Robert Pollard and Doug Gillard doing what they do best together, writing catchy hook-filled fucking rock and roll. This has a real 80's sort of Wire sound to it. Spiky indie rock from some rad Ohio cats.
Showing posts with label Dayton Ohio. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dayton Ohio. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Phantom Tollbooth - Power Toy & Beard Of Lightning
Phantom Tollbooth are a New York art-punk band who's members went on to play in Yo La Tengo, King Missile, B.A.L.L. and Bongwater. Gerard Cosloy signed them to Homestead Records in the 80's (Gerard was J. Mascis' college roommate who now runs Matador Records) and in 1988 they released Power Toy their final and best album before breaking up. On Power Toy they sound like an East-coast Minutemen, all jazzy and punky. Beard Of Lightning is the Power Toy album but with Robert Pollard of GBV fame singing his own lyrics. Bob had boasted (while drunk one night) that if he had sung on Power Toy the band would have "ruled the fucking world". The members of Phantom Tollbooth heard this and sent Bob the instrumental tracks to sing over, which he did, and Beard Of Lightning was the result.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Guided By Voices - Live in Daytron ?6°
This was just released this month as a three LP/triple-gatefold album (on coloured vinyl no less) on Bob Pollards Rockathon Records. This isn't a recording from their most recent reunion tour, however, but a show in Dayton from 2001. 43 classic GBV tracks (over 2 hours of music) recorded by a mobile unit, so it sounds crisp and clear. Great live album from a truly legendary band.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Guided By Voices - 1996-2004
So this is it, everything I have from the greatest band to ever emerge from Dayton, Ohio (and perhaps all of Ohio, sorry Trent Reznor). This is their "hi-fi" period (the exception being Tonics And Twisted Chasers which was a 4-track recording, like bee thousand, made by Robert Pollard and Tobin Sprout as a fanclub LP) in which the band utilized 24 track consoles, proper studios and budgets that went to recording, not just alcohol. Some truly amazing material was released during this period. From the Kim Deal/Steve Albini produced Under The Bushes Under The Stars, the Rick Ocasek produced Do The Collapse and the Rob Schnapf produced Isolation Drills (the final three full lengths were produced by the band and Todd Tobias). Every one of these albums slays. Nobody sings with a better fake British accent than Robert Pollard. During this period they also released four boxsets (Suitcases 1-3 and Hardcore UFO's) several live discs and tons of singles. They are all worth hearing because their are only three types of GBV songs: Really great, plain great, and just good.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Guided By Voices - 1986-92
Forever Since Breakfast, the bands debut release, saw them playing American college rock in the vein of early R.E.M. After Devil Between My Toes was released Guided By Voices stopped playing live, due in part to their albums failing to catch on locally as well as the members responsibilities to their families and various day jobs (most famously Robert Pollard who was a fourth grade teacher). The next series of albums were all self financed/released by the band in limited numbers, recorded in the garage 8-track studio of a Dayton friend. During this time the core was Robert, his brother Jim (who never fully joined the band due to his working the second shift at the local GM plant) and Mitch Mitchell. Propeller was supposed to be the bands farewell, however, a friend of the band sent it out to publications and they gained national exposure in the pages of Alternative Press and most notably in Spin magazine. This resulted in several celebrated live performances in Philly and New York, where Mitch Mitchell jumped and windmilled like the bastard child of Pete Townsend, and Robert did microphone twirls and high kicks with beer and cigarette in hand. Every album has its high points (and very few lows), Propeller stands up the best today, but they all fucking slay. Thank Jah they never quit after Propeller.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Robert Pollard - Not In My Airforce
This is the first solo album released by Guided By Voices frontman Robert Pollard. A couple dudes from GBV play on most of the tracks so any fan of the band will like this. Matt Sweeney from Chavez (who was one of the bands earliest champions and brought them to the attention of Matador Records) contributes guitar and vocals to the track "Quicksilver". Not In My Airforce is on par to Under The Bushes Under The Stars in both sound and cohesiveness. This is essential listening for any fan of GBV and a true classic.
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