Apparently it's Bob's favorite as well. I think that approach works sometimes (for example, I really like How To Murder A Man off of August By Cake), but it seems like a shame to have that in a song like You Own The Night that bounces along at a nice pace and has a super hooky chorus.
I would counter that there's 4,000 2 minute GBV songs with a massive, addictive hook that grabs you by the throat and doesn't let go. It's ok this isn't one of them. I'm in with this adventure, tuned into the frequency. All I know is I'm spinning it a LOT.
Universal Truths fan That one gripped me for months. I must have gone on 100 3 mile walks listening to it.
I played UT&C this morning for the first time in ages. I enjoyed it a lot more than I expected. I think I bought a whole load of Pollard stuff all at once when I got that album and simply didn’t digest it all before buying more! I definitely underestimated this one.
I suppose.... Imagine having so many great 2 minute songs that you can just say "**** it" and put in a detour in yet another great2 minute song. It's pretty astounding.
Just for fun, here is my GBV collection. All on CD, I dread to think how much vinyl fans must spend on GBV wax. Some were hard to find anyway, and its certainly not complete. Missing a couple of EPs, some side project stuff, live albums, Tonics & Twisted Chasers and the early albums box, which I really want, have just lost out on eBay a couple of times. I still haven't heard any of the pre-Propeller stuff, other than the Forever Since Breakfast EP from the UFOs box. So thats my next priority as I love the 'Same Place' songs from the live DVDs. Not shown: Electrifying Conclusion & Live from Austin DVDs. 4 'spineless' ones are Fast Japanese Spin Cycle EP, Glue on Bicycle (English Little League era b-sides promo disc), Not in My Airforce (promo, 16 song) & Zoom EP. Pics taken before ZoC arrived. Recently moved house, been waiting a long time to properly display these as they've been spread about in boxes and all over the place. At over 70 releases, I own far more Pollard music than by any other artist. OP, not sure what your chosen format is, or if you're even thinking of getting the physical releases, but be warned, this is what can happen when you begin to enjoy GBV ! The only thing I don't have much of is the Circus Devils stuff. I just can't get into it. Its just too much of a departure from what Bob does best, for me to really enjoy. Maybe I'll look out for the 'Laughs Best' compilation or other CD recommendations.
Nice collection. Agreed about Circus Devils. I've followed almost all of Bob's side projects. Favorites are Boston Spaceships, Ricked Wicky and most of his stuff with Doug Gillard. But I never liked any of the Circus Devils. Not sure why. It just doesn't have the feel of the rest of his stuff. I don't see Waving at the Astronauts by Lifeguards up there. Have you heard that one? It's a winner.
Fantastic! Mine is scattered around a bit and tough to take pictures of. But I do have all my music cataloged in Music Collectorz/CLZ Music and looks like I've got 79 GBV CD/LP/7"/10" and about 45 Pollard solo/offshoot. I'm heading out of town, but I'll try to do the same thing when I get a chance.
Thanks. The Lifeguards releases are on my list to get, as are the Takeovers ones. It’s a shame the Lexo & the Leapers and Moping Swans releases are so short. Keene Brothers is great, even if the songs all blend into each other a bit. I really enjoy Speak Kindly Of Your Volunteer Fire Department (what a title!), Choreographed Man Of War, Tower in the Fountain Of Sparks, and the Ricked Wicky & Boston Spaceships stuff.
Regarding Circus Devils, try the last two or Gringo. Stomping Grounds and Laughs Last are solid albums, pretty accessible with some great songs. The strangeness is toned down a bit. I played Laughs Last a ton when it came out; it’s like Space Gun’s slightly more experimental brother. “Do The Nixon” holds it own with Bob’s best and “Smoke Machine” flat out rocks. Gringo is a cool album, with a Southwest/Morricone sorta feel. A lot of good songs on that one too.
Just his solo career is unbelievable. Every one of these has at least 4 or 5 gems and many have 10 or more gems. Never got into Standard Gargoyle Decisions but he released Coast to Coast Carpet of Love on the same day which more than made up for ir.
I didn't like the first Lifeguards album Mist King Urth. Try Waving at the Astronauts first. Though they're not that similar
I'm only a moderate GBV fan--I've always found their massive discography to be a bit daunting--but if you're looking for a great encapsulation of their 90s heyday, I strongly recommend the Human Amusements At Hourly Rates collection. Most of the songs that have been mentioned in response to your query are included here.
Here is the killer 2 disc GBV compilation I made. Its from 1992-2004 as I still need the pre-Propeller albums, and 2012 to present day is a challenge for another time, as is doing a Pollard solo comp. CD1 My Kind of Soldier Watch Me Jumpstart Things I Will Keep Buzzards and Dreadful Crows Tractor Rape Chain Official Ironmen Rally Song Drag Days Quality of Armor Blimps Go 90 14 Cheerleader Coldfront (live at the Wheelchair Races) Gold Star For Robot Boy Dragons Awake! Surgical Focus Demons Are Real Unleashed! The Large Hearted Boy Dayton, Ohio, 19 Something and 5 Little Lines Frostman Cut Out Witch June Salutes You! Eureka Signs The Goldheart Mountaintop Queen Directory Teenage FBI The Enemy Atom Eyes I Am a Tree Hit Storm Vibrations Weed King Man Called Aerodynamics Wormhole Bomb in the Beehive CD2 A Salty Salute Skills Like This Chasing Heather Crazy Echos Myron Don't Stop Now As We Go Up We Go Down Matter Eater Lad My Thoughts Are a Gas (Demons & Painkillers version) An Unmarketed Product Cheyenne Postal Blowfish Game of Pricks (Tigerbomb version) Pretty Bombs My Impression Now (live at the Wheelchair Races) Over the Neptune / Mesh Gear Fox Shocker in Gloomtown Ghosts of a Different Dream Useless Inventions I Am a Scientist (Single version) Metal Mothers Exit Flagger Redmen and Their Wives Gold Hick Avalanche Aminos Everyone Thinks I'm a Raincloud Big Boring Wedding Hot Freaks! Smothered in Hugs Dodging Invisible Rays Planet's Own Brand Closets of Henry Mute Superstar
Nice list. June Salutes You is a nice touch. Also love Dodging Invisible Rays for a Tobin deep cut, but also needs "Scissors."
Ok, I'm going to admit something that goes against popular opinion. I don't think most of Tobin's songs are anything that special. Yes, there are a few I think are excellent (Good Flying Bird, cheerleader...) but generally his songs don't do much for me. Let's the flying rocks begin ..
There is a B-side song from the UTBUTS era that is one of my all time favorite GBV songs. It's called Finks.
Big fan of that song. So many of their gems are hidden on EPs and random releases. The Demons & Painkillers disc from the UFO box is so good. That version of My Thoughts Are a Gas is incredible
I was never a big Tobin fan but I will say Carnival Boy & Moonflower Plastic were both really good. I also loved this song:
