaceships wax on our turntables. The debut single, You Satisfy Me b/w Impossible Octopus will be released as a 7" red vinyl single on Happy Jack Rock Records, August 5th!

Soon after Brown Submarine launches, the fully formed Boston Spaceships will hit the road to bring you the rock! Expect to hear an all-new setlist (GBV free, so I've heard) of Boston Spaceships tunes, new solo Pollard and other surprises. Here are the dates and opening acts...

09-25 Cincinnati, OH - Midpoint Music Festival *
09-26 Cleveland Heights, OH - Grog Shop *
09-27 Washington, DC - Black Cat *
09-29 Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's *
09-30 Boston, MA - Paradise #
10-01 New York, NY - Highline Ballroom *
10-03 Ann Arbor, MI - Blind Pig *
10-04 Dayton, OH - Dayton Music Festival
10-06 Chicago, IL - Double Door *
10-07 St. Paul, MN - Turf Club *
10-09 Champaign, IL - Higher Ground *
10-10 St. Louis, MO - Bluebird *
10-11 Memphis, TN - Hi-Tone *
10-14 Austin, TX - The Parish *
10-15 Dallas, TX - The Loft *
10-17 Atlanta, GA - The Earl *
10-18 Nashville, TN - Mercy Lounge *

* with the High Strung
# with Big Dipper

Robert Pollard Interview Reveals New Band "Boston Spaceships" And Fall Tour News!

2008-05-09T15:59:00.000-07:00

Wowa-wee-wa! Huge news in the world of Bob! In a new interview with Billboard Magazine, Robert Pollard discusses details about the making of Off To Business and Guided By Voices Inc., a completely new band called Boston Spaceships, a full-fledged tour with Boston Spaceships and another new Circus Devils album! But don't take my word for it.

Regarding Off To Business, Bob sez...

"I made the album purposely into more of a classic rock-styled record, where I was a little more disciplined with my songwriting approach. Almost a semi-prog rock record, although it's a pop record too. Kind of in the vein of Peter Gabriel’s first solo album. It's a starting point."

And Bob almost released Off To Business as a new Guided By Voices album (a very good sign)...

"But then I thought it might be construed as I’m trying to capitalize on the name to sell more records -- and I didn’t want it to appear that way. My manager decided, 'Why don't we call that the label -- Guided By Voices Inc.?"

And the possibility of GBV Inc. releasing other band's albums is mentioned. One band that will definitely be on the label is the mysterious new Boston Spaceships...

"I continue to work with Todd Tobias, and we do the Circus Devils thing -- we have a Circus Devils record finished, and we've got another one we're going to work on soon. And I've got another project that I'm not really going to go into, because I want there to be a little bit of mystery about it – a new band I'm forming called Boston Spaceships. I'm not quite sure who's going to be involved, but I plan on that being my new band."

And I have it on good authority that Boston Spaceships will be Bob's touring band in the fall (a full-fledged tour including Dayton and Boston, at the very least)...

"I think I'm going to out in the fall -- after I have this album and a couple of more things finished, and I have a lot of material to work with. My goal is I don’t want to play anything I've played live before live. I know a lot of people expect ... 'Gold Heart Mountain Top Queen Directory' and 'Cut-Out Witch' and things like that. I've been doing things like that for so long that I'm sick of doing that.... I want to play not necessarily mostly new stuff, but the older songs, I want them to be obscure -- like songs from 'Suitcase.'"

Exciting news all around! Can't wait to hear who exactly is in Boston Spaceships (ex-GBV members? The Ascended Masters?), what will be on the Boston Spaceship debut and where the tour will bring us the Bob.

Doug Gillard - Solo Shows In Cleveland This Weekend!

2008-05-01T13:19:00.000-07:00

If you are fortunate enough to dwell in the greater Cleveland area, you have two opportunities this weekend to see the mighty Doug Gillard! And these are solo acoustic and electric shows, meaning new material from Doug's upcoming solo album will be showcased alongside a few old favorites, no doubt. And let me tell ya, the new stuff is brilliant and brings the rock!

Friday night's 7 PM show is "Words and Music" at Tri-C Metro campus (2900 Community College Ave., Cleveland, OH 44115- for more info call 216-987-3277) with Don Dixon (of REM production fame), Carlos Jones, and Tom Wiggins.

And on Saturday, the gig is Beachland Tavern (15711 Waterloo Rd, Cleveland, OH 44110- for more info call 216-383-1124) with California Speedbag at 9:30 PM.

Have fun and report back here with your thoughts on the shows!

Robert Pollard Is Off To Business Available For Pre-Order!

2008-05-01T11:41:00.000-07:00

Exciting news, kids. Bob Pollard's new 10 song LP, Off To Business is now available for pre-order from Rockathon Records! If you have been loving the Weatherman And Skin Goddess EP as much as I have (Coat Factory Zero is a monster), you have been waiting for this opportunity.

Plus, all vinyl orders from Rockathon will include a professional replicated CDR of the album. They only have 500 wax copies, so get yr orders in pronto. The other 500 LPs will be in stores without the CDR.

And on top of that, Rockathon will ship Off To Business in mid-May, in spite of the official June 3rd release date! But keep it under your hat- what the retail stores don't know won't hurt them...

Robert Pollard Is Off To Business will be Robert Pollard's only proper "Robert Pollard" full-length for 2008, released on Robert Pollard's own new label Guided By Voices, Inc. At 10 songs and 35 minutes, it's an extraordinary rock tour-de-force. Robert Pollard Is Off To Business sports Todd Tobias' cleanest and meanest production yet, giant songs and riffs that pack a wallop, and arguably Pollard's finest singing ever captured on record. For Pollard, whose albums normally run 15-25 songs, this 10-song work (the majority of the songs 3:30 or longer) is a departure from form. Since freeing himself of a band in 2004, his albums have each had very distinct and varied flavors, and his creativity has flowered.

Pollard Pardy Documentary Videos

2008-05-01T11:14:00.000-07:00

These clips are pretty self-explanatory, but here's the deal in a nutshell: a Robert Pollard fan by the name of Johny Bekavac filmed a documentary of his road trip to the Robert Pollard shows late last year. And while assembling and editing the footage, he has released two excellently crafted trailers and the full mind-blowing credit sequence on YouTube. Brilliant work, my man and I can't wait for the finished product!..

Guided By Voices' Quality Of Armor In Canadian Car Commercial

2008-04-17T15:58:00.000-07:00

I've been hearing about this Nissan Versa ad (currently only airing in Canada) for quite a few months now. And finally the clip has hit YouTube! Hardcore Geebs fans will instantly recognize the tune Quality Of Armor from 1992's classic Propeller. A 16 year old rock song advertising a subcompact sedan? Why the hell not. More power (and much deserved cash flow) to you, Bob!

Robert Pollard - Weatherman And Skin Goddess EP Available For Pre-Order

2008-03-28T10:16:00.000-07:00

The first single off of "Robert Pollard Is Off To Business", Weatherman And Skin Goddess, is now available for pre-order from Rockathon Records! The limited edition EP (1000 CDs, 500 12" LPs) due April 15th is also the debut release on Pollard's new Guided By Voices, Inc. record label. Word is that Weatherman And Skin Goddess is just as rockin' and catchy as the previously released Off To Business single Gratification To Concrete. Along with the title track, two non-album tracks Kiss the Quiet Man and Coat Factory Zero will be along for the ride. Don't sleep on this one, kids!

The Textbook Committee In Chicago This Saturday!

2008-03-25T22:09:00.000-07:00

There's a whole lotta bands in the history of rock. And there is an equal lot of cover bands emulating their rock and roll heroes. In the case of The Guided By The Voices, the live shows were such an essential part of the Geebs experience. So it's no wonder that a crop of amazing GBV tribute bands have sprouted up over the last few years.

One of my personal favorites are the mighty Heedonists, spawned from the GBV message board Disarm The Settlers (and the heed of The Heed) for the sole purpose of playing Heedfest I. And they brought the rock with authority. Ever since, the Heedonists have been in high demand- playing both Bob Pollard's 50th birthday party and a GBV tribute night at Southgate House in Cincinnati. Equally brilliant are the lovely Canadian ladies of The Girl Guides (links for all these bands with music clips, tour dates, etc. will be permanently housed in the links over there --->)

But there's a special place in my heart for Chicago's own Textbook Committee. Had a blast hanging out in teh windy city with Andrew and TTC for their November '07 gig opening for Pollard. Then I shared an equally harrowing and hilarious van pool with the band through a blizzard down to Bob's Southgate House show (Karl Malone and Sam Malone, maligned).

This winter, Blob Pollard (or Tobin Stout) and The Textbook Committee have been on tour, melting faces in Newport, KY (with The Heedonists et al at the aforementioned GBV tribute night), Brooklyn (with Doug Gillard!) and Minneapolis (with The Girl Guides and John Sellers). Wish I could have gotten the word out about those amazing shows sooner. Alas, my life took an unexpected turn a month and a half ago (more on this later).

But its not too late for the final show on their home ice in Chicago this very Saturday (3/29)! Here's Andrew with the good word...

Resuming their roles as “Shitty Guided By Voices”, The Textbook Committee will embark on some serious freedom cruising around the Eastern half of the United States as the 2008 edition of the Electrifying Delusion tour comes your way.

Sat. 3/29/08 – Chicago, IL
The Textbook Committee
Tom Daily and the Volunteers
The Handcuffs

9:00 p.m. / Ages 21+

@The Note
1565 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Chicago, IL

U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!

Circus Devils - Eye Razors Video

2008-03-24T10:01:00.000-07:00

Well, alright! The heavy duty rock and roll of Eye Razors is here to burn your ears and melt your eyeballs. And according to the video notes, the album upon which you will find Eye Razors, Circus Devils' forthcoming Ataxia, will be released in October '08. Check it...

Conceived by Todd Tobias and Steve Five. Starring Sgt. Disco, Steve Five, Cory Race, Dawn Loske, Todd Tobias and Melinda. Camera by Emily Dye. The song EYE RAZORS will be available on circus devils' October, 2008 release titled "ataxia."

Nice work Todd and company!

Robert Pollard Is Off To Business - New Solo Album, New Record Label And MP3 Available For Download!

2008-02-18T12:13:00.000-08:00

Hold onto your hats, my rock 'n' roll children! Those snarky hipsters over at Pitchfork have spilled the beans on Robert Pollards new solo album, titled "Robert Pollard Is Off To Business"! As a regular reader of Pop Zeus, you already knew that this Pollard/Todd Tobias colaboration was on its way (and had a clue to its title). But what was not known is that Pollard would be parting ways with previous label Merge Records. The June 3rd CD/LP release of Off To Business will debut on Pollard's new record label Guided By Voices, Inc.- run by manager-extraordinaire DJ Rich Turiel, manager David Newgarden and business manager Eric Weiss. Clocking in at a mere 35 minutes, the 10 song tracklist is as follows...

01 The Original Heart
02 The Blondes
03 1 Years Old
04 Gratification to Concrete
05 No One but I
06 Weatherman and Skin Goddess
07 Confessions of a Teenage Jerk-Off
08 To the Path!
09 Western Centipede
10 Wealth and Hell-Being

And you, yes you can download Gratification To Concrete (courtesy of Pitchfork) right this very minute! I loved this song after just one listen and I'm positive you will too.

But before Robert Pollard Is Off To Business, April 8th will bring the CD/12" single Weatherman and Skin Goddess! Only available through Pollard's official site, this single will also include 2 non-album tracks Kiss the Quiet Man and Coat Factory Zero. So mark your calendars, kids. And I will be updating my handy-dandy Pollard release calendar in the meantime...

Upcoming Robert Pollard Projects: Early 2008 Edition (Updated Againe!)

2008-02-18T12:12:00.000-08:00

(Updated! Added Robert Pollard Is Off To Business, Circus Devils release date and tracklist info and Weatherman And Skin Goddess EP news...)

I am proud to bring back one of the more popular posts on Pop Zeus, namely the upcoming Robert Pollard release calendar! Our prolific Uncle Bob has so many irons in the fire at any given time, having one spot to sort it all out is invaluable (for me included). Baby New Year 2008, like Old Man 2007 promises to be another incredible one for Robert Pollard and Guided By Voices music (and art!). Here is what we know...

Robert Pollard "Happy Jack Rock Records Single Series"
(Rockathon Records. Available for pre-order now!)
The awesome Happy Jack Rock Records Single Series will continue its extremely reliable monthly rock injections well into the new year! This 7"-of-the-month club celebrating the release of Standard Gargoyle Decisions and Coast To Coast Carpet Of Love, is available now from our friends at Rockathon Records! If you haven't yet subscribed, you have already missed must-haves singles and b-sides like Rud Fins, Battle For Mankind, Be In The Wild Place and the long lost Sixland. But its not too late- every 45 in the series is still available from Rockathon. Here is what 2008 will bring to your turntable...

January 22
HJRR-8 Youth Leagues b/w Spirit Of The Fly

February 22
HJRR-9 Folded Claws b/w Speak Again

March 22
HJRR-10 When We Were Slaves b/w Battle For Mankind 2

April 22
HJRR-11 The Killers b/w Revolver Tricks (Stanley West)

May 22
HJRR-12 Miles Under The Skin b/w Frostman (Long Version)

Robert Pollard "Superman Was A Rocker" mini-LP/CD
(Happy Jack Rock Records. January 30th, 2008 / vinyl late February)
From out of the blue comes Superman Was A Rocker! Robert Pollard has dug deep into his suitcase of tapes and found 15 instrumentals that he either wrote or co-wrote, from as far back as 20 years ago to 2007. Paring that bunch down to 12 tracks (clocking in at 30 minutes), Pollard then made the pilgrimage to Todd Tobias' Waterloo Studios to record new vocals. The only exception is the final track, More Hot Dogs Please, which retains the original vocals and lyrics from GBV's early basement days.

So one could easily argue that this LP is a new Guided By Voices release- it features the music of Mitch Mitchell, Kevin Fennell, Tobin Sprout, Kevin March, Doug Gillard, Tim Tobias and Nate Farley! And rumor has it that the track "Love Your Spaceman" is amazing, even more amazing considering it was crafted by the unusual songwriting team of Bob Pollard and Kevin March.

To top it off, Disarm The Settlers' own super-creative "Crunch" (aka Dave, subject of an earlier post) designed the Warhol-esque Bob image that graces the cover. You rock, my friend!

The Superman Was A Rocker tracklist is...

01 Another Man's Blood
02 Go Down First
03 Back to the Farm
04 Substitute Heaven
05 Prince Alphabet
06 You Drove the Snake Crazy
07 Surveillance
08 Fascination Attempt
09 Love Your Spaceman
10 Jumping
11 St. Leroy
12 Peacock
13 More Hot Dogs Please

The Takeovers "Little Green Onion Man" EP/CD
(Off Records/Happy Jack Rock Records. February 12th, 2008)
The Takeovers are back in early February to bring the rock and warp your brain. This limited edition 4 song EP (including Bad Football's previously released track Little Green Onion Man) features the usual rotating cast of guest musicians, this time including John Moen of Stephen Malkmus/The Decemberists, Sam Coomes of Quasi/Blues Goblins and Brian Berg of 44 Long. Sonically, it falls square in the middle of Turn To Red and Bad Football, which sounds pretty not bad to me! For more detailed info, check out this page at Off Records website. The short but sweet tracklist is as follows...

01 Little Green Onion Man
02 Rich Man’s Girl
03 Wigstomper 07
04 Instigator

Psycho And The Birds "We've Moved" LP/CD
(Happy Jack Rock Records. February 26th, 2008?)
February shall bring the return of Robert Pollard and Todd Tobias' lo-fi side project Psycho And The Birds! Previous releases have showcased Bob's scratchy boombox demos with Todd's creepy instrumentals layered over top. And many Psycho And The Birds tracks have morphed into more fully realized songs on later Bob releases. The tracklist be...

01 Person Who Lives in a Thundercloud
02 Rains Remain
03 I Love a Revolution
04 Enon Beach
05 Franklin's Famous Graham Cracker Crust
06 Tomorrow Man
07 Corona Grande
08 She Tears Out
09 Love Theory
10 Hound Has the Advantage
11 Poor Old Pine
12 I'm Never Gonna Leave, You're Never Gonna Win
13 Hybertech Green
14 Sharp Apples
15 We've Moved

Robert Pollard "Weatherman And Skin Goddess" EP/CD
(Guided By Voices, Inc. April 15th.)
The first single off of "Robert Pollard Is Off To Business", Weatherman And Skin Goddess will also be the debut release on Pollard's new Guided By Voices, Inc. record label! Along with the title track, two non-album tracks Kiss the Quiet Man and Coat Factory Zero will be along for the ride. Looking forward to this early taste of Bob Pollard's new sound!

Robert Pollard "Robert Pollard Is Off To Business" LP/CD
(Guided By Voices, Inc. June 3rd.)
Much more information has come to light regarding Robert Pollard's next solo LP with Todd Tobias! The tracks were laid down at Tobias' Waterloo Studio in January. And word on the street is that this is a true "classic rock" album. Here is the tracklist, kids...

01 The Original Heart
02 The Blondes
03 1 Years Old
04 Gratification to Concrete
05 No One but I
06 Weatherman and Skin Goddess
07 Confessions of a Teenage Jerk-Off
08 To the Path!
09 Western Centipede
10 Wealth and Hell-Being

Robert Pollard "Town of Mirrors : The Reassembled Imagery of Robert Pollard" Hardcover Book
(Fantagraphics Books. June 2008.)
This may be the 2008 project I'm most excited about. Following a December art gallery show in Manhattan (subject of a forthcoming post), Fantagraphics Books (home to many of my favorite comic books) will be releasing this deluxe 10"x10" coffee-table book collection of over 140 Bob-picked collages and favorite song lyrics! If you already love Pollard's literary/art journal EAT, Town Of Mirrors is a no-brainer. Fantagraphics Books' blog recently posted about the book as follows...

"Town of Mirrors is the first and most comprehensive collection of Pollard's visual art ever released. Pollard's collages are the visual equivalent of his poetic and imagistic lyrics, surreal and reminiscent of the collages of artists ranging from Jack Kirby to Winston Smith. The book features an introduction by Rick Moody (The Ice Storm), an avowed Pollard fan.

Using collage elements from 1930s-60s era magazines, pamphlets and found obscure pictoral paperbacks as his primary tool, he portrays allegorical personas and hallucinogenic-type environments to create small, almost random synapses of unmistakable compositions with sardonic titles, each serving as a story unto itself. The Artist's media utilizes the archetypes of the working class, becoming pawn deities and martyrs found within the strata of near fantasy religion and the collective unconscious."

Didja? ;)

Circus Devils "Ataxia" LP/CD
(Happy Jack Rock Records. October, 31st 2008.)
The follow-up to Sgt. Disco (what many consider to be the best Circus Devils album) is already recorded and on its way! According to inside sources, Ataxia "fucking rocks", is the heaviest Pollard release in years and is influenced by Black Sabbath and Devo (?). And it looks to be another "October Surprise" for Ataxia, as Circus Devils returns to their traditional Halloween release date. Here is the tracklist...

01 under review
02 rat faced ballerina
03 eye razors
04 freedom's monster
05 backwash television
06 the girls will make it happen
07 mayflower brought disease
08 stars, stripes and crack pipes
09 ataxia (inst.)
10 nets at every angle
11 hi, i'm martha. how are you?
12 lunatic style
13 get me extra!
14 i found the black mind
15 he had all day
16 fuzz in the street

Guided By Voices "Some Drinking Implied 2" DVD
(Rockathon Records. Tentative release date late 2008?)
Even though this home brew Guided By Voices DVD from the folks at Rockathon didn't see the light of day in 2007, 2008 might just be our lucky year! Expect to see recent live footage of both GBV and Robert Pollard, never before seen rare clips from Bob and Rich T's personal collection and as many of GBV's TV appearances as they can scrounge up. I'm in!

And that just about covers it... so far...

Hungover And Hungry For Fishsticks (Everybody Thinks I'm A Raincloud Live Video) - Updated!

2008-02-05T12:00:00.000-08:00

(It's baaaaaaaack...)

Bob and the boys final TV appearance on some Irish guy's "late night" show, performing one of my favorites- Everybody Thinks I'm A Raincloud (When I'm Not Looking) from Half Smiles Of The Decomposed. Check it out before it's yanked down by evil corporate thugs!

Guided By Voices
Uploaded by jesus_lizard

It's too late, the thugs have struck. Sorry folks. Hope you got to see it before it went down. More videos and updates to come!

Psycho And The Birds - We've Moved Available For Pre-Order And Preview MP3 Download

2008-02-05T11:57:00.000-08:00

Hey now! The next chapter of Bob Pollard's 2008 musical wonderland (check this link for the full tracklist), Psycho And The Birds' We've Moved, is now available for pre-order from Rockathon Records! In keeping with the previous P&TB releases, Pollard has turned over a bunch of boombox demos to producer/collaborator/multi-instrumentationalist (is that a word?) Todd Tobias. And as in the past, songs from this side project end up on future big releases. So it's a interesting peek into Pollard's songwriting process. And the word from Rockathon HQ is very promising...

This time around they totally nail the process, and if the music world actually allowed artists like Bob a chance to have a hit, this album would actually be chock full of them. Songs like I Love a Revolution and Enon Beach are filled with undeniable likeability and pop goodness. Bob even pulls out some lyrics that he said he first wrote as a kid in the song She Tears Out.

In some ways, Psycho And The Birds are becoming to Robert Pollard's solo albums what Robert Pollard solo albums were to Guided By Voices releases. It's a more user friendly Psycho And The Birds, more charming.

Sounds delicious! And keep in mind that, as usual, the vinyl is limited to 500 copies. So don't dilly-dally.

If you are still not sold, check out this free mp3 download of Enon Beach. And the rest of the tracks on We've Moved can also be previewed in 30 second chunks on Amazon (but the fastest and best way to order a physical copy of any Pollard side project is through Rockathon, trust me).

Guided By Voices - Everywhere With Helicopter Video

2008-02-05T11:50:00.000-08:00

Here is the rarely seen Guided By Voices video for Everywhere With Helicopter off of 2002's Universal Truths And Cycles. Apparently, the clip is not exactly a band (or Bob) favorite to say the least and therefore wasn't included in any video collection. But its still cool getting a chance to see it.

Space Mountain! WOO!..

Guided By Voices - Everywhere With
Uploaded by jesus_lizard

Indienella - Game Of Pricks Live Video

2008-01-20T01:07:00.000-08:00

Northern Spain's own Indienella (Sofia on drums/vocals and Luis on guitar/vocals) have an infectious self-described "bubblegum lo-fi garage pop" style. And this cover of Game Of Pricks is suitably rocking. Luis and I also agree that Guided By Voices is the best band ever. So there you have it...

Robert Pollard - Superman Was A Rocker Available For Pre-Order And Preview MP3 Download (Updated)

2008-01-16T13:16:00.000-08:00

(Looks like there is a slight delay in the pressing of Superman Was A Rocker. The CD will be shipping from Rockathon Records on January 30th, in stores on February 11th. And the vinyl will not be ready until the end of February. Considering how spoiled we are with our mountain of Pollard music, I think we can afford to wait a bit until everything's square.)

Happy 2008, kids! I'm back from the dead, roused from my internet non-existance to bring much news from the Bob-iverse. Over the next few days, watch this space for both long overdue and more timely announcements...

First off, this very day is day one for pre-orders of Pollard's inaugural 2008 album, Superman Was A Rocker! Our long-lived friends at Rockathon Records are standing by for your order of this Happy Jack Rock Records release (available January 29th in both the popular CD and vinyl formats).

As discussed in the 2008 release thread (newly updated), this mini-LP is very unique- over 20 years of hand-picked Guided By Voices and solo instrumentals with new Robert Pollard vocals and melodies over top. It features GBV collaborators Mitch Mitchell, Kevin Fennell, Tobin Sprout, Kevin March, Doug Gillard, Tim Tobias and Nate Farley. Yes way!

Speaking of, a sneak preview MP3 of the previously (and deservedly) hyped single "Love Your Spacemen" is available this very moment for download and listening pleasure! The unheard-of songwriting duo of Bob Pollard and Kevin March have come up with a gem. Check it out.

And while you're whipped up in a rock frenzy, take a moment to enjoy a preview of Navalorama's Superman Was A Rocker webpage! It's still under construction but my man in Belgium, Dave Crunelle (creator of the Superman Was A Rocker cover art and graphics), has even more info and fun to share about this amazing release.

Good times for Pollard fans, superman and mere mortals alike...

The Beatles - Hey Bulldog Video

2008-01-14T14:05:00.000-08:00

As explained in this clip's youtube notes, a few years ago Apple Corps figured out that the promotional video for Lady Madonna was actually footage of The Beatles recording Hey Bulldog! So here is a rare glimpse of everyones favorite band having fun in the studio, creating one of their most rockin' tunes ever. And if you haven't already, go pick up the Yellow Submarine Songtrack- a superiorly remixed and remastered version of Hey Bulldog plus all the other classic Beatles tunes from the film.

What makes you think you're something special when you smile?

"Do The Collage" Robert Pollard Art Exhibit Online

2008-01-13T21:31:00.000-08:00

Of all the Robert Pollard events in 2007 (and there were many), the one I regret missing the most (and the only one I missed, come to think of it) was Do The Collage. From December 9th to the 10th, Michael Imperioli's Studio Dante in Manhattan hosted a very successful exhibit of Robert Pollard's collages. As a long time admirer of his visual art (the perfect accompaniment to and sharing many of the same aesthetics as his music) and a fellow artist, I wish I could have been there to support Bob in this way. But with a holiday trip to New Jersey already planned for just weeks later, it was not meant to be.

But the good news is that we can all virtually enjoy Do The Collage thanks to the magic of the internet! A good place to start is this informative Spin article about the exhibit. Then, visit Robert Pollard's own website which is hosting the full online version, showcasing both the sold and unsold, framed and unframed collages. And the coolest thing is that you, yes you, can purchase your own piece of Robert Pollard original art! Many beautiful and provocative collages are still available, some at relatively inexpensive prices. And the truly budget-minded should not forget that you can always pick up Pollard's collage-crammed EAT literary magazines from Rockathon Records.

So many amazing pieces were on display at Studio Dante including album cover collages both old (Mag Earwig, Half Smiles Of The Decomposed, Sgt. Disco, Standard Gargoyle Decisions) and new (Circus Devils' Ataxia and Robert Pollard's untitled 2008 LP). Some of my favorites are below...

The Who - Happy Jack Live Video

2008-01-08T00:12:00.000-08:00

Keith Moon = greatest rock drummer ever. Exhibit A through Z: this video from 1:08 onward. Wait for it...

The Takeovers - Little Green Onion Man EP Available For Pre-Order

2008-01-07T20:32:00.000-08:00

Hey now. The Takeovers newest-of-the-new Little Green Onion Man EP is now available for pre-order from Off Records! To be honest, its actually been on pre-order for about a month. But I have been negligently offline of late. Sorry folks.

The previous Takeovers albums are two of my favorite post-GBV Pollard releases. And this 4 track (3 new ones, 1 old one) nugget of goodness from the ever rotating cast of Takeovers (plus Chris Slusarenko and Bob) will be hitting store shelves on February 12th. But early-bird internet orders will ship on February 1st- nice! And the EP is limited to 950 copies on CD, 950 on vinyl. So get yer order in today, for crying out loud!

Robert Pollard Shows In Chicago And Newport, KY This Weekend!

2007-11-26T19:02:00.000-08:00

Just a heads-up that this very weekend are the Robert Pollard rock shows at The Metro in Chicago and the legendary Southgate House in Newport, Kentucky (aka Shitty Cincinnati)! If you haven't bought your tickets yet, local folks, what are you waiting for? Go check out my previous post for all the details about the new band, venues, tickets, etc. Of course, I will be attending both shows, ready to rock out with all my Pollardian brothers and sisters. Word.

Guided By Voices - Back To The Lake Video

2007-11-17T14:27:00.000-08:00

How can I tell you all that is wrong
Nothing invites you
Can't get along with you now
(and I try to)
There is a page
It's still unwritten
Why can't you find time in your schedule to pick up?..

Oh, pick up for God's sake when we call you back to the lake

Reminder: Doug Gillard / Stewart Pack With Superdrag Tour Begins This Weekend

2007-10-11T14:30:00.000-07:00

If you live in Chicago, here's a friendly reminder to go check out the Superdrag reunion tour this weekend! Doug Gillard will be on lead guitar with Stewart Pack's band as the opening act, perhaps playing some of Doug's songs too! Here are the dates and venues for the tour...

Oct 13th 8PM Metro - Chicago, Illinois
Oct 19th 8PM Barley’s Taproom - Knoxville, Tennessee
Oct 20th 8PM Barley’s Taproom - Knoxville
Nov 2nd 8PM The Fillmore @ Irving Plaza - New York, New York
Nov 3rd 8PM Paradise - Boston, Massachusetts
Nov 8th 10PM 9:30 Club - Washington DC

And go check out this Knoxville Daily Times article about Gillard and Pack's collaboration and the upcoming gigs.

Robert Pollard - Shadow Port Video

2007-10-11T14:14:00.000-07:00

Robert Pollard's evil twin LPs Standard Gargoyle Decisions and Coast To Coast Carpet Of Love found their way to your local record shop this past Tuesday, Ocotober 9th! If you've been spinning them since then, you already know that Shadow Port is a standout track. And this official video perfectly complements the song. A collection of Pollard's recent collages, including the album cover, is expertly edited to the music. Enjoy the clip!..

Robert Pollard Official Tour Dates And Band Revealed!

2007-10-04T22:17:00.000-07:00

The day has finally come! The official announcement that fans have been clamoring for- Robert Pollard will be playing two live shows at the end of November featuring a crew of Narducy-assembled Chicago based backing musicians! These are the only 2007 shows, kids. So don't miss them! The band shall be...

Robert Pollard - frontman
Jason Narducy (of the Ascended Masters) - bass, backing vox
David Suycott (of Stabbing Westward fame) - drums
Dag Juhlin (of Poi Dog Pondering fame) - guitar, backing vox
Mitch Marlow (of Avalanche Rescue Team / The Gnomes fame) - guitar

And here are the official dates, venues and ticket info...

Friday November 30th
Chicago, IL
Metro
Tickets on sale Saturday Oct. 6th at Ticketmaster

Saturday December 1st
Newport, KY (aka Cincinnati)
Southgate House
Tickets on sale tomorrow (Friday Oct. 5th) at 10AM EST at the Southgate House website
(and tickets for the Southgate show will be just $10!)

Of course, I will be attending both shows- travel plans have already been arranged. Just gotta get up tomorrow at 7AM PST to get my Southgate ticket. So I'll see you there for two incredible nights of rock!

Amazing Japanese Guided By Voices Cover Band - 5 Videos

2007-09-29T22:53:00.000-07:00

Found these videos a few days ago and my mind is still totally blown. These as yet unidentified kids comprise a great Guided By Voices cover band! Especially impressive is the girl on lead guitar and harmony vocals- check out her ripping solos on Surgical Focus and Teenage FBI. Anyone who knows Japanese (I took Japanese 101 back in the day but I hardly remember a thing and certainly didn't learn any kanji) and can tell me more info about them (band name, where from, etc.), it would be greatly appreciated.

The clips showcase the late 90's - early 00's GBV stylings of Fair Touching, Skills Like This, Chasing Heather Crazy, Surgical Focus and Teenage FBI (Do The Collapse version), respectively. Not surprising considering that the only GBV gigs in Japan were in 2000 and that many of their later-day Matador/TVT LPs had Japanese releases (with coveted bonus tracks). Makes one wonder how many hardcore Geebs fans there are across the language barrier between our two countries...

Robert Pollard's EAT 4 "The All Collage Issue" - Now Available!

2007-09-28T22:28:00.000-07:00

This one kinda snuck up on me- too dang busy, I suppose. Regardless, Robert Pollard's mighty literary journal/magazine EAT is already up to issue number four. And its just now available courtesy of our friends at Rockathon Records!

If you love Pollard's cover collages (and hate reading words) as much as I do, this is the issue for you. 48 full color pages, 72 collages in total- nuthin' but collages! Check out the sample collage "Lightninghead To Coffee Pot" below for a taste of what to expect. If the history of EAT tells us anything, much of the art is sure to be featured on future Bob albums. And as always, EAT 4 is a limited print run. So don't come crying to me if you miss the boat!

Also of note is that some of the pieces in EAT 4 will be a part of Robert Pollard's not-yet-finalized NYC October art gallery show! And can you say "Robert Pollard coffee table art book"? Keep checking the blog for more details about these exciting developments as they become known!

Robert Pollard's Coast To Coast Carpet Of Love / Standard Gargoyle Decisions - Full Albums Now Streaming!

2007-09-25T13:20:00.000-07:00

Go now to Merge Records homepage and clicky the buttons for Robert Pollard's new evil twin LPs Coast To Coast Carpet Of Love and Standard Gargoyle Decisions, the full albums now streaming for your listening pleasure! They sound f'in great to me so far. And if you like what you hear, pony up on October 9th and support yr Uncle Bob. Thank you Merge and enjoy this preview, kids!

Doug Gillard Charlotte Show Review

2007-09-20T15:28:00.000-07:00

(show photos courtesy of Enid Valu)

It little over a month ago that I found myself in Charlotte, North Carolina for Doug Gillard’s amazing solo show at Snug Harbor. Found out about Doug’s mini-tour of the Carolinas well in advance, and was instantly tempted despite budgetary concerns. It was not only a rare opportunity to see Doug headline in a small club, but also a chance to preview full band versions of new songs from his upcoming album (regular readers of this blog know what a huge fan I am of Gillard’s first post-GBV solo album Salamander).

So I used the timing of the gig to arrange a long overdue visit to my mom and older brother in the low country of coastal South Carolina (I’m the weird middle child of 3 boys). Said brother Martin was one of the major musical influences in my life- a discriminating rock fan going back to the 70’s. So it didn’t take any convincing at all for him to agree to share the four hour drive up to Charlotte and join me for the gig!

Despite his usually impeccable musical taste, Martin was never really into Guided By Voices. But the long drive up (in his comfortably air conditioned, Sirius satellite radio playing automobile) afforded me an opportunity to play Salamander for him. Thus, an instant Doug Gillard fan was born (he later picked up a copy for himself at the gig)!

The time flew by and before long, we were stepping out into the wall of heat and humidity of Charlotte, North Carolina. Snug Harbor is a cozy dark-wood New Orleans/pirate themed bar in a hip late-night district of the city. Colorful regulars (several burly, bearded and shirtless) mixed in with bespectacled hipsters and packs of lovely ladies on the back patio before the music began. The low stage was tucked away in a corner of the main bar room. Early enough to snag a nearby booth, me and Martin slowly sipped our drinks and relaxed through the opening acts Tonberry and A Decent Animal. I also had the pleasure to run into one of my Disarm The Settlers cohorts "mksmc2000", a local who was more than willing to hang out and talk GBV (to the exclusion of my brother, sorry man).

Midnight approached as Doug Gillard and Fence Lions, a local band friendly with Gillard, took the stage as a crowd gathered around. The close proximity of the audience to the band and the lowness of the stage made for a very intimate and intense rock experience.

Immediately, Gillard proved himself an energized and powerful frontman (comparable to the best I’ve seen), ripping through Salamander single Symbols, Signs. Coiled before the mic like a snake ready to strike, he played his '77 black Les Paul with the mastery I’d witnessed countless times with Guided By Voices and Richard Buckner. But as a solo artist, he simultaneously sang lead vocals and led the band without missing a step. Its not often one sees a lead guitarist fronting a band with the ease of Doug Gillard.

And later, I was amazed to learn that Fence Lions normally play in a more moody and mellow country-influenced rock style, nothing like Gillard’s. After only several rehearsals and performances, they meshed amazingly well with Doug’s music and live performance, bringing a high level of energy and drive to the set. It felt to me as if they had played together for years.

But for me, the sweetest thing about the show was seeing and hearing Gillard unleashed on his own material. From songs I’ve grown to love from Salamander like Goin’ Back, Valpolicella, Me & The Wind, to GBV b-side Free Of This World, to incredible new songs like No One Above You, Gogol Was Rollo, Call From Restricted (many demos of which were featured on Doug’s myspace page at one time or another in the past year), Gillard seemed to relish speaking in his own unique musical voice. And my already high level of excitement for his forthcoming album went through the roof. Major goosepimples hearing those new songs in full bloom.

As a special treat, the band squeezed in a very faithful and rocking cover of The Smiths’ Stop Me If You Think You’ve Heard This One Before. Closing out with the Gillard penned Gem/GBV classic I Am A Tree (a song with more intensely catchy guitar riffs that should be allowed by law) was the icing on the cake. Couldn’t resist pumping a fist in a moment of rawk ecstasy. Here is the full setlist from the gig…

Symbols, Signs
No One Above You
Gibraltar
Gogol Was Rollo
Free of This World
For What I've Done
Love, Blinding Love
Call From Restricted
Stop Me (Smiths cover)
Goin' Back
Valpolicella
Me & The Wind
I Am A Tree

Unfortunately, there was no encore. Gillard and Fence Lions played every single song they knew together! But being a part of an uplifting night of blistering rock… who could ask for more? Both me and my bro had a great time... well worth the cross-country flight and road trip through the Carolinas.

And if you live in major metropolitan area east of the Mississippi, go check out the Superdrag reunion tour this fall. Doug Gillard will be on lead guitar with Stewart Pack's band as the opening act (warm up gig at The World Grotto, Knoxville, Tennessee on September 22), playing songs from Pack's solo projects as well as his former bands, and perhaps some of Doug's songs too! Go check out this new Knoxville Daily Times article about Gillard and Pack's collaboration and the upcoming gig.

Take care my Earth-bound brothers and sisters in rock!

Guided By Voices - Hold On Hope Video Smorgasbord

2007-09-20T01:51:00.000-07:00

Alas, Hold On Hope. Some say it was Guided By Voices' best chance to crack the Billboard Top 100 and hit the big time (whatever that means), others say Robert Pollard should have trusted his instinct and never let it see the light of day (in spite of Cars' frontman and Do The Collapse producer and Ric Ocasek's insistence). It is a lovely song, but is it too lovely (or too creamy, as Bob might say)? Too Everybody Hurts? I say nay. Only the hardest heart would not find beauty in this song. A live staple from 1999-2000 (including a performance on Conan O'Brien), Hold On Hope still remains the GBV song most known by the general public, as evidenced by this video collection. First up though, is a performance on Australian TV (unconfirmed, but its the most likely source) by the Geebs themselves. This may be the best produced and artfully shot TV performance in the band's history. Love the Jimmy Mac drum cam, especially. Check it...

Here is a clip from the show Scrubs (can't be bothered with most network TV myself, tend to dwell in the lower depths of the cable dial) featuring Hold On Hope. This is likely one of the reasons the song is fairly well known. I also recall the song appearing on the Scrubs 2002 soundtrack...

And now we enter the realm of YouTube weirdness (and confirmation of the song's popularity). How about clips from the film RENT set to Hold On Hope? Not good enough? What about Scrubs brethren Grey's Anatomy (another show I've never seen a second of) a la Hold On Hope? Or maybe your tastes run to Japanese anime? Not quite weird enough for you? How about Hold On Hope set to lyrically inappropriate images of poverty and other unrelated world events?

There was an amazing South Park clip on YouTube with Kenny singing Hold On Hope, but unfortunately it seems to have been removed. Brutal!

Richard Buckner / Doug Gillard - A Chance Counsel Live Video (Updated With Improved Audio!)

2007-09-11T21:41:00.000-07:00

I feel like I'm always having to apologize for a lack of posts these days! In my defense, my so-called computer has been acting really screwy since late last week, making my internet connection extremely unreliable. Plus, I have been quite busy working on Pop Zeus along with a couple other art projects... of which I am not at liberty to discuss just yet. But I will. And they are cool! Stay tuned, true believers...

In the meantime, here is an update to an old post. I had the privelege to see two Richard Buckner/Doug Gillard gigs here in San Francisco last year, which I wrote about at the time. But the video for "A Chance Counsel" made at the first show had the typically sludgy blown-out audio only a Powershot can produce. And it bugged me.

Lo and behold, I got my hands on the soundboard audio. And yesterday, with the invaluable assistance of fellow Gargon Terror blogger Sean, I was able combine the two. The end result is a massive improvement! Without a doubt, A Chance Counsel is my favorite Buckner song and this is an amazing performance. Check it out...

PS- The clip cuts out at 3:00 because my camera only takes 3 minutes of video at a time. To preserve the full audio length, a blank slate was inserted into the clip until the video was back up and running.

Albert Hammond Jr. - Postal Blowfish Live Video

2007-09-02T22:44:00.000-07:00

Albert Hammond Jr. is rhythm guitar player for The Strokes, infamous New York based "garage" band whose paths have crossed with Guided By Voices throughout their careers. From being discovered by throwing their demo tape on stage at a GBV show, to opening up for the Geebs, from having Guided By Voices guest star in their Someday video (and simultaneously battling them at "The Feud"), to Hammond's solo record Yours To Keep (the title of a Bee Thousand track). And the icing on the proverbial cake is Hammond's faithful and rocking cover of Guided By Voices' classic Postal Blowfish live in France, December 8, 2006. Enjoy!..

The Takeovers - Bad Football Review

2007-09-02T21:17:00.000-07:00

I will never be a professional music critic. There, I've said it. Snap judgements on anything, especially music, are not my forte. To listen to an album once or twice, then sit down and cast judgement upon it is the height of irresponsibility, in my humblest internet opinion that no one cares about. What if the critic's dog just died or he had a bad burrito that day- wouldn't that factor in? What if, like many critics, they had a natural bias against Robert Pollard for being too prolific / too old / too drunk / not making another Bee Thousand / fill in the blank?

It's a rare day in magic land when I listen to even the most anticipated release and love it right away (and if I do, that's usually a good sign that I will become obsessed with it for a lifetime). Music grows on me, like a fungus in the YMCA's mens locker room. I can't tell you how many records or songs left me feeling "meh" at first, and then became my favoritest (not a word) thing ever.

That said, I decided to take my sweet ass time before reviewing The Takeovers' latest rock record Bad Football. I figured at least 10 listens and I would begin to get a grip on the newest Pollard / Slusarenko (with Pacific Northwest cronies) collaboration. Compounding the problem, the first few times I played the CD was in the car, on a hot day and my air conditioning was broken (still is). It didn't seem fair that I began to associate Bad Football with being stuck in traffic with a sticky shirt. So here we are, 3 months later...

I still brazenly declare that 2006's Turn To Red is Robert Pollard's best post-GBV album. For me, it has the perfect mix of pop creaminess, cosmic weirdness, Waved Out-like darkness and good old-fashioned fun. And former GBV bassist Chris Slusarenko's production and musical contribution was nothing short of brilliant- showing impeccable taste, tons of energy and a dynamic sonic range (including lots of piano and tambourine) that Pollard's melodies had never seen before.

Bad Football is a surprisingly different record. It feels much more traditionally "rawk"- very guitar-centric and stripped down- with buzzing and fuzzing electrics, screeching through their solos, and crashing drums underlying nearly every track. The awesome gun in yr face cover collage and blood red splattered jacket hint at the music within. Slusarenko and his collaborators tear through the songs with abandon. The only breath of fresh air comes from the contemplative but still creepy "Molly & Zack" and the lo-fi "The Year Nobody Died". So in that way, its a much more intense and assaultive rock record than Turn To Red.

Providing unexpected contrast to the heaviness, Robert Pollard's vocal stylings can only be described as extremely raw in a nearly comical way. Pollard growls, whoops, and hollers throughout. B-side track "Music For Us" is particularly insane. There are a few moments of gorgeous harmony ("Father's Favorite Temperature") and vocal creaminess, but for the most part, Bob is hilariously loose and freaky on Bad Football. And the lyrics, when not straightforward and emotionally brazen, are more nonsensical and distant than ever, adding to the silly vibe.

Highlights of the Bad Football include the barnstorming lead-off "You're At It" (with a yummy Malkmus solo and the memorable lyric "this form of suicide's not quick enough, what else ya got?"), the country-fried nurturer "Father's Favorite Temperature", the noncommittal heavy-duty anthem "Pretty Not Bad", the rollicking "I Can See My Dog" and the chugging sing-along album closer "My Will".

And in keeping with Takeovers tradition, Rockathon's own Rich T appears as the narrator in the aforementioned intensely weird "Music For Us". And another lovely old Pollard demo gets redressed in new musical layers with "Smokestack Bellowing Stars" (as "Be It Not For The Serpentine Rain Dodger" did on Turn To Red).

So upon reflection, The Takeovers' Bad Football does indeed sound like being caught in traffic on a hot summer's day with no air conditioning, but in the best possible way! An album of sharp contrasts and heavy guitar flavored rock, fans of raw rockist Robert Pollard have yet another instant classic to sink their teeth into. Though not surpassing the mighty Turn To Red in my eyes, Bad Football does receive a solid 4 everlasting big kicks through the paper-football goal posts, out of a possible 5.

And look out for The Takeovers' Little Green Onion Man EP, coming in late fall from Off Records. It will feature 3 unreleased Bob tracks in a more Turn To Red vibe, with a sick new cover collage. More news as it arrives!..

Fun With Paul Stanley

2007-08-21T00:14:00.000-07:00

Who doesn't love KISS, right? The crass commercialism (everything and I mean everything for your favorite KISS Army member- from Kiss diapers to KISS caskets, literally) and arguable quality of their "greatest hits" aside, I dare anyone to find a more entertaining live rock show. Makeup and costumes, pyrotechnics, fire breathing, blood-spitting, 6 inch platform monster shoes- who could ask for more? And one of the more unintentionally fun aspects of a KISS concert are the screechy, spastic between-song rantings of KISS co-frontman Paul Stanley aka Starchild.

Lately, an album comprised only of Paul Stanley rants has been making the rounds on teh internets. And here is a link to it! Not the kind of thing I normally do, but seeing that its a bootleg anyway, what the heck. Are you prepared for 70 minutes of inane rock cliches and brainless ramblings?

Speaking of, from chilly Winnipeg Manitoba come a most unusual tongue-pressed-firmly-in-cheek KISS tribute band comprised of four Paul Stanleys, aptly called The Paul Stanleys! Behold a completely hilarious video of the legendary McDonalds Incident...

There are more clips of The Paul Stanleys on the same youtube page linked above. And please go check out their myspace page, while you are at it.

Lastly, The Onion recently profiled the best of the worst in on-stage rock banter. Not only does Mister Paul Stanley clock in at #3 on the countdown, but our very own Robert Pollard is right behind at #4 (though apparently bumped from the Onion print edition- wtf)! Anyone who owns the Relaxation Of The Asshole LPs knows the hilarity of Bob's stage banter full well...

Robert Pollard - Standard Gargoyle Decisions & Coast To Coast Carpet Of Love Covers Revealed!

2007-08-20T13:51:00.000-07:00

(images courtesy of the Rich T)

Merge Records, Robert Pollard's current label, recently released an advance/promo CD (for radio stations, reviewers, etc.) of both upcoming (October 9th- mark yr calendars) solo records, Standard Gargoyle Decisions and Coast To Coast Carpet Of Love. Though loyal readers of the Pop Zeus blog already were familiar with the tracklist for both albums (listed above), what is new to everyone is the front cover art below!

The black and white photo of Bob will be the cover to the more pop and creamy Coast To Coast Carpet Of Love (text will be added to the photograph). The colorful collage, already familiar to readers of EAT 3 as a bumper sticker, will be the wrap-around textless cover to the weirder and more prog Standard Gargoyle Decisions. It appears that Bob changed his mind and will not be using the collage from EAT 3 labelled as the cover for Standard Gargoyle Decisions. I honestly like the new one better, so its a choice I stand behind! Click on the images for a closer look...

Guided By Voices - The Jon Stewart Show and 120 Minutes Video (Circa 1995-1996)

2007-08-19T21:56:00.000-07:00

Hey kids! Been very busy with lots of stuff, hence the lack of updates. Also went out of town for 6 days bridging last weekend to visit my family in South Carolina with a side trip to the Doug Gillard show in Charlotte. More on that later!..

Some interesting new Guided By Voices videos just popped up on youtube. First up is GBV's network television debut from March 31, 1995 on MTV's The Jon Stewart Show. Clearly recall being up in my old attic bedroom in New Jersey, turning on the VCR, scooting up really close to the TV and cranking the stereo to bask in this broadcast. Also remember Jon introducing the Geebs as one of his favorite new bands. Really great performance from the so-called "classic lineup" (there were many other previous lineups) on King And Caroline / Motor Away medley from that year's Alien Lanes. My only gripe is not being able to hear Tobin Sprout's guitar at all in the mix...

followed by a second clip from the same show (indicative of Jon Stewart's GBV fandom) of Bob and the crew rocking out My Son Cool over the end credits. DECIDE NOW!..

and here is an short interview with GBV (including Demos, not Greer) in the summer of 1996 from MTV's 120 Minutes program. If you are too young (or old) to recall, 120 Minutes was the channel's long-running premiere showcase for the alternative to the mainstream "alternative" rock videos. The show was required weekly viewing back in the day amongst my comrades- always an excellent resource for what was new, cool or just plain weird in the world of rock. Matt Pinfield, the gravel-voiced interviewer here, was a local well-known New Jersey alternative radio veteran before getting the MTV job. Cool to hear Bob and Tobey speculate on what was coming next (ultimately Mag Earwhig after the "classic lineup" breakup, not the proposed Back To Saturn X!)...

Enjoy the clips and I'll post again when I can. Cheers!

The Cleaning Ladys (Featuring Young Jason Narducy) - Give Up On My Girl Video

2007-07-31T13:24:00.000-07:00

Feeling groovy and more alive after a fun kung fu class last night. Its weapons week, the final and my favorite week of every month. Unfortunately, we didn't work with my newest weapon, the spear. Its almost too long to fit in my 2-door Civic- must be rather comical to see me extricating an 8 foot Chinese spear from the passenger side door...

Here is a blast from the past, 1982 to be exact. Chicago's own garage rockers The Cleaning Ladys blast through Give Up On My Girl. Reminds me of Michael Jackson's Thriller track The Girl Is Mine, where Michael and Paul McCartney (are there two less likely Lotharios?) sort of fight over the same girl.

Except in this case, the rival in question isn't an ex-Beatle. Its 10 year old Jason Narducy, from Robert Pollard's own Ascended Masters! Not exactly sure what I was doing as a 10 year old in 1982 (same age), but it sure wasn't rocking out like this (more likely wasting countless hours in New Jersey video arcades)! Fun song, cool video and young Jason demonstrates guitar chops and stage presence far beyond his years...

Happy Jack Rock Records #1 Rud Fins / Piss Along You Bird & #2 Spider Eyes / Battle For Mankind Review

2007-07-30T00:52:00.000-07:00

Salutations from the fog bank! I apologize for the lack of posts lately. Been rather busy drawing Pop Zeus and otherwise enjoying my time off. But over the last few days, I've felt pretty crappy- an opportunity to catch up on some overdue posts.

If you are a subscriber to Robert Pollard's Happy Jack Rock Record Club, odds are you have received singles number one and two already, like me. And so far, so great! Physically, the Happy Jack 45's have an old-school no frills feel that hearkens back to the innocent days of rock and/or roll, from their plain paper sleeves to their big jukebox-ready center hole. But the music etched on the vinyl is anything but conventional.

The A-side of single #1 is Rud Fins, featured on Robert Pollard's upcoming "poppy" LP Coast To Coast Carpet Of Love. And it delivers in the pop department, big time (a good thing in my book). Melodic and light, the good time down-home feelin' of Rud Fins could easily be an outtake from 2006's Normal Happiness. The lyrics are a mystery to me so far. But the driving chord changes and sunny guitar are pure creamy Bob goodness. And the final section of the song reaches triumphant heights, closing the song out with power. Tasty.

The B-side to Rud Fins is the Silverfish Trivia outtake Piss Along You Bird. It's a tune already familiar to Pollard fans who caught the tour last winter. But the fully realized studio version is a revelation. I am shocked this instant classic will only see the light of day as a vinyl B-side. Bob's double track vocals dance over Todd Tobias' playful but rockin' guitars and the result is magic. And Pollard has never been stronger lyrically- from the first dismissal of "alright, alright, alright- enough you" to "take your scent back in the air" to "love is not all you need" (a humorous rebuttal of the Beatles cliche) to "I wanted you, I needed you" (a couplet last heard more endearingly on Serious Birdwoman (You Turn Me On)), dissing your ex has never been more empowering and fun.

Surprising the hell out of most listeners, Happy Jack single #2 takes a complete 180 degree turn with Spider Eyes. The final track on Robert Pollard's forthcoming "weird and proggy" Standard Gargoyle Decisions, Spider Eyes is balls-out paranoid thrash counterpointed with Circus Devils-esque bluesy weirdness (apparently designed to drive the spiders out of your speakers!). Bob's howling vocals (as recently heard on Bad Football) complement the creepy vibe perfectly. And the slogging death-march of a conclusion "and your mind.." cross-fades nicely into Bob's boombox demo. Spider Eyes brings the rawk.

And keeping the psychedelic rock vibe going on the B-side is Battle For Mankind, a song collage co-created by Rockathon Records' own Rich Turel (hee haw!). One part Revolution #9, one part Back To Saturn X Radio Report (song bits and pieces), a big hunk of Geo and Bob-speak and a dash of Ringworm Interiors' roommate repelling noise, the track is strange and comical in a good way. Upon careful listening, I hear (in order) an acoustic snippet of Stawberry Fields Forever, a bit of live Bob (sounds like old GBV?), TV clips with Bob back-talk, a woman singing Happy Birthday, back-masking, a tiny bit of The Way Of The World (?), a different version of Did It Play?, finishing up with a unknown boombox demo. Its a mystery wrapped in an enigma... and I dig it.

Good shit so far in the Happy Jack Rock Records Single Series. Here's looking forward to single #3 Current Desperation (Angels Speak Of Nothing) b/w Met Her At A Seance in August! Cheers, proud brothers!

Circus Devils - Sgt. Disco Limited Edition Vinyl Is Up For Grabs!

2007-07-17T22:08:00.000-07:00

Rockathon Records' pre-order for the hotly anticipated Circus Devils' Sgt. Disco double gatefold limited-edition vinyl is up and awaiting your order. And the double LP is a limited edition of only 470. So, as I've warned you folks before, don't sleep on it. Get your order in tout suite!

Upcoming Doug Gillard Summer Show Dates

2007-07-12T22:47:00.000-07:00

Doug Gillard, GBV guitar god and brilliant solo artist, is back on the road over the next few weeks! If you are lucky enough to live in North Carolina or Tennessee, Doug will be passing through your zone soon. As for me, a visit to my family down in the Hilton Head, South Carolina area was in the works anyway. So I will be there for the Charlotte gig in August! Here are the dates, venues, and openers...

Saturday, 21 July 2007 - The Grey Eagle, Asheville, NC
185 Clingman Avenue
Asheville, NC 28801
828-232-5800 ( Directions)
$7, Doors at 9pm
Also on the bill: The Frauds, and The Victuals open.

Sunday, 22 July 2007 - JJs Bohemia, Chattanooga, TN- EARLY SHOW!
231 Martin Luther King
Chattanooga, TN
(423) 266-1400
Show at 7pm - Cover TBA
With The Frauds, and an opener TBA

Saturday, 11 August 2007 - Snug Harbor, Charlotte, NC
1228 Gordon St.
Charlotte, NC 28205
704.333.9799 ( Directions)
Doors & Cover TBA
Also on the bill: A Decent Animal & Tonberry

(photo courtesy of Bernie DeChant)

Powerblessings

2007-07-12T21:54:00.000-07:00

Ignore This Post

2007-07-08T02:41:00.000-07:00

The party of a lifetime did not happen in the mythical land of Dayton, Ohio last weekend. Guided By Voices (in a completely new configuration of Demos, Farley, Slusarenko, R. Pollard and MacPherson) did not reunite for five songs last Saturday. A cover band comprised of Disarm The Settlers members did not kick ass. And Chris Slusarenko, Rich T and Jason Narducy did not share vocal duties with the regular members of the band. No one played cornhole. The bus didn't get us there yet. Not a beer was drunk. Not a drunk was beered. No one got whacked in the ass with a whiffle ball bat. No one hugged their heroes. No one had a transformative experience. This did not happen. I was not there. That is not me in the videos. Do not believe in magic.

A Salty Salute

Game Of Pricks (with Jason Narducy)

Fair Touching

Big Boring Wedding

Rhoda Rhoda (with Chris Slusarenko)

Smothered In Hugs

Big School

Dayton Ohio, 19 Something And 5

Motor Away

Tractor Rape Chain

Circus Devils - Sgt. Disco Available For Pre-Order, MP3 Preview And Videos!

2007-07-07T23:50:00.000-07:00

You might be wondering where the heck I've been. Let's just say I've been a busy little bee- working on Pop Zeus and... other stuff. Had to completely rewrite a chapter of Pop Zeus inspired by the EC horror comics of the 1950's. It resembled too much what I would normally write and less what that "usual gang of idiots" would have crafted. The story is much better for having be reworked, in spite of the delay. Anyway, on to pressing matters...

Sgt. Disco is real! On July 24th, Ipecac Recordings will unleash unto the world Circus Devils' latest creation. And this very minute, you can pre-order Sgt. Disco with our friends at Luna Music! Let's just say this is the Circus Devils record every living or dead earthling should own. And rumor has it that before too long, Rockathon Records will be making a double vinyl set of Sgt. Disco available for those of you so inclined. Stay tuned!

And while we are all patiently waiting for the 24th, there are a few ways to catch a sneak peek at the record. Paper Thin Walls, a music blog, has a review and mp3 available for download of Sgt. Disco highlight Swing Shift. And a streaming version of In Madonna's Gazebo can be found here. Great tracks! To top it off, those lovable scamps at Circus Devils have already created two surreal music videos, War Horsies and Bogus Reactions. Enjoy, folks!..

Gleemer (The Deeds Of Fertile Jim) - Two Cover Videos

2007-06-21T21:48:00.000-07:00

Two dudes, two acoustic guitars, two web cams, two fighting dogs and one obscure but brilliant Guided By Voices song- Gleemer (The Deeds Of Fertile Jim). The Tobin Sprout penned original appears on the legendary Vampire On Titus LP. I'm partial to the second video with the kid and the out-of-tune guitar. The first guy, Ben Gibbard, is more off on the lyrics (obviously not familiar with GBVDB.com) and sings with too much earnestness (is that a word?) for my taste. And the fighting dogs are humorous but distracting. Regardless, its always fun to hear interpretations of GBV classics. Play 'em at the same time for even more fun...

I'm sitting on 2 heads
"Some seat" I heard some said
Just waiting for Sunday
Four days after Wednesday

The higher clouds are closing in
To hide the deeds of Fertile Jim

Could this be a brand new low
One that we can't talk about
One that we can't live without
One that we can join in now

I'm standing on 2 feet
Now buried in concrete
Just waiting for sundown
So as to be not found

The higher clouds are closing in
To hide the deeds of Fertile Jim

Could this be a brand new low
One that we can't talk about
One that we can't live without
One that we can join in now

Hey Bay Area Denizens, Let's Go See American Cannibal!

2007-06-19T23:21:00.000-07:00

(Update and reminder- American Cannibal's stand at the Red Vic here in San Francisco begins on Friday! I should be checking it out some time early next week (now that I'm unemployed, everything is easier to do during the week when the rest of y'all are at work!...)

American Cannibal, the hilarious documentary/parody of reality television, is coming to San Francisco at last (also check the link for more cities including Cleveland, Portland, Chicago and Augusta). And our favorite axe-man Doug Gillard (with help from Kevin March) composed and recorded over 20 songs for the film! American Cannibal will be playing hereabouts at the Red Vic in the smelly, street-kid ridden Haight district from June 22nd to the 29th. I will checking it out at some point that week- send me a message if you wanna come with!

Robert Pollard's Happy Jack Rock Records Single Series Is Ready For Pre-Order

2007-06-18T22:37:00.000-07:00

Robert Pollard's Happy Jack Rock Records Single Series, a 7"-of-the-month club celebrating the release of Standard Gargoyle Decisions and Coast To Coast Carpet Of Love, is ready for pre-order from our friends at Rockathon Records! And there are several easy options for ordering- one single at a time, in groups of three or the whole darn thing in advance (like me, heh). No matter how you pay, one 45 will be shipped on the 22nd of every month from now until next summer! Woo hoo!

And with the pre-order announcement is the entire list of A and B sides for the series. And there are several big surprises amidst the B-sides in particular. Take a gander...

June 22
HJRR-1 Rud Fins b/w Piss Along You Bird

July 22
HJRR-2 Spider Eyes b/w Battle For Mankind

August 22
HJRR-3 Current Desperation (Angels Speak Of Nothing) b/w Met Her At A Seance

September 22
HJRR-4 Pill Gone Girl b/w Coast To Coast Carpet Of Love

October 22
HJRR-5 Shadow Port b/w Be In The Wild Place

November 22
HJRR-6 Count Us In b/w Sixland (John Shough Verison)

December 22
HJRR-7 Dumb Lady b/w Street Velocity

January 22
HJRR-8 Youth Leagues b/w Spirit Of The Fly

February 22
HJRR-9 Folded Claws b/w Speak Again

March 22
HJRR-10 When We Were Slaves b/w Battle For Mankind 2

April 22
HJRR-11 The Killers b/w Revolver Tricks (Stanley West)

May 22
HJRR-12 Miles Under The Skin b/w Frostman (Long Version)

So the title song Coast To Coast Carpet Of Love, formerly of the original Silverfish Trivia, will not be on either LP (along with Piss Along You Bird and Met Her At A Seance, mentioned earlier). And word on the street is that Miles Under The Skin is one of Bob's best songs ever, for real.

But the big big news is the B-side release of two long-awaited lost tracks from the vault, Sixland and the long version of Isolation Drills' Frostman. Sixland was a beloved track considered for inclusion on Under The Bushes Under The Stars in 1996, but dropped... and then the master tapes were lost. Lost that is, until 2007! (Update- since this post, it's become known that this version of Sixland is producer John Shough playing the song from memory, not the original and still lost studio version. Ah well...) And the longer version of Frostman is supposedly closer in length and structure to Color Coat Drawing, the song it was based on.

Here's looking forward to an amazing year of Bob music, one single at a time- Cheers!

The Final Countdown (Updated!)

2007-06-10T12:23:00.000-07:00

(I made it! Received my black belt yesterday at around 8 PM PST after a three and a half hour test. Was a especially tough day for me because I caught a nasty head cold the day before which I'm still dealing with- sore throat and congestion which lead to major dehydration and brain fog during the test. But what could I do but try my best and push on through? The highlight for me was definitely the board breaking. Plowed through two boards with my side kick, jump spinning back kick and elbow strike. Very empowering! Congrats to all the other graduates and a huge thanks to my instructors and supporters- I couldn't have done it without you!)

It's the final countdown! Bee-de-dee-do! Bee-de-dee-dee-dee! Bee-de-dee-do! It's the final countdown!

In precisely 9 days (June 9th) I will finally be taking my black belt test! Its been a long long road, paved with blood, sweat and tears... literally. And receiving this honor will be that much sweeter having come back from a bad calf injury last year (no relation to Bob Pollard's calf injury... or is there?), which delayed my advancement significantly (not to mention 2006's minor injuries- bruised ribs, bum left elbow, funky right knee...).

Add to that the perfect timing of my work hiatus, enabling me to accelerate my training over the last couple months. Many pre-tests later, I received my official invitation to the black belt test a little more than a week ago! So off I go, dad in tow (flying out from New Jersey to watch the test- any more spectators would probably freak me out!).

If you've been following along, you would know that the style of kung fu I have been studying for over 4 years is Choy Lay Fut, a fairly well-known, practical, modern style practiced primarily in the urban centers of China. It incorporates many aspects of other older styles including chi-na, Shaolin, Buddhist palm striking, and all sorts of fun weapons. Its movements are wide and circular, keeping opponents at a considerable distance. Here is a clip of my Sifu, Master Tat Mau Wong, demonstrating an advanced form at an exhibition in China. It is followed by another Choy Lay Fut form demonstrated by several of my instructors and fellow students. And no, this video is not sped up...

For the test, I will have to demonstrate all the kicks and self-defenses I've learned, a small bout of sparring (with protective gear, mind you- not to the death), 6 hand forms, two staff forms (Shaolin staff and Chat Gum fighting staff), board breaking and strength demonstrations including 50 panther fist push-ups (on your second knuckles and quite painful), 50 jack-knives (advanced sit-ups, to put it mildly) and a 3 minute horse stance (not terribly long, as they go). Phew- makes me tired just typing it! ;) Here is one of the forms I will be doing (5 animals form) in the test, as perfectly demonstrated by my friend and instructor Sifu Alex...

Not too worried about the test... yet. More than anything, I'm totally excited to be moving forward again (bring on the new weapons- sword and spear!). But I will admit stressing more than usual about the training leading up to the test (my perfectionistic nature catching up with me again).

And since my latest class on Tuesday (many many jumping jacks), both of my calves have been unusually sore, which understandably freaked me out. To reinjure my left calf at this stage of the game would be a tragedy beyond words. So I sucked it up and didn't go to class today. I figure at this point, one missed class isn't going to blow it (getting to the test is more than half the battle). And without a doubt, a reinjured leg would bring this party train to a calamitous end.

So please send positive vibes my direction until June 9th and wish me good luck! You probably won't be hearing much more from me before the test (plus my dad arrives next Wednesday). But I'll let you all know how it goes soon afterward. Until then, lets all contemplate the wise words of Chop Chop Master Onion- kick, punch, it's all in the mind...

Guided By Voices - Lethargy Live Video

2007-06-05T00:21:00.000-07:00

Ah, Lethargy. This blistering punk classic off of Guided By Voices' Propeller LP quickly became a live staple, and with good reason. Nothing gets the crowd pumped quite like Lethargy. And behold the caveman drumming power of Jimmy Mac from this 2000 live clip from the El Ray, Los Angeles. Excellent.

There's a book of instructions to the rusty time machine

That goes you there, but really nowhere

I wish I could give a shit, just a little bit

What's the difference?

Robert Pollard's Happy Jack Rock Records Single Series (Updated!)

2007-05-31T23:03:00.000-07:00

(Update! The third release in the Happy Jack Rock Records Single Series has been announced... Current Desperation (Angels Speak Of Nothing) b/w Met Her At A Seance. So that confirms my suspicion that the former Silverfish Trivia track Met Her At A Seance is a b-side. Cool beans!)

Its a mouthful, to be sure. But Robert Pollard's Happy Jack Rock Records Single Series is also one great idea guaranteed to bring a years worth of joy to the hearts of Robert Pollard fans everywhere!

Its still in the planning stages, but the idea behind the Happy Jack Rock Records Single Series is that every month for an entire year, a 7" Robert Pollard single will arrive at your doorstep (kind of like "the fruit of the month club" but for Bob music)! Each large-hole (perfect for jukeboxes) single will feature an A-side from Pollard's October Merge release (tentatively titled Standard Gargoyle Decisions) and a non-album B-side.

The labels for the singles will look exactly the same except for the song title. And each 7" will come in a plain white paper sleeve to keep costs down. But a cool box will be available at the end of the series to house them in. Only a 1000 of each single will be pressed, available through teh internet only (not yet ready for pre-orders so hold yr horses) so don't sleep on this, good peoples.

And the first two releases in the single series have already been named! The first will be Rud Fins b/w Piss Along You Bird. And the second will be Spider Eyes b/w Battle For Mankind. So that also means that two tracks from Standard Gargoyle Decisions are the aforementioned Rud Fins and Spider Eyes- neat!

More information will come to light about the Happy Jack Rock Records Single Series in the coming weeks. Stay tuned, true believers!

(studio photo courtesy of Matt Davis and robertpollard.net)

Robert Pollard To Release Two, Count 'Em Two Solo Albums On October 9th! (Updated With Tracklists!)

2007-05-31T00:36:00.000-07:00

Muppet News Flash! Pitchfork, your home for snarky, ironic hipster rock news and reviews has outscooped everyone with the tracklisting for both Standard Gargoyle Decisions and Coast To Coast Carpet Of Love! And here they are...

Standard Gargoyle Decisions:

01 The Killers
02 Pill Gone Girl
03 Hero Blows the Revolution
04 Psycho-Inertia
05 Shadow Port
06 Lay Me Down
07 Butcher Man
08 Motion Sickness Ghosts
09 I in the World
10 Here Comes Garcia
11 The Island Lobby
12 Folded Claws
13 Feel Not Crushed
14 Accusations
15 Don't Trust Anybody
16 Come Here Beautiful
17 Spider Eyes

Coast to Coast Carpet of Love:

01 Our Gaze
02 Count Us In
03 Exactly What Words Mean
04 Current Desperation (Angels Speak of Nothing)
05 Dumb Lady
06 Rud Fins
07 Customer's Throat
08 Miles Under the Skin
09 Penumbra
10 Slow Hamilton
11 Looks is What You Have
12 I Clap for Strangers
13 Life of a Wife
14 Youth Leagues
15 When We Were Slaves
16 Nicely Now

And the article describes the albums as follows...

One, Standard Gargoyle Decisions, is being described as "super-catchy pop," while the other, Coast to Coast Carpet of Love, as "down and dirty rock

...which is the opposite of what I reported below, ah well. (Update! Pitchfork got it reversed. I was correct. Hee haw!)

So this means that only two of the remaining Silverfish Trivia tracks made the cut (unless they have been retitled), The Killers and Life Of A Wife. Met Her At A Seance and the title song Coast To Coast Carpet Of Love are MIA, presumed dead or perhaps b-sides on the Happy Jack Rock Records Single Series. Very interesting (and somewhat confusing)...

Instead of releasing just one new solo album on Merge Records October 9th, Robert Pollard will be releasing two! They are the aforementioned Standard Gargoyle Decisions and the newly announced Coast To Coast Carpet Of Love, named after a song from the previous incarnation of Silverfish Trivia.

How we got to this place is a long and twisted tale. The recently released mini-LP Silverfish Trivia was originally a full length LP. But Bob was not satisfied and more recording and tracklist fiddling transformed Silverfish Trivia to its current 7 track state. Which left the remaining songs from the original version (as heard on Bob and The Ascended Masters' Normal Happiness tour in November) as well as several others. The known leftover songs from Silverfish Trivia were...

The Killers (formerly a Psycho And The Bird's track)
Piss Along You Bird
Met Her At A Seance
Life Of A Wife
Coast To Coast Carpet Of Love

In addition, Pollard had written and was itching to record an additional 28 brand new songs. So Standard Gargoyle Decisions and Coast To Coast Carpet Of Love will be comprised of the 28 new songs as well as a sprinkling of the original Silverfish Trivia tracks recorded last year, if they make the cut (or aren't a part of Crickets).

Which brings us to the previously posted Happy Jack Rock Records Single Series. And its now been revealed that the series will comprise A-sides from both Standard Gargoyle Decisions and Coast To Coast Carpet Of Love as well as non-album B-sides. The first two 7" singles will be Rud Fins b/w Piss Along You Bird and Spider Eyes b/w Battle For Mankind. So that means that two tracks from Standard Gargoyle Decisions and/or Coast To Coast Carpet Of Love are Rud Fins and Spider Eyes. And Piss Along You Bird (from the original Silverfish Trivia) didn't make the cut for either. Phew!

So come October 9th, us Pollard fans will be spoiled rotten yet again. Not a lot of rock artists have released two LPs on the same day. But if anyone could, it's our prolific and brilliant Uncle Bob! And those in the know are saying that Standard Gargoyle Decisions is the heavier, darker and harder-rocking of the two. While Coast To Coast Carpet Of Love (at one time titled "Lay Them Hands") is more poppy and melodic. More details coming soon, stay tuned...

(photo courtesy of barthatronic and DTS)

Guided By Voices - Pantherz Video (Sound Burger Edition)

2007-05-28T02:20:00.000-07:00

If you had to choose just one Guided By Voices song to demonstrate their pure rock power, you be hard pressed to top Pantherz! And the amazing thing is that among casual GBV fans, the track is not terribly well known. The version of Pantherz heard here has only appeared on the Jellyfish Reflector live vinyl bootleg and a 7" that came with Rebound magazine.

This clips primary purpose is a handy demonstration of the Sound Burger, a nifty device from the 80's that plays, amplifies and now digitally transfers vinyl (with the help of only 3 C batteries). The fellow digging through the crate of Guided By Voices and Pollard records is also the creator of a Sound Burger tee-shirt, which is seen being silkscreened at the end. Obviously a big Geebs fan (is that an original Propeller I see at :27? drool...), the video creator wasn't able to slip one little mistake past me! The red vinyl in the Sound Burger is Nightwalker's In Shop We Build Electric Chairs, not Jellyfish Reflector, where one would hear Pantherz. But its a minor continuity error only a nerd like me would care about. Great clip, Tom and keep rockin' the Pantherz!

Debbie X, I love you so
But there's one thing you should know
If he comes 'round here again
I will have to take my teeth out

The Takeovers - Bad Football: Pre-Orders, Tracklist, MP3's And Album Cover Revealed (Updated!)

2007-05-23T12:50:00.000-07:00

(Update! The fourth preview MP3 from Bad Football for the track I Can See My Dog is now available at The Takeovers new myspace page! Go now, download, listen, add to your profile, dance like no one is watching, go nuts- its a good one!)

Huzzah! The follow-up to my favorite 2006 Robert Pollard release, The Takeovers "Turn To Red", has finally been unmasked. "Bad Football" is on its way and so far it looks and sounds great!

Earlier today, Off Records cracked open a new webpage dedicated to Bad Football. And long awaited details about the new Takeovers collaboration between Robert Pollard and ex-GBV bassist Chris Slusarenko have been revealed. The mindblowingly awesome cover is another collage previously revealed in EAT 2, brought to fruition on this LP. And a fuller list of session players like Stephen Malkmus (Pavement), Tad Doyle (Tad), John Moen (The Decembrists) and Dan Peters (Mudhoney) has been brought to light. Also included on the website is a full tracklist as follows...

1. You’re At It
2. Little Green Onion Man
3. Father’s Favorite Temperature
4. Molly & Zack
5. Pretty Not Bad
6. Smokestack Bellowing Stars
7. I Can See My Dog
8. The Jester of Helpmeat
9. Kicks At The Gym
10. Music For Us
11. The Year Nobody Died
12. My Will

But the icing on the proverbial cake are three preview MP3's- Father’s Favorite Temperature, Molly & Zack and My Will! My Will is my early favorite, but they all sound groovy.

So jump on The Takeovers bandwagon and pre-order your copy (on CD and collectible vinyl) of Bad Football before the official June 12th release date! And look for another Off Records/Happy Jack Rock Records release of The Takeovers' Little Green Onion Man 7" EP with three unreleased tracks, coming in August...

33 1/3 Bee Thousand Book Party - June 9th In Brooklyn

2007-05-17T21:33:00.000-07:00

Oy! There is so much awesome Bob Pollard and Guided By Voices news to report today, I got my work cut out for me. Let's get started, shall we?

So first up on the calendar (and therefore first priority) is a party for the 33 1/3 book dedicated to the Guided By Voices classic Bee Thousand! It will be thrown at Don Pedro's in East Williamsburg, Brooklyn in just three weeks, Saturday June 9th. Sadly for yours truly, that is the exact date of my black belt test. So please, those of you in the tri-state area (especially my brethren in New Jersey), live it up (before you pass away) for me at this amazing party!

Not only will you get a peep at the short film "Or Something Like That", inspired by three Bee Thousand songs and assembled by master collagist Lewis Klahr. And not only will you bear witness to "Gold Star For Robot Boy", a "live theatrical extravaganza" by Fovea Floods and John Chambers. Additionally, not only will you see varied performances of Bee Thousand songs by the likes of Rick Moody & Nina Katchadourian, Brent Gordon and The Invert String Quartet (as heard on Silverfish Trivia) and even you, you crazy bastard, if you sign up. But the capper is that Robert Pollard and GBV legend Tobin Sprout themselves will be in attendance (not performing mind you)!

So what are you waiting for lucky hipster denizens of Brooklyn (with your complicated glasses and fancy haircuts... or is that fancy glasses and complicated haircuts?), bridge and tunnelers from Jersey and Connecticut, and trust fund hippies in Manhattan? Go check the flyer for more details... and mark yr calendars!

Robert Pollard - The Numbered Head Video (Blood Jewel Conspiracy Bootleg Version)

2007-05-15T23:23:00.000-07:00

I am a busy brother these days- sorry for the lack of posts. Between ramping up my kung fu training for June's black belt test (subject of an upcoming post), stressing out about said test and doing what I can for Pop Zeus, posting has become a woefully low priority.

So as a stopgap measure, here is an intensely creepy and cool conspiracy-laden unofficial video by Blood Jewel/Digital Doom Animations for Robert Pollard's The Numbered Head. The song is definitely a highlight of 2006's triumphant From A Compound Eye. And it played really well here in San Francisco last year (Bob jokingly claimed because of the long jam in the middle, heh). The darkness of this video's imagery really meshes well with the intensity of the track. Check it...

Crickets And Austin City Limits Available For Pre-Order! (Updated Again!)

2007-05-09T13:43:00.000-07:00

(Update Dos- If you didn't pre-order the Austin City Limits DVD or CD, it is readily available right now at a Best Buy (or any other major music retailer) near you. The Best Buy near me had at least 3 of them on the release day, May 15th...)

(Update- due to a manufacturing error on the Crickets deluxe booklet, shipping for this CD has been delayed for 7 to 10 days, probably arriving toward the end of the month. But Austin City Limits is right on schedule. Just thought you pre-order folks might want to know!)

Newsflash! Crickets "The Best Of The Fading Captain Series" and Guided By Voices' appearance on Austin City Limits are now available for pre-order from Luna Music, home of the Fading Captain Series and Indianapolis' most excellent record shop! They should ship together, reaching your domestic mailbox in time for the May 15th release date.

To refresh your memory, Crickets is a double CD 50 track best-of collection, wrapping up Robert Pollard's long standing side project label. Early word is that the song selection is amazing, making Crickets the ultimate obscuro Pollard mix tape. And don't forget about those 6 unreleased tracks, some possibly from the Silverfish Trivia sessions...

And there is good news and there is bad news about the Austin City Limits DVD. The good news is that there is indeed not only a DVD, but also a two CD set of the full 30 song set from Guided By Voices late 2003 TV appearance! The bad news is that the CD set is not included with the DVD as reported earlier. You have to purchase them separately. It was wishful thinking that we would get that much music for free. But who could complain with this bounty of GBV riches to look forward to?

And I would like to take a paragraph to personally thank Luna Music- especially the tri-titans of rawk Todd, Matt, and Jason. Not only has Luna been one-stop-shopping for Geebs superfans like myself for nearly a decade and not only have they created a home for all of Robert Pollard's most arcane and bizarre musical musings, but they whole heartedly supported my humble little funny books (namely Logjam) from the word go. Without their patronage, a bridge to the GBV fan base, Pop Zeus would not exist. So please keep supporting Luna Music. And thanks again from the bottom of my heart- we love you right back, Luna!

Guided By Voices - Striped White Jets / Quality Of Armor 1996 Live Video

2007-05-06T21:15:00.000-07:00

Dang, it's too hot in my apartment to get anything productive done. I feel cranky- bored but unmotivated. Blech! My loss is your gain, though...

Here is a very rare clip of Guided By Voices from exactly eleven years ago (May 10th 1996 at the Whiskey A Go Go in Los Angeles to be precise). One of the last shows with the "classic lineup" including Mitch Mitchell and Tobin Sprout (with Matt Sweeney filling in on bass), the gig was professionally shot for the mammoth Live At The Whiskey A Go Go VHS tape (which has yet to be released on DVD). But us lucky interweb users can now get a taste of that ole tape courtesy of YouTube! Great to see a youthful version of our favorite band rockin' the grunge kids. And the gig poster (which hangs on my wall) is one of my absolute faves. Spock + GBV = Joygasm!

EAT 3? Yeah, I'd eat it! (Updated!)

2007-05-05T20:50:00.000-07:00

(Update! Got my copy of EAT 3 in the mail today (thanks Rockathon Rich) and its a great one. Let's just say that the next Pollard solo album Standard Gargoyle Decisions' cover and back cover collages are revealed and they rank up there with the best! If that's not incentive enough to check out EAT 3, I don't know what is...)

Happy May Day and here's a welcome surprise- volume 3 of Robert Pollard's literary/art journal EAT (entitled Keep Your Christmas Lights Up Forever) is complete! And our friends at Rockathon Records are waiting for your order (I obviously didn't see this one coming).

If you love Pollard's collages or his unique lyrical stylings like I do, EAT is the only way to get a peek at upcoming album covers and songs. And EAT 3 boasts 33 original poems and 40 original collages, including a band name quiz.

The previous two editions of EAT are also available for order from Rockathon and are great fun. But the rub with EAT 3 is that due to escalating printing costs, its a limited run. So don't sit on your hands with this one.

I'll be back later this week (hopefully) with kung fu and Pop Zeus news plus some fun videos and junk. 'Til then!

Details Slip About The Takeovers "Bad Football"

2007-05-04T23:46:00.000-07:00

Midheaven, home of much internet mail-order music goodness, has let some details slip about The Takeovers' June 12th Off Records release Bad Football. Read on, my friends...

Welcome to the second dose of The Takeovers, courtesy of two members of Guided By Voices: The legendary Robert Pollard and the less so Chris Slusarenko. The newest release, Bad Football, finds the boys collaborating again and coming up with a slightly more song-oriented album every bit as perverse as 2006’s Turn to Red. Calling on likeminded bedfellows like Stephen Malkmus (Pavement), Tad Doyle (Tad), John Moen (The Decemberists) and Dan Peters (Mudhoney) to help follow their tuneful and psychedlic hearts, the Takeovers waste no time pushing aside the sophmore curse. In fact, if you like John, Paul, the bass player from Wire and/or Guided By Voices, you’re in good hands with Bad Football. “Chris Slusarenko knows exactly what to do, guiding Robert Pollard through a musical journey of his own past, present, and future, while Pollard continues to test his abilities and grow as a songwriter. This is something he is rarely given credit for, but here’s one example of where he most certainly should.” --Bart Bealmear, All Music Guide

Wow! Bad Football may just be the Pollard release of 2007 (and there are a lot of 'em) that I'm the most dying to hear. A windfall of talented collaborators and (in Midheaven's opinion) The Takeovers dodging the sophomore slump? Can't wait!

Circus Devils Website And Sgt. Disco Cover Revealed!

2007-05-04T23:21:00.000-07:00

Circus Devils is real! In anticipation of the greatly anticipated and already legendary 5th Circus Devils release Sgt. Disco (July 24th on Ipecac Recordings), the official Circus Devils website has launched! Go check it out for all kinds of fun including an amusing band info page, a discography (including tracklisting on Sgt. Disco), reviews, and a new mailing list to join. And amidst the craziness is our first glimpse at the Sgt. Disco cover (formerly a collage featured in EAT). Dig it!

Taffypro - I Am A Scientist Video

2007-05-03T14:48:00.000-07:00

Wow. Um, so here is an... interesting cover of the Guided By Voices classic (and possibly my favorite Geebs song) I Am A Scientist. Not only are the visuals unusual but Taffypro's vocal stylings, the choice to go octaves lower when the song naturally goes higher, makes this one of the more... unique GBV covers ever. Enjoy, or something...

Silverfish Trivia Review

2007-04-30T23:59:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the good graces of Rich T at Rockathon Records, pre-orders for Robert Pollard's Silverfish Trivia were shipped early! And I have been listening and thoroughly enjoying this mini-LP since Friday, April 6th (nearly 3 weeks before the official release date of April 24th, which was pushed back due to an issue with the distributor). So its about time I shared my thoughts on this petite masterpiece.

Historically, Guided By Voices and Robert Pollard EPs have been a goldmine for classic Bob material, often experimental in nature but never disappointing. And that tradition continues with Silverfish Trivia. Robert Pollard wisely decided to cherrypick the "more somber and strange" tracks from the previously longer and thematically varied Silverfish Trivia LP project and fuse them into a more cohesive package.

The effect of that decision is nothing short of amazing. Like those previous EPs, there is a symmetry and flow to Silverfish Trivia which the longer version of the record may have lacked. The darkness and melancholy of Circle Saw Boys Club, Touched To Be Sure and Cats Love A Parade (the three songs from the old Silverfish Trivia) compliment each other brilliantly.

And the unusual (for Pollard) and bold bridging element that ties Silverfish Trivia together are string arrangements by Chris George and Invert. These bookends add a cinematic, almost rock opera feel to the album- both stately, dramatic and yet still humble as all things Bob tend to be.

First off is Come Outside, a driving string arrangement of an old Acid Ranch song Lie To The Rainbow (off of this year's The Great Houdini Wasn't So Great release). The track kicks things off nicely- the "happiest" sounding song on the EP, setting up the listener for the gloom to come. And wrapping things up is Speak In Many Colors, a melancholy Bob melody made even more heartbreaking by Invert's strings.

Sandwiched in between are a lovely collection of sad songs that say so much, including 2006 tour favorites Cicle Saw Boys Club and Touched To Be Sure. If you came for the "rawk", Silverfish Trivia brings it only in little bits and pieces. But that is not to say that the album doesn't posses a quiet power of its own.

Circle Saw Boys Club's (the preview MP3 track) nostalgic lyrics are carried by a typically beautiful Pollard tune. Touched To Be Sure is more obtuse but the track still resonates with a palpable tension, amplified by Todd Tobias' brilliant production and playing. Wickerman Smile is a previously unknown song recorded in the Psycho And The Birds style (producer and collaborator Todd Tobias' studio instrumentation layered over scratchy Bob demos), complimenting its creepy feel.

But if there is one song on Silverfish Trivia that makes it a "must have", it is the epic eight-minute Cats Love a Parade. The intimacy and emotional honesty (both loving and menacing) of Instrument Beetle, the majesty of Conqueror Of The Moon or Christian Animation Torch Carriers- so so good. It has been my anthem, my theme song since I first heard it.

And the most incredible thing about Cats Love A Parade is how Pollard and Tobias seamlessly cobbled together three previously released and unrelated songs to create it- Frozen Vegetable Fiction, His Master's Reaction, and Hello Forever with a funky rockin' part in the middle. Only Bob could create a masterpiece from three interesting but unremarkable song sketches.

Part of me is jealous of listeners who had no exposure to the three songs before hearing Cats Love A Parade. To them, the final version must simply be a kick ass anthem with several tonal shifts. But there is a special joy for us dedicated fans in hearing something deeply familiar yet completely transformed and elevated. And this sort of peek into the songwriting process is rare indeed and deeply satisfying.

This is all to say that Silverfish Trivia is a great jumpstart to 2007's coming flood of new Robert Pollard music. Sometimes its necessary to dwell in the dark places. And Silverfish Trivia brings you there, casting quite a powerful spell over the listener. Out of a possible five everlasting big kicks, I give it four.

Peace, my bothers and sisters in rock!

For The Love Of All That Is Unholy, Go See Grindhouse!

2007-04-15T22:10:00.000-07:00

I am baffled. After an expectedly stinky Easter weekend opening box office take (the most holy of Christian holidays may not be the best time to release a vile horror/exploitation film... plus its three and a half hour running length means less shows per day, less money per theater), Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez' Grindhouse had an even worse second weekend. The film lost more than half of its audience from opening weekend. And it has only brought in 20 million bucks total so far, a fraction of its production budget. What's the f is up with that, America?

Grindhouse was the most fun I've had at the movies in years. Yes, it is gory. Yes, it is violent. And yes, it has sexy ladies. But its all done so cleverly that you laugh the whole time and think afterwards. I am a unabashed Tarantino fan from way back, so I do admit a predilection to liking Grindhouse. But nearly everyone I've spoken to who has seen the film have loved it.

So please- run, don't walk to go see Grindhouse. If you consider yourself a serious film fan, you have no excuse. Don't wait for the DVD. Don't wait for the illegal download, you cheap bastards (joking). Don't! As with all things in our lovely uber-capitalist country, Hollywood listens when you vote with your dollar. Let's stop encouraging the "creative executives" in LA LA Land to make lame-ass sequels to lame-ass movies like Are We Done Yet (not even dignifying that with a link) and push the film envelope a little. (stepping off my soapbox...)

In other news, I had a great weekend and got some serious drawing done on Pop Zeus. Feeling more confident in that realm as I go. Unfortunately my scanner here at home is not interfacing with my ancient laptop. So it may be a while before I get some art up on the blog.

Had another black belt pre-test on Friday night and I kicked ass! Best one so far- feeling more and more ready. And that feeling is certainly helped by all the free time I have for burn-out recovery and additional weekday classes.

Oh, and I will post my Silverfish Trivia review soon- sorry for the delay. Cheers!

Unemployment Is Good For Art (Pop Zeus Status Update)

2007-04-09T19:46:00.000-07:00

No news is good news, kids.

LOTS of stuff happening since I spoke to you last about my personal life and Pop Zeus. As of March 31st, I have officially been on hiatus (aka unemployment/the dole) after three and half long and hard years in production of a preschool animated program for the Disney Channel. Its a well-earned and desperately needed break. Looking back, I seriously believe that I have been suffering from extreme burn-out for at least a year (those who work in tv and/or film will understand this is no exaggeration). Coincidentally, I have been working on Pop Zeus for a year, which explains why its not nearly finished yet.

The good news is that I have nothing but free time to dedicate to Pop Zeus! I should be able to survive for at least a month or so with my savings plus unemployment (which sadly equals the pay rate of several retail jobs I have had). And work on one of the Pop Zeus chapters is full steam ahead as I write this. With any luck, I should be spending less time blogging and more time creating the comic!

Plus, with my black belt test on the horizon, I really need this time to recover from my exhaustion and get in as good shape as possible. I feel mentally prepared. But the physical aspect needs some work. I am already stepping up my classes, working toward three or four a week.

The dark side of all this is that I had a very exciting, almost dreamlike, perfect job opportunity in tv production fall in my lap a couple months ago (I am being purposefully vague just in case this opportunity pans out in a different way). But it was not to be. I did very well in my interview, my resume was aces. But in the end, one other candidate for the position had more related experience than me.

But transitioning right into a new job might have very well killed your fearless author. So its really for the best that I find myself on the couch, watching The View with Cheese Doodle orange painting my fingertips...

I should be back here later this week with my review of Silverfish Trivia, which I have been enjoying since Friday, when it hit my mailbox. Until then, excelsior my brothers and sisters in rock!

Guided By Voices Midi Masterpieces

2007-03-30T11:40:00.000-07:00

Over the years, phone toting Guided By Voices fans have wondered when and if there will ever be midi ringtones that rock. Their wait is over. Tristram Shandy, longtime Disarm The Setters poster, took it upon himself to learn how to create midi music. And he has since been transcribing and composing Guided By Voices midi masterpieces for all to share and enjoy! You will be the envy of all your friends the next time you get a call and a Geebs tune blasts out of your celly. And there are currently over 45 to choose from! Some of my favorites so far have been...

Underground Initiations

Back To The Lake

Do Something Real

My Valuable Hunting Knife

Blimps Go 90

Edisons Memos

But they are all brilliant. And hearing these songs in a stripped-down way renews my appreciation for the inherent musicality and melody in Bob Pollard's music. Thanks and cheers Tristram!

Yet More Upcoming Robert Pollard Projects!

2007-03-30T11:06:00.000-07:00

(Update! It has been revealed that the Austin City Limits DVD will come with a CD recording of the show as well!)

Hello all! 2007 is already turning out to be another amazing and prolific year for Robert Pollard and Guided By Voices music. And some brand new information has come to light regarding the release calendar- more specific dates and a newly announced Austin City Limits DVD! So here is the updated info...

Robert Pollard "Relaxation Of The Asshole 2 - Meet The King"
(Rockathon Records. Available now!)
Oh yes they did! This limited edition vinyl only follow up to 2005's legendary (?) stage rant comedy album will soon be hitting your mailboxes. According to Pollard, "the cover is a photo of me lying in a bathtub drinking a beer with a track suit on". More yuk yuks for you motherfucks...

(fake Silverfish Trivia cover courtesy of DTS and crunch)

Robert Pollard "Silverfish Trivia" (formerly "Hello Forever" and "Gratification To Concrete")
(Prom Is Coming Records. April 17, 2007.)
Forget everything you think you know about Silverfish Trivia! Studio sessions with Todd Tobias were completed in June 2006. But apparently Bob was not satisfied and more recording and tracklist fiddling have transformed the former Hello Forever (described as Kid Marine 2) into Silverfish Trivia. And as of January 2007, Bob has gone back and changed the record for a second time into a mini-LP to be released in April on his new vanity label! The 7 track, 22 minute album has been described by Bob as "much more somber and strange" than recent work. And Chris George of Invert is contributing new string arrangements. The final Silverfish Trivia tracklist is...

Come Outside (string instrumental)
Circle Saw Boys Club
Wickerman Smile
Touched To Be Sure
Waves, Etc.
Cats Love A Parade
Speak In Many Colors (another string instrumental)

...which leaves the following former Silverfish Trivia songs heard on Bob and The Ascended Masters' Normal Happiness tour in November...

The Killers (previously a Psycho And The Birds track)
Piss Along You Bird
Met Her At A Seance
Life Of A Wife
Coast To Coast Carpet Of Love

These tracks plus several unknown others (from the original Silverfish Trivia lineup) are either a part of a new and completely different Robert Pollard LP slated for the fall (more details below), two of the Crickets bonus tracks (see below) or part of an EP of leftovers soon to follow that new LP (confused yet?)...

Various "Crickets" - The Best Of The Fading Captain Series
(Fading Captain Series. May 8, 2007.)
This 2 cd 50 track set with booklet will compile the best of the unreal Fading Captain Series, home of Robert Pollard's solo and side projects for 8 years. And rumor has it that there will be 6 unreleased tracks (including 2 former Silverfish Trivia tracks) to entice the fans who already own the entire run (like me, heh). Sadly, this set will be wrapping up the longstanding Fading Captain Series. But take heart, a new home and new plans are in the works for Bob's more experimental projects- namely, Record Company Records and Prom Is Coming Records run by Rockathon's own Rich T and Bob himself!

Guided By Voices "Austin City Limits" DVD and CD set
(New West Records. May 15, 2007.)
Recorded on November 9, 2004 while on the Electrifying Conclusion Tour, Guided By Voices took the stage at PBS's popular Austin City Limits and blew the roof off the dump. And now we all shall witness and hear the entire show from beginning to end- sweet! The setlist was...

Demons Are Real
Pimple Zoo
Everybody Thinks I'm A Raincloud (When I'm Not Looking)
Exit Flagger
Sleep Over Jack
Back To The Lake
Navigating Flood Regions
Window Of My World
Dayton, Ohio-19 Something And 5
Redmen And Their Wives
Girls Of Wild Strawberries
Gold Star For Robot Boy
My Kind Of Soldier
I Am A Tree
My Impression Now
Sad If I Lost It
Do The Earth
Gonna Never Have To Die
Secret Star
The Best Of Jill Hives
Watch Me Jumpstart
Pendulum
Game Of Pricks
Cut-Out Witch
Buzzards And Dreadful Crows
Murder Charge

Encore
Fair Touching
Teenage FBI
Glad Girls
Tractor Rape Chain
I Am A Scientist
Echos Myron

As I recall, Navigating Flood Regions was a kick ass highlight of the aired version of the show. Check out a related interview with Robert Pollard here and a clip of Glad Girls from the show here. The audio and video presentation on Austin City Limits are top notch and the performance was loose and boozy (very atypical for this straight-laced series). Should be great!

The Takeovers "Bad Football"
(Off Records. June 12, 2007.)
Another pop collaboration with former GBV bassist Chris Slusarenko. Rumor has it that Stephen Malkmus, formerly of indie rock legends Pavement will appear. The last Takeovers album "Turn To Red" is my absolute favorite Pollard project of 2006. So I'm already chomping at the bit. Hoo-hah!

(fake Sgt. Disco cover courtesy of DTS and upsetter)

Circus Devils "Sgt. Disco"
(Ipecac Recordings. July 24, 2007.)
Not 100% sure what relation this release has to the previously proposed two Circus Devils albums mentioned once upon a time in Todd Tobias' MySpace.com page. But one thing is known, Sgt. Disco is coming! Sgt. Disco is the legendary 4th Circus Devils release (it will be the 5th one released, but number 4 was called Five... you get the idea) once denied to exist, now a reality! And its arriving via Greg Werckman's and Mike Patton's (formerly of Faith No More) record label Ipacac. Breaking with tradition, this 32 track double album will see the light of day in July (unlike the previous Circus Devils albums released on Halloween, Bob's birthday).

Robert Pollard "Standard Gargoyle Decisions" (tentative title)
(Merge Records. October 9, 2007.)
As of January 2007, Bob has gone back yet again and changed Silverfish Trivia, making it into a mini-LP to be released in April. So the remaining tracks heard on Bob and The Ascended Masters' Normal Happiness tour in November as well as several others are now possibly a part of new Robert Pollard LP for the fall! In addition, Pollard has written and is itching to record an additional 28 songs, the best of which will also be a part of this project. The known leftover songs from Silverfish Trivia are...

The Killers (formerly a Psycho And The Bird's track)
Piss Along You Bird
Met Her At A Seance
Life Of A Wife
Coast To Coast Carpet Of Love

but there are no guarantees that these make the cut, with 28 more new ones in contention, leading us to...

Robert Pollard "Untitled EP"
(Merge Records? Tentative release date fall 2007?)
So this is where leftover b-sides from both the Silverfish Trivia sessions and the not-yet-recorded 28 new LP tracks will go. Tradition holds that b-side collection EPs are released within a few months, if not weeks, of the LP. Lots of new music on the horizon for 2007, kids!

Guided By Voices "Some Drinking Implied 2" DVD
(Rockathon Records. Tentative release date late 2007?)
Hey now! Another home brew Guided By Voices DVD from the folks at Rockathon! Expect to see recent live footage of both GBV and Robert Pollard, never before seen rare clips from Bob and Rich T's personal collection and as many of GBV's TV appearances as they can scrounge up. Sounds perfecto!

(Moon cover courtesy of the Guided By Voices Database)

Robert Pollard and The Ascended Masters "Moon" - vinyl LP
(Record Company Records. Tentative release date late 2007?)
This version of Merge's bonus live album will be exactly the same as the CD version, just on vinyl. Always a treat to get stuff on wax and you already know that Moon kicks ass, so its a no brainer.

And that's all we know of... so far!

Guided By Voices Minipop From Flip Flop Flyin'

2007-03-23T23:58:00.000-07:00

Flip Flop Flyin' is the odd and extremely awesome home of Craig Robinson, English artist and animator. I first stumbled upon the site and Robinson's Minipops, tiny pixelated drawings of rock/rap bands and pop culture figures, a few years back. One of the primary linking themes of Robinson's work are characters drawn in an 8-bit video game style. Lo and behold, Guided By Voices were represented by this minipop...

Cool, huh? Definitely GBV circa 1995, what with the Alien Lanes drumhead, Mitch Mitchell, Jim Greer and Tobin Sprout minipops. And you gotta love the animated everlasting big kick Bob!

Please surf around the rest of Flip Flop Flyin' for more good clean fun including Pete and Bob (two owls who like to dance), Mapping Bruce (maps of places sung about by Bruce Springsteen, including many locales near my New Jersey hometown), 30 Ballparks (silhouettes of baseball parks), and photos of things stuck in trees.

(all art copyright 1999-2007 Craig Robinson)

Circle Saw Boys Club And Silverfish Trivia Cover Unleashed!

2007-03-21T22:28:00.000-07:00

Update! Silverfish Trivia, in both the popular CD and unpopular LP formats, is now available for pre-order from Rockathon Records! And if you place your order before April 9th, you should get your music on or before the release date of April 17th. The buzz about Silverfish Trivia is very strong, already touted as one of Bob's solo best. So don't sleep on this one, rock fans around the tight globe!

Circle Saw Boys Club, the jaw-dropping first single off of Robert Pollard upcoming mini-LP Silverfish Trivia is available for download right this very minute! What a song! Those of us who caught Bob and the Ascended Masters on their winter tour are already quite familiar with the tune. But to hear it fully realized, with Todd Tobias' layered goodness- oh man, Silverfish Trivia is gonna be sweet. And check out that album cover- puts me in the mind of A Clockwork Orange or Un Chien Andalou. It may already be my favorite solo cover. Bob did describe Silverfish Trivia as "much more somber and strange" and he wasn't kidding!

Look for the rest of Silverfish Trivia on April 17th from Prom Is Coming Records, Bob's personal label. And for more information on the album, check my recent upcoming releases post here...

Hey New Yorkers - Go See American Cannibal This Weekend!

2007-03-16T00:01:00.000-07:00

American Cannibal, a hilarious documentary about reality television, is opening this weekend in selected cities- namely New York, Austin and Los Angeles (check the comments below for LA showtimes). And our favorite axe-man Doug Gillard (with help from Kevin March) composed and recorded over 20 songs for the film! If enough of you lucky mugs in the Tri-State Area go check out the movie, it will get wider distribution and the rest of us will get to see it in theaters. So what are you waiting for? American Cannibal is playing at the Cinema Village in my old stomping grounds- 22 East 12th Street, Manhattan at 1pm, 3:05pm, 5:10pm, 7:20pm, and 9:30pm. Support this film, denizens of the Big Apple!

Guided By Voices Video Smorgasbord - Some Drinking Implied Edition

2007-03-14T11:50:00.000-07:00

With the blessing of manager extraordinaire and all around swell guy Rich T, I have uploaded Guided By Voices music videos from Rockathon Records' own Some Drinking Implied DVD to YouTube! The DVD itself is chock full of rare vintage live performances, in studio footage, narration by GBV "mascot" Geo, and even Bob's homemade high school horror movie "Wild People". Every self respecting GBV fan should have a copy.

That said, I thought it would be cool to add to the available Guided By Voices music videos with these rarely seen late 80's-90's clips. So here they all are with my blah blah blah commentary. Rock on!..

Particular Damaged

(Unusual song choice for a video- not the most well known or beloved track off the mighty Propeller LP. But I really enjoy the animated boxers and wrestlers from the Propeller sleeve- similar to animations from The Official Ironmen Rally Song video. And its also fun to see the early 90's configuration of GBV clowning around at the end.)

Weed King

(Epic song, strange video. One of my favorite tracks off Propeller and one of GBV's best songs ever. The video starts and ends rather creepily, but sandwiched in the middle is some cool fast forwarded footage of Bob, Demos, Sprout, Jim Pollard and others heading down to the basement to record. Is that Billy Baloney on the mic? And what's up with that silly dude with chickens on his hands?)

Why Did You Land?

(Classic track with an appropriately energetic and fun video. Amazing that this live staple never saw its way onto an album. Yet again, love the band performance and studio footage, the cheerleader/spider/old guys standing around the car footage not so much. Actually its mostly the old guys that I have a beef with- kinda boring. But the inserts do give the clip some variety.)

Chief Barrel Belly

(This is without a doubt my favorite video of the bunch. Underrated track from Self-Inflicted Aerial Nostalgia, cool video of the band hanging about for a photo shoot, I believe. The part with Bob, Tobin Sprout and Mitch Mitchell looking uncomfortable in closeup is especially endearing. "He said love is the one thing we thing we needed in this world to be happy"- indeed.)

Scalding Creek

(Love this video too. Scalding Creek is a pretty hilarious choice- obscure but great tune from the Get Out Of My Stations EP. Very effective and evocative use of some really great black and white still shots of the band, most of which I've never seen anywhere else. And I've always loved that cover photo from the EP of the sunbeam coming into the basement.)

Disturbing Garfield Comic Strips From 1989

2007-03-12T10:21:00.000-07:00

I feel quite lucky to have grown up in what I consider to be a golden age of modern newspaper comic strips. As a kid I was able to enjoy The Far Side, Peanuts, Calvin and Hobbes, and Bloom County in their prime- all brilliant and sadly, all currently defunct. Jim Davis' omnipresent Garfield (subject of a terrible film) was huge in my junior high school. But my peers and I quickly grew out of it when more sophisticated and twisted comic strips came onto the scene.

But I was recently made aware of a bizarre and depressing series of Garfield comic strips that actually ran in newspapers back in late October 1989. Speculation ran wild when this storyline was recently rediscovered. Some thought that perhaps Garfield was dead. Others postulated that Garfield was starving to death in an abandoned home and that the whole comic was just a figment of his imagination. Although some may secretly wish death upon this fat feline, creator Jim Davis has recently debunked the speculation and is reported to have "laughed loudly" when informed of the rumors. He stated that "during a writing session for Halloween week, I got the idea for this decidedly different series of strips. I wanted to scare people. And what do people fear most? Why, being alone. We carried out the concept to its logical conclusion and got a lot of responses from readers."

Still, its pretty creepy stuff from a normally light-hearted and tame comic. Alas, poor Garfield! I knew him, Horatio...

(click to make bigger)

For more Garfield fun, check out the Garfield Randomizer. 3 panels of Garfield, completely random, way more funny...

The Breeders - Shocker In Gloomtown Video

2007-03-09T15:45:00.000-08:00

Friday equals time to rock! Don't normally post videos of other bands covering Guided By Voices' songs (there are many to choose from). But there are several obvious reasons to make an exception in this case!

In 1994, fellow-Dayonites The Breeders admirably covered GBV's Shocker In Gloomtown for a limited edition 10" single called Head To Toe (which I managed to snag a copy of at the time). And the subsequent music video features various members of Guided By Voices peering through the windows of Kim Deal's garage as The Breeders play their song (love that concept). The idea of windows and reflections also ties in neatly with GBV's 1995 Motor Away music video. See if you can spot all the GBV members: Robert Pollard, Jim Pollard, Tobin Sprout, Kevin Fennell, Mitch Mitchell, and "Fretless" Dan Toohey. And little did we know that Breeders drummer Jim MacPherson would soon be a full fledged member of Guided By Voices!

Rock on kids and have a dandy weekend!